Reid placed a hand on her forearm. “Do you want me to answer it?”
She shook her head. It was just a phone call. When she pulled her phone from her purse, a local number flashed on the screen. She took a deep breath and answered. “Hello.”
“Is this Quinn Matthews?” a husky male voice asked.
“It is.”
“This is Aaron with Speedy Deliveries. You have a letter from a Joe Lockhart.”
Her heart raced at the mention of Joe’s name.
“We tried to deliver it twice, but no one was home. You’ll have to come in and sign for it.”
“Okay. Is it there now?”
“Yes, ma’am. You’ll also need to bring in a photo ID.”
“We’ll be there in a few minutes. Thank you.” She ended the call and turned to Reid. “Joe sent me a package.”
Reid quirked an eyebrow. “Says who?’”
“That was Speedy Deliveries. Remember the missed delivery note? Turns out it’s from Joe.”
Reid put the car in reverse and backed out of the parking spot. “Where do I go?”
She gave him directions. Reid pulled into the parking lot a few minutes later. The lot was vacant except for a dark sedan and a white utility van. Goose bumps crawled up her arms. They were about to find out what all this was about so they could put the whole thing to rest.
Reid turned to her. “Let’s make this quick. I want to get as far away from here as soon as possible.”
She unbuckled and stepped from the car. Reid corralled JJ and steered him to the sliding doors. Quinn entered first, followed by JJ and then Reid. No one was manning the front desk, and the lobby was void of customers. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end.
She turned just in time to see a man bring the butt of a gun down on the back of Reid’s head. “No!”
He crumpled to the floor, unmoving. The gun was then aimed at her. She grabbed JJ and pulled him behind her, using her body as a shield. He hugged her tightly, burying his face in her shirt.
“You and the boy are getting in the car.”
Her blood ran cold, and nausea swirled in her stomach. They couldn’t leave with this man. They were as good as dead if they did.
She looked over her shoulder. Maybe, they could escape out the back. Another man walked around the counter, his own gun aimed at her, ending her thoughts of escape.
From his position on the floor, Reid started to groan. The man who’d hit him raised his gun and took aim. Quinn inhaled sharply, turned, and pulled JJ against her, covering his eyes and ears.
“What are you doing?” barked the man who had come from around the counter.
“I’m taking care of loose ends.”
“Don’t be stupid. You know we need him alive.” He yanked JJ from her grasp. “Help him get your boyfriend into the car.”
“No!” She tried to grab JJ, but the man shoved her away.
JJ struggled against the man’s grip. She took a deep breath and fought the rising panic. Reid was alive for now, but how long would any of them live once they got to their destination? “It’ll be okay,” she told JJ before turning and walking to Reid’s prone body.
She needed to do exactly as these men told her. She didn’t want them to hurt JJ or kill Reid. He may be unconscious now, but maybe, he’d be able to get them out once he was awake. She helped roll him over and carry him to the trunk. The man with JJ never let go of him. Reid was deposited into the trunk. She watched as the lid was closed on Reid and on any possibility of him rescuing them. They were on their own now.
She looked around the parking lot. It was empty. She fought the urge to scream for help as she and JJ ran away, but both men had guns. She couldn’t risk one of them shooting JJ. She needed to stay calm and think of a way to escape. She climbed into the car, praying God would rescue them.
CHAPTER SEVEN
