Luck And a Prayer
Шрифт:
One more block to go.
The building’s door swung open and a platinum blonde in form-fitting purple spandex flew out the door and fell directly into the man with Tracey. Tracey jumped back.
“Blondie!” Jack yelled as the woman slipped through his grasp and headed toward Jeff. Jack followed, leaving Tracey alone and giving Jeff the chance he’d been praying for. He lifted a hand and waved. Tracey’s eyes widened as she saw him, her gaze locking on his. Come on, Tracey. Let me help you, he pleaded silently.
Something slammed into him, knocking him flat to the ground. The concrete packed a wallop to the back of his head. Bright stars of pain danced before his eyes and he couldn’t find his breath.
The stars receded yet still he couldn’t see. Something dry and sticky filled his mouth; something soft and curvy filled his hand. He jerked his hand off the silky spandex and spat out a mouthful of fake hair. “Get off me, please,” he groaned and at the same moment inhaled the sweet scent of vanilla and cream. He was breathing again and the woman smelled wonderful, not exactly what he’d expect from someone with her questionable taste in clothing.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, and quickly righted her skewed wig. Curly wisps of red hair hung down from her temples mixing with the acrylic platinum waves. As she shifted, he felt a tug in his back pocket before her hipbone ground into his stomach. He groaned again.
“Thank the Lord above,” he muttered, as she finally rose off him.
“Come on, Blondie,” a deep voice said. “We have some business upstairs.”
Jack yanked her to his side. “Sorry, Jack,” she said with a saucy smile. “But I can’t. I’ve already got an appointment and it ain’t with you.”
“It is now.” He pulled her arm up behind her back. She winced and leaned forward, but didn’t make a sound.
“Hey,” Jeff protested, and started to rise, then fell back, shaking the momentary dizziness from his head.
“Jeff, are you all right?” Tracey kneeled next to him, her big, brown still-innocent eyes full of concern.
“You know this guy, Tracey?” Jack asked.
She turned to him, biting her lower lip. “Um, yes, sir. He’s the pastor at my church.”
Brushing off the pain, Jeff rose to his feet and dropped a protective hand on Tracey’s shoulder.
“Church, heh?” Jack chuckled, though his eyes gleamed with menace as they took in Jeff’s gesture.
She nodded. “Uh-huh, in Pasadena.”
“You’re a little out of your neighborhood, aren’t you, Padre?”
“Just here to pick up my girl,” Jeff said, and turned away from him and made strong eye contact with Tracey. She had a hard time holding his gaze, but his didn’t waver. “We’re going backpacking, remember? Everyone is waiting for you.”
“You wouldn’t believe what I caught Blondie doin’ this time, boss.” Another man, huge and brooding, grabbed the woman’s arm.
“Take her upstairs and see that she doesn’t get away,” Jack growled.
The woman’s green eyes met Jeff’s, surprising him with their fiery determination. This was a woman who could take care of herself. And yet… “Do you need help, miss? I’d be happy to give you a lift anywhere you want to go. Anywhere,” he emphasized.
The brute holding her burst out laughing.
“She can’t make it and neither can Tracey.” Jack took a step toward them, his face set in stone. Jeff gave Tracey’s shoulder a protective squeeze. “I believe that decision is up to the ladies.”
“Not anymore. I’m taking care of Tracey now and I can do it a whole lot better than the rest of you hypocrites.”
Fury swelled in Jeff’s chest. This animal preyed on lost women and children and he wouldn’t get his filthy paws on one of his kids. He’d die first. He took Tracey’s small shoulders in his hands and faced her, blocking Jack from her view. “Give me a chance, Tracey. Please. I’ll make everything all right at home. I promise.” His gut wrenched as fear and confusion flashed though her eyes. Please, God, let me have the chance to make it right this time. Don’t let me lose another child.
“Come on, Jack. Let the kid go,” the woman interrupted. “I thought you said we’ve got business.”
Jack sneered at her. “Like you’re worth it, Blondie.”
With lightning speed, she pivoted and brought up her knee—hard. The brute holding her doubled over, releasing his grasp. She jerked free, spun one hundred and eighty degrees, and kicked Jack’s granite face in rapid succession. Jeff almost cheered aloud.
Tracey groaned.
Blondie turned and to his astonishment gave them both a shove. “Run!” she urged.
Jeff didn’t waste a second. He grabbed Tracey by the hand and hauled her down the street toward the van. Within minutes they were locked inside and he was pulling onto the boulevard. He expected the woman in spandex would have disappeared, but there she was holding her own with Jack’s man. One lithe leg kicked high, knocking the brute in the chin.
“She’s amazing,” he said, awestruck.
“Unbelievable,” Tracey murmured. Jeff turned to his passenger tucked safe and secure in her seat belt and said a quick prayer of thanks, though he knew his job had only just begun. A squad car screeched to a stop in front of the apartment building as Jeff pulled past them. He glanced at his watch and then at Tracey. “If we hurry, we can still make it to our campsite by nightfall. Are you game?”
She looked at him, then quickly averted her gaze. He heard a soft “Sure,” and, for now, that was enough.
“Good, now call your mother. Tell her you’re sorry for worrying her half to death, then let me talk to her.”
Reluctantly, she took the phone. When she handed it back to him, he asked Mrs. Wilcox if he could still take Tracey camping with the others. “I think it will be good for her,” he added.
Luckily, she agreed.
At least for a few more days she’d be safe, and he’d have time to talk to her without distractions and reminders of what had happened here today. Perhaps then he’d find out what had gone wrong at home and he’d have his chance to put her back on the right path.