He released his grip, and she gasped for air. “Where is he?”
She shook her head. He squeezed again. Over the roaring in her ears, she heard a whimper. He let go of her and turned toward the closet. She collapsed, breathing deeply for much-needed air.
He ripped the door open and rummaged through the bottom of the closet, looking for JJ.
She stood on shaky legs, then charged him, jumped on his back, and wrapped an arm around his neck. She squeezed as hard as she could, praying she’d be strong enough to restrict his airflow. He straightened and stumbled backward, then turned and slammed her into the wall.
Pain forced her to let go, and she fell to the floor. He grabbed her around the throat with one hand and lifted her up. Her feet barely touched the floor.
She reached out and dug her thumbs into his eyes. He howled and let go, immediately rubbing his eyes. Then, she took aim and kicked him in the groin as hard as she could, sending him to his knees.
The person who had tried to come through the door was now trying to climb through the window. She shoved him through and closed it. Then, she grabbed JJ from the closet and held him close. He clung to her, crying into her neck. With a strength she didn’t know she possessed, she moved the dresser from the door with one arm and darted out.
She ran straight into Reid.
“Quinn.” He grabbed her by the upper arms, steadying her.
She saw the second man come storming through the front door. “Behind you!”
Reid spun quickly and took a punch to the face. He stumbled a bit before regaining his balance and threw a punch of his own, hitting the man’s nose with a sickening crunch. He screamed as he fell to the floor.
“Come on.” Reid grabbed her free hand and pulled her and a hysterical JJ toward the front door. They jumped into his car and sped off, intent on getting as far from his house as they could.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Reid’s jaw ached from the punchhe’d taken in the scuffle. But it wasn’t as painful as hearing the hysterical cries coming from JJ in the back seat. Reid’s heart ached. Quinn had pulled JJ close and was whispering words of reassurance to him.
Reid hated himself for allowing this to happen. Quinn’s neck was red and swollen. What would have happened had he not made it in time? He shuddered to think about it.
His home was now compromised. Where could they go? It was four hours back to Mrs. Stevenson’s cabin. They could go back there, but they had more questions than they had answers. He knew the answer to this lay with Andrew. And one thing was for sure—he wouldn’t leave Quinn and JJ alone again.
He pulled to the back of a gas station, hopped out, and opened the back door to check on Quinn.
JJ had calmed down and now lay against his mother, hiccupping. Reid placed a hand on Quinn’s shoulder. She looked at him, and tears pooled in her eyes. Then, she leaned back against him. He wrapped his arms around her and her son. He stood there holding this little family, one he’d grown to care for.
JJ’s breathing slowed to normal as he finally gained his composure.
“What do you say we go in and get something to drink?” Reid patted the boy’s shoulder.
He sniffled and nodded.
Reid pulled away and took a step back. Quinn’s neck still glowed a bright red. He touched it lightly, and she flinched.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. You just scared me.”
“No. I’m sorry this happened to you. I should have been there.” Guilt gnawed at his stomach.
She raised a hand to her neck but stopped before touching the raw flesh. Instead, she placed her hand against his cheek. “It’s not your fault.”
He wasn’t going to argue with her. Technically speaking, she was right. He hadn’t been the one to choke her, but he hadn’t been there to prevent it, either. That was an internal battle he would fight on his own.
She pulled her hair down from the messy bun it had been in and wrapped the loose strands around her neck, hiding the marks. Then, she scooped JJ from the car and carried him inside.
Reid bought a cup of ice, grabbed a handful of napkins, and created a makeshift ice pack with a plastic sack. It would help the swelling.
He helped settle her and JJ back into the car. “We really need to call this into the police. Not only did they break into my house, but they physically assaulted you this time.” He cracked his neck as he swallowed the lump in his throat. “They could have killed you.” His voice was a whisper as the lump landed heavily in the pit of his stomach.
