Free Hard Up: A Military Mafia Romance by Vivian Wood Page B

dozen feet away.
    That was the thing about going to all-night diners at two a.m. — the service was shit, but no one noticed you coming or going. Plus, it was interesting to see their fifty-something waitress flirt with her handsome customer, who couldn’t have been older than late twenties at most.
    More power to her , Vi thought.
    “Ready to go?” he asked, pushing away his half-eaten steak and eggs.
    “Sure.”
    She watched him pull out his wallet and throw down cash. They got up and left, Callum following her. When they got outside, Callum took his time unlocking the car and helping her in.
    “What’s with you?” she asked him when he adjusted his side mirrors. “You’re usually rush, rush, rush.”
    “Nothing,” he said, pulling out of the parking lot.
    His tone had gone all tight though, worrying her.
    “Did you get a message from work? Is that what you’re all upset about?”
    “Just leave it be, okay?” he said, glancing in his rearview mirror again.
    Vi laid her head back on the car seat, looking out her window. She saw a car behind them, but didn’t think anything of it until they made several turns. Then she saw the same headlights, following them from afar.
    She sat up, her eyes trained on the rearview mirror.
    “Callum…”
    “I see them,” he said. “They’ve been with us since the diner.”
    “Really?” she said, trying to turn and see the vehicle better.
    A firm hand came down on her shoulder, pushing her down in her seat.
    “Don’t do that,” he said. “Just try to behave like a normal person.”
    Vi couldn’t hold still, leaning forward to catch their reflection.
    “They’re tailing us from so far away.”
    “They’ve had some practice, it seems.”
    “Is that what—”
    She was cut off when he took a right turn suddenly, then the immediate left turn. There was little to no traffic, enabling him to cut across some lanes, and quickly take another left.
    Viola was left clinging to the armrest, unsure what was happening.
    “What the fuck??” she said when they straightened out and drove as if nothing had ever happened.
    Looking in the rearview, he was calm.
    “Evasive driving maneuvers.”
    “Well, maybe let your passenger know next time!” she said.
    She looked behind them, and saw nothing.
    “They’re gone,” she said.
    “Only because I let them know I was aware of them following me. I’m normally a champion at shaking a tail, but this one… It’s hard to get rid of them without traffic.”
    “It makes me wonder who they are, and how long they’ve been tailing us.”
    He made a face. “I can guess on the first count. On the second, I think this is the first time. I actively practice ways to ditch a tail. I’m a hard man to follow.”
    “I see that, now.”
    He gave her a hard look and took a careful right turn. He glanced in the mirror, then cursed.
    “Shit. They found us,” he said.
    He stepped on the gas, picked up speed, but the other car wasn’t about to let them go again.
    “Viola, I need you to reach under your seat,” he said, calmly as possible.
    “Why?”
    “Just do it.”
    He was speeding now, outwardly calling attention to himself. What if they were pulled over?
    Then again, they weren’t doing anything wrong.
    She reached under her seat. To her surprise, she found two guns and some ammo.
    “Jesus,” she breathed as he took them from her and piled them in his lap.
    The guns were heavy in her hands; she’d never held anything but a revolver.
    A glance in the mirror showed that the car was gaining on them. She could make out the type, a dull red SUV.
    “What are we going to do?” she asked, uncertain.
    “We’re going to get on the interstate, and drive the loop that goes around the city until they’re gone.”
    “What if that doesn’t work?” she said, starting to panic.
    “It will. Now see if you can fold your seat down and slide into the backseat.”
    He pulled onto the on-ramp that led to the highway, face grim. She did what