Page 26 of Christmas Homecoming Secrets
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Jade headed for the office, pulling her wallet from her purse and doing her best to ignore the increased pounding in her head. Pounding caused by more than her physical injury. His words continued to echo even as she tried to plan to tell him about Mia—which was part of the reason she wanted to invite him to help with the tree. He didn’t mind childrenas long as they belonged to other people.
Would she be doing the right thing in telling him about Mia when he clearly wasn’t interested in being a father? Would the knowledge do more harm than good? Just because hedeservedto know didn’t mean it was the best thing for him to actually know.
Her main concern was what was best for Mia. She had to put her first. But she should at least introduce Bryce to Mia so she could see them together andthenmake a decision about telling him. She groaned. What an absolutely horrid plan.
A crunch of a footstep on snow from behind her brought her to a halt, and she turned. The snow-covered path was empty. For a moment, she stood there, examining the area. Only the row of trees greeted her, and the shiver that swept through her had nothing to do with the cold. After the attack at the mill, then the shooting at the range, she was jumpy.
Jade picked up the pace and wished the office wasn’t so far away. She replaced her wallet and slung the purse over shoulder, then removed the glove from her right hand. She glanced around once more, noting the empty area. It was late, and most families who’d visited had done so during the daylight hours. Clay had been right. Not many people wanted to get out in this weather, not to mention the dark. She reached for the weapon that rested in her shoulder holster.
Just as her fingers curled over it, the lights flickered, then went out. Darkness covered her. A rush of footsteps pounded behind her. As she turned, she pulled her weapon, and something wrapped around her throat. Squeezing. Warm breath panted against her right ear.
Panic flared. Her gun tumbled from her fingers and she grasped at the cord around her neck. With no time to scream, her only thought was she didn’t want to die like this. Jade kicked back and connected with a shin. The person gasped and let out a low grunt. For a moment, she could breathe and managed to shove a hand up under the cable milliseconds before it drew tight again. Her frantic brain registered rubber. Not wire.
Adrenaline racing, she curled her fingers around the vise and pulled, but the person behind her was strong and using Jade’s own hand to press against her throat to cut off her air. A squeak escaped from her and she jabbed back with her opposite elbow, despairing when she hit nothing. Stars started to dance in front of her eyes.Please God! I don’t want to leave the children. Please!
“Jade!”
Bryce!
“Hey, Jade! Where are you?”
Then she was free. She sank to her knees, gasping, dragging in deep breaths of cold air. She scrambled to her feet, hand searching for her weapon. Her fingers brushed over it, and she snagged it as a light bounced off the ground and into her face. She held up a hand to block the glare and spun to look in the direction the person had gone, but the darkness was complete. Dizziness hit her and she sank to the ground once more, coughing.
“Jade, what happened?” Bryce was there, hands on her shoulders.
“Attacked,” she wheezed. Her throat ached, but at least she could breathe. He grabbed whatever it was the attacker had wrapped around her throat and tugged it away.
“What in the world?” She recognized Clay’s voice. He ran toward her, the beam of the flashlight bouncing along the muddy snow. “What happened? Are you okay?” he asked when he reached her.
Bryce told him in clipped sentences what had happened.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Call an ambulance,” Bryce said, running his hands up and down her arms, then tilting her head to examine her throat.
“No, don’t need an ambulance. It’s okay,” Jade said. “It’s getting better.” She heard the harsh rasp in her voice and understood Bryce’s doubtful look.
“If you don’t need me,” Clay said, “I’m going to see if I can get the lights back on.”
“Yeah, that would be good.” Bryce turned back to Jade. “You could have serious damage to your throat.” The mixture of terror and fury in his words stilled her. Touched her.
“Possibly,” she croaked, “but I don’t think so. I managed to get my hand up there and pull against it, minimizing the harm.” She hoped. “Man, that was scary.” Tears gathered and she shoved them away, coughing once more. “I just want to go home and crawl into bed.” The minute the words left her mouth, she wished she could haul them back in. She sounded helpless and weak. But she’d just been attacked, so maybe she should cut herself a break.
“Come on,” Bryce said, “I’ll help you to the car.”
“I’ve got to write all this up.”
“Then I’ll wait on you.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I don’t remember you being this bossy.”
He huffed a laugh that did nothing to erase the worry in his eyes. “It’s not bossy, it’s common sense.”
The lights came on and she blinked against the sudden brightness—and recognized her attacker’s weapon. “I was almost strangled with a strand of Christmas lights? You’ve got to be kidding.” She gave a humorless bark of laughter that sent pain racing through her throat. She immediately cut it short and coughed once more.
“Jade, I really think you should see someone.”
