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“Do you think I was born yesterday?”
“If you want your money, you’ll let me get my phone.”
Milton started walking backward toward the door. “Don’t move.”
Adelia waited until the moment he turned his back, and she was off of that chair in a heartbeat, racing toward the back door as fast as her legs would take her.
“Hey!” he cried as she whipped open the door and took off down the steps toward the beach.
She could hear his heavy footsteps behind her, and she took the stairs as fast as she could and ran toward the trees beside the house. The branches snapped beneath her feet and did the same with each of Milton’s steps as he grew closer. Adrenaline pumped through her veins as she reached the top of the hill beside the house. She would run down the road to the neighbor’s house if she had to.
But she didn’t get that far because just as they came up beside the house, Milton caught up and grabbed hold of her from behind.
“Let go!” she cried as he lifted her off the ground.
“It didn’t have to go this way!”
Her mind traveled back to the self-defense classes her dad had made her take when she was younger. What had they taught her to do when a man grabs you from behind with his arms around the waist? All her training came racing back, and she threw her head back against his face, connecting with his nose, and he cried out in pain and loosened his grip. She spun around and kneed him between the legs, and he toppled to the ground in agony.
The squeal of tires caught her attention, and her heart soared at the sight of Oliver jumping over the gate and running toward her, followed by his partner. Her chin quivered as she ran toward him, and they came together in a tight embrace, while Carmen went to cuff Milton.
“It was Milton Hanley,” she whimpered.
“I know, baby.” He held her head against his chest as she let out the emotion. “We’ve got him now. You’re safe.”