Takeoff (Open Skies #5) - Becca Jameson Page 0,70

tired of cowering every time these freaks came near, Raeann shoved to her feet and ran for the door. She had to wave her hand through the air to dissipate the smoke enough to see, but when she squinted, she saw a lady hurrying toward an idled car across the street.

Raeann took off running toward them. Lucky for her, the bitch couldn’t move very fast. She was wearing a long black skirt and she was not young.

The driver put the car in gear and was rolling forward to meet her friend on the move. Raeann got to the passenger just as she opened the door before she could climb inside. She grabbed her by the back of her blouse and jerked her back, taking her to the ground before the woman had any idea what was coming.

The bitch fought her, clawing at her and scratching her arms. Kicking—as much as she could with that stupid skirt.

Raeann was stronger, younger, and more determined.

“Oh my God,” Heather screamed. “Raeann.”

Shadows came over Raeann as she managed to pin the bitch’s arms to the ground and stuck a knee on her chest.

The driver was screaming at Raeann to let her friend go. She kept rolling forward. Raeann thought she might actually drive off, possibly running both of them over in the process, but Raeann wasn’t willing to release the bitch under her for any reason.

Suddenly, someone opened the driver’s side door and hauled the woman out of the car. While the crazy lunatic was shouting at the top of her lungs, whoever was manhandling her managed to hit the brakes and turn off the engine.

“The police are on the way,” Heather said.

Raeann heard sirens in the distance, but she did not let up on her hold on the woman under her. In fact, she pressed her hand into the lady’s face and turned it to the side so she didn’t have to look her in the eye. She’d never felt so violent, but a lifetime of harassment had driven her to the edge.

Plus, the bitch kept trying to wiggle free as if there weren’t twenty bystanders ready to deck her.

Whoever was holding her partner in crime on the other side of the car was experiencing a similar battle. The driver sounded like she was putting up even more of a fight with all her wailing.

The first police car on the scene squealed to a stop, and Raeann was glad to see Hendrix and Parks jumping out of the vehicle. They rushed forward, Hendrix aiming for Raeann while Parks went for the other woman.

“You can let her go now,” Hendrix stated, her hand on Raeann’s arm. “I’ve got her.”

Raeann drew in a deep breath as she met Hendrix’s gaze. Her jaw was tight with rage. She was shaking. Furious. So very angry. Years of aggravation were streaming out of her.

Hendrix waited, not saying anything else while she held Raeann’s gaze. Finally, she whispered. “I know. I know. Let me take it from here.”

A hand landed on Raeann’s back, and she jerked her gaze to the side, her adrenaline pumping so high she thought she might haul off and punch whoever dared to interfere.

It was Deacon. How the hell had he gotten here? “Let Hendrix take it from here, baby. It’s over.”

Raeann released the woman, rose to her feet, and stumbled backward away from Deacon, running a hand through her hair. Her heart was racing so fast as she took several steps away from the scene. She felt like she was watching everything unfold around her as if she weren’t really there. Like it was a movie or she’d died and was hovering.

The sounds were muffled. So many people shouting and moving around. It felt like the world was spinning. Raeann feared she might faint. What was Deacon doing here? How had he gotten here? She met his concerned gaze, blinking, wondering if she was imagining him.

And then he reached out slowly and set his hand on her shoulder. He eased her into his embrace and flattened her against his chest. “It’s okay,” he muttered into her hair.

She was shaking, but his hands on her arms and then her back helped calm her incrementally.

Deacon finally leaned back to meet her gaze. “I nearly died when I saw you take off after that bitch. What were you thinking?”

Raeann looked around, ignoring his question. “What are you doing here? How did you—”

“Sweets called me. He heard you mention stopping by the condo. I didn’t want you here without