Chapter Twenty-Five
Sean pulled up to the library, and Ava leaned over the console for a kiss.
He snorted and kissed her. “I’m just going to go to park the truck. I’ll be right in.”
“You guys are being silly. Nothing has happened in over a month.”
“Too bad. You’ll have to suck it up for me.”
Ava rolled her eyes before walking up the library steps, unlocking, and opening the door. She walked inside and let the door close behind her. The sound seemed to reverberate through the building. A shiver ran down her spine, and she thought about waiting by the door for Sean.
“I’ve got to stop.” She shook her head and walked to her office. The hand that closed over her mouth startled her so much, she froze.
“I’m getting rid of you for the last time.”
She heard the male voice but didn’t know who it was. She dropped her purse and started to struggle when he pulled her toward the back door. The guy had skinny arms but was still a lot stronger than her.
Oh, God, Sean, please hurry.
She kicked over as much as she could for Sean to see or hear when he came in. When the guy got to the back door, he pushed it open with his shoulder and yanked her out into the alleyway behind the library.
“You ruined everything.”
She tried to pull his hand away from her mouth, and when she couldn’t, she bit down. He yelled and shook her off but then grabbed her again when she tried to run.
“If you let me go, you’ll have a head start.”
“Head start?” the man asked.
She looked him over. He was in his late twenties. Actually, pretty close to her own age, she guessed. There was something off about him, but she couldn’t see what it was.
“My boyfriend, who used to be a cop, will find my purse and come out and get you.”
“I don’t care.”
She struggled against his hold as he pulled her farther down the alley. When she saw the blue Ford, she struggled for her life because she knew if he got her into it, the likelihood of her surviving was low.
She screamed and kicked her feet against the fender as he tried to open the door.
Ava felt the man yanked away from her, making her collapse to the rocky ground, and watched as Sean hit the guy several times. She called out when it looked like the man was unconscious, and Sean seemed to want to keep going until the guy was dead.
“Sean, stop,” she screamed. “Sean!” She struggled to her feet. “I need my daddy.”
Sean stopped immediately and dropped the man to the ground. He turned to her and caught her up in his arms. “God, honey, I shouldn’t have let you go in alone. I’m sorry.”
She tucked her face against his neck. “Don’t. You got to me in time just like I knew you would.” Her head raised when she heard several men run their way but then relaxed against him. She couldn’t get herself to calm her heart and breathing and concentrated on that while he talked to the police. She felt a shaking start in her arms and legs, and then heard Sean curse.
He picked her up, walked around the group of people helping the man, and took her back into the library to her office. Once inside, he sat down on her chair and cradled her against his chest. “Easy, baby. Slow down your breathing.”
She tried and shook her head when she couldn’t seem to get enough air.
“Baby, listen to me. Breathe with me. Take a breath … Hold it … that’s it. Let it out slowly. Another. Another. Keep going.”
The panic that had been building started to recede. Pretty soon, the shaking calmed down enough so she could rest against his chest.
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Good girl.”
She finally noticed the few men standing in the doorway. She hadn’t realized her grip on his arm tightened, and she pressed herself closer to him.