LITMIR.BIZ

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headed for the front door, silently lifting a prayer that God would guide them to safety.

      A shadow on the other side of the window stopped her. Heavy footsteps pounded the concrete. Jessica did a quick assessment. The layout of the room made getting to the back door quickly impossible. She had no choice but to confront him in order to buy time for Andrew and Sarah to escape.

      The man who opened the door and blocked their path was thirtyish and built like an NFL linebacker. “Who are you?” he demanded when he saw Jessica. He zeroed in on the suitcase in Andrew’s hand then stepped inside and slammed the door. “I knew something was up when I saw Andrew’s car out front.”

      To Jessica’s dismay, Sarah ignored her wishes and responded to her husband. “I didn’t think you would be here.”

      He glowered at her. “No, you thought I’d still be in jail, didn’t you? Well, they let me go. They said your made-up story about me hitting you was bogus so they had to release me.”

      Jessica knew his statement was untrue—just more emotional torment—but she saw Sarah shrink at its impact.

      “That’s a lie,” Andrew said, stepping in front of Sarah in a protective manner. “The judge issued a restraining order against you and you’re already in violation of that order by being here. This can send you back to jail.”

      Robert’s nostrils flared in anger and the muscles in his neck flinched. Jessica stepped forward before this could escalate into an altercation between the two men. She hoped the icy stare she flashed Andrew penetrated his thick skull. What part of “don’t stop moving” did he not understand? The path to the back door was still clear. “Mr. Young, my name is Jessica. I’m a domestic violence crisis counselor. Sarah has asked for my help.”

      He had an angry stare that she was certain struck fear in anyone who crossed him. Now, it was specifically reserved for his wife. But that expression quickly faded and in its place a bewildered one emerged. A note of desperation crept into his voice. “What? Why?”

      Even though the situation called for a conciliator, the advocate in her fired up. The befuddled look on his face made her ill. These men always liked to play the victim. But she kept her tone deliberate and measured. “You know why.”

      From the corner of her eye, she spotted Andrew and Sarah finally moving toward the kitchen to escape through the back door.

      He shook his head. “Did Andrew bring you here? He’s never liked me. He has been trying to turn Sarah against me since the day we met. He tells lies and you believe them.”

      “No, the bruises on Sarah are all I need to convince me.”

      “She’s clumsy.”

      Jessica stared him down. “Sure she is.”

      Robert turned his attention to Sarah and Andrew, who were nearly to the back door. “Sarah!”

      “I’m sorry,” she cried, stopping and turning back to him. “Please don’t be mad.”

      Andrew reached for her arm and yanked her toward the door. “Sarah, let’s go.”

      Robert turned to intercept them through the front but Jessica matched his steps, firmly blocking his way. Thanks to her added height, she met him nearly eye to eye.

      His voice became low and threatening. “Get out of my way.”

      She refused to be moved. “I won’t let you hurt her again.”

      His jaw clenched and his body stiffened, sure signs that he was getting angry. She knew she should say something to calm him, but those words wouldn’t come. This was all too personal now.

      “I said, ‘Move!’” His big hands jammed her shoulders, pushing her to the floor. Pain seared through her head as it met the edge of the coffee table. A wave of dizziness and nausea swept through her, but she scrambled to get back on her feet. Her eyes refused to focus so Robert was a blur as he took off out the front door and across the lawn chasing after Sarah and Andrew.

      Jessica grabbed hold of the table and pulled herself up. She couldn’t allow him to reach Sarah. She wouldn’t let him hurt her again.

      She stumbled a bit as she ran after them but saw Robert reach the car moments after Andrew and Sarah hopped inside. She heard the distinct sound of the door locks and a wave of relief pulsed through her.

      Robert pulled on the handle then pounded on the glass. “Get out of the car, Sarah. Open this door and get out now!” His breath caused a fog on the glass. “Get out now or I swear I will kill you. And I’ll kill your brother, too!”

      She saw Sarah cover her ears to block out his tirade.

      As she approached the car, Robert focused his rage on Jessica. “This is your fault. You turned her against me.” His hand came out of nowhere and slammed into her face.

      Pain ripped through her cheek like a hot searing knife. She stumbled backward and fell to the grass, the hard lawn digging into her hands and knees. She heard heavy breathing as he leaned over her and when Jessica looked up, his muscles were tight and his eyes on fire. His hands were gripped into white-knuckled fists ready to do their damage.

      The squeal of the car tires was music to her ears. Jessica blew out a sigh of relief. No matter what happened to her, he would not get to Sarah.

      Not tonight.

      Not ever again.

      * * *

      “Don’t move,” Andrew ordered as he hopped from the car. He’d gotten Sarah out of the war zone, but he couldn’t let Jessica fight the battle alone. He grabbed his aluminum baseball bat from the athletic bag on the backseat. If Robert wanted a fight, he would get one.

      He ran back toward them. Jessica was on the ground kicking and fighting against Robert, who already had her one arm pinned with his knee. He was struggling to contain the other arm. She was a fighter but Andrew knew she wouldn’t last long against a big guy like Robert.

      “Get away from her!” he yelled, swinging the bat with all his force. Robert fell, clutching his side and groaning in pain.

      Andrew stood over him, ready to repay his brother-in-law for the damage he’d done to Sarah. He had Robert in just the position he’d longed for. All the anger and frustration he’d struggled with for months swept through him until he was dizzy with rage and all he could see was the target on Robert’s head.

      He’d teach him to beat up on his sister.

      “Don’t do it, Andrew.”

      The calmness in Jessica’s voice reached him through the pent-up indignation. He turned his gaze to her. Her blond hair was matted and red at her temple and her clothes were grass-stained. Blood trickled from her lip and her hose were torn. Yet her countenance was calm, controlled. “Sarah needs you.”

      He glanced back at the car. Even from this distance, he could see the look of horror on Sarah’s face as she climbed into the backseat and watched them through the glass. Yet even after all the stuff Robert had put her through, he was certain her worry was more for the man on the ground than for him.

      “Let’s go,” Jessica said, touching his arm, putting all her focus on pulling him out of this situation. Her touch had a soothing effect and the frenzied fury drained from him.

      She’d been right about his confronting Robert. It had definitely made things worse.

      Andrew pulled her to her feet then walked beside her, glad for the commanding stride she possessed even after such a beat-down.

      “Where’s your car?” he asked her.

      “Down the road. I’ll come back for it later.”

      He opened the passenger door to his car then closed it once she was safely inside, noticing that Robert was still trying to reclaim his sure footing. Andrew rushed around the car and slid into the driver’s seat, dropping the bat at his feet as he started the engine.

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