Damn it all to hell. Fine. Shed give whoever this was a run for his money. Shed grown up here. She knew her way around. Shed take the scenic way home and lose whoever this clown was on the way. She headed west toward Woolsey where she grew up. No way would he be able to keep up with her on those windy twisty roads.

He definitely was struggling. A couple of times, Brianna thought shed lost him only to have him turn up in her rear view mirror a few minutes later.

She accelerated as she hit a particularly winding stretch. When she was in high school, she and her friends used to come out here to drink and smoke. There were houses nearby. Big ones. But they were far back from the road and there were plenty of turnouts where a bunch of kids could meet. Shed driven this road when she most definitely should not have been behind a wheel.

She was stone cold sober now. She took the S curve like Danica Patrick. Wheee! It was kind of exhilarating.

She glanced in the rearview mirror. The gray car hadnt made the turn. It was off the road, its nose in a ditch. Served the bastard right.

She made a U-turn to head back home. He wasnt going to be following her now. A twinge of guilt ran through her. Shed only wanted him to stop following her. She hadnt wanted to hurt him.

She slowed as she made her way past the car. It was still light out. She could see the figure behind the wheel. It was slumped forward. Had he been injured? Was he even conscious? It was pretty isolated out here. Cell service was spotty. Who knew how long it would be before someone came along to help him? And if that person would be able to summon help?

She stopped and made another U-turn, pulling over to the side of the road. She got out of her car. Are you okay? she yelled.

No answer. Not even a twitch in the slumped figure.

She walked closer. Hey! You! Are you hurt?

She was close enough to look inside the car now. It was a man and he was completely slumped against the wheel, eyes closed. Was he hurt?

Okay. So the guy had it coming. Who follows someone like that? But she wasnt going to be able to live with herself if she didnt make sure he was okay.

She knocked on the window. Nothing. No response.

She tried the door. Surprisingly, it was unlocked. Are you okay? Do you need help? She leaned in to shake him by the shoulder.

Suddenly he had her arm. His grip was so strong. She couldnt pull back. What are you doing?

Im making sure you pay for what you did, Brianna.

And then she saw the knife.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN