Not A Small Town Girl (Danielle and David) novel Chapter 60

Chapter 60

’So that’s what he was concerned about, Danielle thought.

"Go on with your work, I won’t say anything," Danielle said nonchalantly. She didn’t think it was a big deal.

"Miss Darling, perhaps I could carry your bags while you shop?" Cecil offered eagerly.

"There’s really no need. We just want to browse by ourselves." Danielle politely declined, unused to such attention.

Faced with her refusal, Cecil knew better than to insist. "If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call me, Miss Darling."

"Your fiancé’s reputation certainly precedes him. The general manager looked downright terrified," Juniper remarked. Danielle had already told Juniper about her engagement to David. "Most of it is just exaggerated gossip. He’s actually quite a nice person," Danielle replied somewhat defensively.

Juniper looked at Danielle with a subtle smile. "Oh? You’re already speaking up for him. How far along are you two?"

Danielle’s cheeks flushed slightly. "Stop talking about this. Let’s continue shopping."

Pushing the earlier scuffle to the back of their minds, they strolled through the mall. By the time they decided to call it a day, they both carried several bags of their purchases.

"We should head back," Danielle said.

Since Danielle hadn’t driven that day, Juniper offered her a ride home. As they chatted and laughed in the car, neither noticed the five inconspicuous vehicles slowly trailing behind. The cars formed a coordinated encirclement, closing in from the left, right, and rear.

It was Danielle who first noticed something was amiss. Though the cars appeared ordinary, they had been tailing them ever since they left the mall.

"We’re being followed," Danielle said calmly. "Turn left at the next intersection and head toward the outskirts."

Juniper glanced in the rearview mirror and took in the situation. She slammed her foot on the gas, and the sleek Ferrari they were in surged forward with a roar.

Realizing they had been noticed, the cars behind sped up as well, their engines groaning with the effort. But their regular vehicles were no match for a sports car.

"Hey, boss, they’re speeding up. Looks like they know we’re on their tail," one man exclaimed.

The man in charge sat in the lead car, his face twisted into a scowl as he watched the Ferrari speed into the distance. He pulled out a communication device and ordered chillingly, "Step on it! We can’t let that woman escape alive."

After completing the job, they would head overseas to lay low. The reward would be enough to keep them comfortable for a good while.

Danielle watched the pursuit through the side mirror, her demeanor unruffled. "Slow down a bit, Juniper. Don’t lose them entirely."

Juniper caught on immediately and eased off the gas, deliberately messing with their pursuers by switching speeds in a disorienting pattern.

The cars behind struggled to keep up, narrowly avoiding collisions. Inside, the passengers were thrown about chaotically, curses flying with every jolt. One unlucky man in the backseat was thrown forward into the front seat, nearly knocking himself out.

"You idiot! Do you fucking know how to drive?" the leader of the group barked.

"It’s not my fault... That woman is doing it on purpose," the driver protested, feeling aggrieved.

"Ram them! Force that car to stop," the leader instructed.

Through the rearview mirror, Danielle noticed the vehicles were about to crash into them. ’What a joke. With those cars, they’d never catch up, even at full speed, she thought.

"Pull over up ahead," Danielle said. They had reached a deserted stretch in the outskirts, the perfect place to deal with their pursuers.

Just as she gave the instruction, a gunshot rang out, and one of the cars rammed into them.

Juniper, while not as skilled a driver as Danielle, wasn’t to be trifled with. She deftly maneuvered the car, avoiding further damage.