Page 64 of His Forgotten Colton Fiancee
Just as she increased her pace, she felt him move.
He grabbed her mouth, and wrapped his fingers around her upper arm. The man began dragging her toward the alley.
“Don’t scream,” he muttered. “I’ll kill you.”
The hell with that. She had her left arm free and he couldn’t use both armsto restrain her.Use the attacker’s energy. Step with him.
Quinn curled her thumb tight to her right fist, knowing her left, weak wrist was almost useless.Stab at the face as a distraction. Turn your body in the direction he’s pulling you instead of fighting the force.
She brought her right fist up, using her thumb like a knife, and jabbed at her assailant’s face. A howl of pain ensuedand the arm left her mouth.
Quinn pulled free and ran, screaming and screaming. Not “Help,” as her instincts urged, but “Fire!”
People were more likely to respond to a scream of fire than a cry for help.
The group chattering and laughing far down the street stopped, turned. Quinn ran toward them, zigging and zagging, screaming and screaming.
Winded, her side aching, her wrist throbbingfrom where she’d jerked it away from her attacker, she wheezed and bent over, too worn to go on. And then people were coming toward her, shouts of alarm and concern, and lights shining, blessed, strong lights cutting through the dark that covered men who grabbed women in the night and dragged them away to harm them.
Quinn sank to her knees, wrapping her arms around her stomach. “Call...9-1-1.I—I’ve been attacked.”
A woman crouched down, rubbed her back. Questions asked. Was she hurt? Did she need an ambulance? But all Quinn could do was tremble and gulp down air, blessed air. That arm around her throat, the hand cutting off her scream, her flow of oxygen...
Someone helped her to stand and led her over to a park bench in front of a storefront. She collapsed onto the wood seat,moaning and rocking back and forth.
Was any place safe from her attacker? Who wanted her dead?
Someone must have seen, or heard, that she’d remembered elements of the person who’d blown up Tia. Someone clearly wanted to remain anonymous and saw Quinn as a threat.
A liability to be eliminated.
Wailing sirens cut through the air, lights flashing, making her close her eyes and wishshe were still back in her apartment, away from men who wanted to hurt her. The EMTs arrived, checked her over and took her pulse. Quinn waved them away. “I’m okay.”
And then West was there, strong, capable West. He knelt down and looked at her, his expression taut with worry. Rex trotted up to her, licked her face.
Quinn fisted her hands to hide their shaking.
No matter what he thoughtof her role with her sister, West cared about her.
But he was FBI and he needed information, needed to know about her attacker. Quinn gripped his arm. “He was taller than me, about six inches.”
West gestured to the detective hovering nearby, who started writing in his notebook.
“What else, Quinn? Did you see his face?” West asked.
“No, he grabbed me from behind. He wore boots,I think. The heels clicked on the pavement, but they were heavy, thudding like cowboy boots. Wool coat or something scratchy, I felt it against my neck and cheek. Cigar smoke. It smelled like burned coffee. Disgusting. I smelled it before he grabbed me. He choked me, dragged me off. I was so scared, but I remembered the moves you taught me...”
Babbling now, she talked too fast.
Gently,he cupped her face. “Quinn, honey, slow down. It’s okay. You’re safe now. You’re safe.”
Shaking, she fell into his arms. He held her tight, stroking her hair. “You’re safe now,” he repeated, and a hard note entered his voice. “That bastard is not getting to you again. I promise. No matter what it takes, you’ll be safe.”
She clung to him in sheer desperation. West promised to keep her safefrom her attacker. But every day she felt herself slipping further away from the life she’d known and loved.
Every day, she walked closer to danger, toward a killer who would leave no witnesses behind this time.
Her life was eroding away before her eyes, and she didn’t know how to stop it.
