But after the crash, Derek had made a call to Alec, and Jarrod wanted to pick up any clues about their location by listening to it.
Alecs voice could be heard on the recording. Whats taking so long? Have you made it yet?
Derek inhaled deeply before replying, Not yet. I just had a near miss. But that crazy woman drove like a maniac, and I ended up hitting a tree
Alec hesitated and advised, She might not be as strong as you, but shes smart. Be careful.
I know Damn it! Ill kill her today. Derek assumed Nicole had seen the tree ahead and intentionally swerved at the last minute, causing his car to crash into it.
Derek was no longer just following Alecs commands. He was driven by a murderous rage, intent on killing Nicole.
Alec didnt fully trust Derek, worried Derek would mishandle things.
He pondered for a moment before suggesting, Forget it. You should leave the country now. Ill handle the rest.
Alec planned to deal with Leighton and fake a mental illness certificate for Nicole, rendering Nicoles testimony useless and inadmissible.
But Derek disagreed and was not ready to quit insisting, Just give me half an hour, and Ill catch up to her..
Didnt you crash the car? Where are you now? Alec inquired.
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Shes running down this muddy path, and Im going after her now..
Dereks voice abruptly stopped.
The call ended suddenly.
Listening to the dial tone, Jarrods heart raced with worry. Nicole, youve always managed to escape
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.
danger. Dont get into any trouble this time!
His eyes narrowed as he floored the accelerator and sped off.
Suddenly, rain began to pour, intensifying the throbbing of Nicoles wounds. The pain drained her energy, leaving her weak and limp. She was already frail, and the recent events had depleted her strength completely.
Nicole concealed herself behind a clump of muddy bushes, trying to curl into the smallest, most unnoticeable ball possible. She was worn out, almost drifting off, when she heard footsteps getting closer, their rhythm uneven in the distance.
In the pitch-black night, she knew the only person wandering outside could be Derek.
With the rain washing away all traces, she didnt hold out hope for anyone to come to her rescue.
The heavy rain complicated any search efforts. Even if Raegan had dispatched a search party, Nicole doubted she could survive long enough for their arrival.
Clutching herself tightly, Nicole not only tried to minimize her visibility but also held her breath, afraid that Derek might detect her presence. Considering the physical advantage men typically had over women, combined with her weakened state, if Derek found her, she would have to accept whatever came next.
As she anticipated, the footsteps approached closer, followed by the sound of a stick pushing through the bushes.
Miss, stop hiding Dereks voice echoed through the rain-soaked forest, sending shivers down Nicoles spine, especially in the dark of night.