Fracture (Unbreakable Bonds 6)

Whoever this asshole was, he was responsible for hurting his brother and damaging his family.

“Jude…” Snow said in a low voice, drawing him from his darker thoughts. “I need you to move into the right lane like you’re planning to take this exit.”

“What?” he asked, but he still checked his mirrors and flipped on his signal before doing as Snow requested. They’d just gotten on southbound I-71 heading back toward the bridge that would take them across the Ohio River and to their home in Northern Kentucky. As they settled in the new lane, Jude glanced over at Snow to find him staring into the rearview mirror with a deepening frown.

“Someone is following us.”

Jude jerked a little in his seat, eyes snapping up to the mirror as well just as another car moved into the same lane two cars back. It was a large, dark-colored SUV—a menacing-looking vehicle—but Jude had to wonder if he’d think that if Snow hadn’t said it was following them.

“Are you sure? It could be just a coincidence. It’s almost rush hour. Traffic is picking up.”

“The SUV has changed lanes at the same time as you two other times.”

“Where do you learn this shit?”

Snow flashed him a weak grin. “Rowe has taught us all kinds of stuff that I was sure I would never use. And yet here I am, being followed by an SUV.” He reached into the interior pocket of his coat and pulled out his cell phone. Jude was sure that he was calling the man in question at that moment.

“Did he also teach you what to do if you found yourself being followed?”

“We never got to that lesson. He just said don’t wreck.”

“Wonderful. Just fucking wonderful,” Jude muttered under his breath. He remained in the far right lane while trying to sort through his various options. He had a feeling that it didn’t make much sense to try to go to the cops since the people following them would just drive off. They couldn’t see a license plate and there wasn’t much description they could give other than a dark SUV.

And maybe he didn’t want the people following them to completely disappear. He had no doubt that these assholes were linked to the person who killed Anthony and the attack on his brother. If they could just get their hands on one or more of the persons in the SUV, then maybe they could finally get the name of the person who hurt his brother.

Unfortunately, that meant putting Snow’s life in danger. Not that Snow would choose to walk away at that moment. No, the man would never leave his side, especially when he was in danger.

“Rowe said to take the first Newport exit after we cross the I-471 bridge and then cut across Covington to the northbound branch of I-75,” Snow said as he put his phone back into his coat pocket.

Jude’s frown deepened as he mentally mapped out that route. It would take them through some extremely busy streets and a ton of traffic lights. “What the hell is he thinking? There are going to be a ton of people and cars along that route.”

“A lot of witnesses. He also has his people tapped into all the traffic cameras throughout Covington. They’ll be able to get a good look at the SUV following us and possibly the people inside.”

“And heading north along I-75?”

“He and Noah are jumping into a Ward SUV now and speeding down 75 toward us. They’re hoping to intercept and accompany us back to Ward Security.”

Jude sighed and nodded. “It’s not a great plan.”

“Not even remotely close,” Snow conceded.

As they got closer to downtown Cincinnati, Jude’s hands tightened around the steering wheel. The forest of skyscrapers rising up in front of them was starting to glow in the early evening light. The trees blurring past the car windows were just brown sticks, desperately waiting for winter to finally be over. They hadn’t gotten a lot of snow or ice this year, but the bitter cold had seemed endless.

They remained in the far right lane and took the exit to switch from I-71 to I-471, which would take them over the yellow bridge that locals referred to as the Big Mac Bridge. He glanced in the rearview mirror to find the SUV still behind them, but this time there was only one car separating them instead of two.

Jude glanced over at Snow who was watching the car in the side mirror. “You know, this is the second time you’ve had someone following you in a car in roughly a year.”

“Huh?” Snow said, his head snapping up so he could look over at Jude.

“You think I forgot about your little escapade with Lucas in Oklahoma?” Snow rolled his eyes and Jude continued. “I should think twice about getting in a car with you if this your kind of luck.”