Page 111 of Rescued Dreams

Ridge glanced over and saw Maria put her arms around the girls. “Where is Amelia?” He turned to Cherry as he said it.

“He’s a madman. I don’t know where he went or what’s happening. I’m not responsible for this!”

Interesting that she felt as if she needed to clarify. Because of Basuto’s comment, or because of something else? Ridge said, “Where did he go?”

“Did he say anything to you about his plans?” Officer Thomas asked her.

Cherry shook her head. “I need to go. I can just drive myself.” She looked at the rubble, what remained of the house. “I don’t want to be here.”

A small thump sounded from the trunk of her car.

Cherry launched into loud wails. “You can’t keep me here! I’m a victim!”

Ridge opened the passenger door, spotted the button on the key fob, still in the ignition since she hadn’t turned off the car, and hit the button to open the trunk. Basuto got there first.

Ridge spotted Amelia’s hair color, and Basuto hauled her out of the trunk.

Kane said, “Watch out!” But his attention was on the back window.

Ridge looked and saw a dark figure crawl over the seats and hit the gas, throwing the car into Drive. Amelia fell out onto Basuto, her hands tied behind her back.

The engine revved.

Ridge went to her but glanced over at the car now careening down the grassy hill with the trunk open. The driver’s door slammed shut.

Officer Thomas and a number of the other cops raced after the car with their weapons drawn. Aimed. Officer Thomas stopped, his feet apart. He squeezed off a shot at the car.

The volley of shots that followed was deafening. Glass splintered, and the engine whined. It swerved to the side and slammed into a tree.

The cops ran to it while Basuto grunted, shifting out from under Amelia. He got up just in time to see the other officers pull Nicholas out onto the ground.

Ridge turned to Amelia. Kane crouched and cut her hands free, then untied the cloth around her mouth. She looked about as haggard as Ridge felt, but she’d never been more beautiful.

Ridge wound his good arm around her and pulled her onto his lap while she let loose the tears. He held his arm around her, babbling nonsense that sounded reassuring.

Basuto hadn’t moved from beside them.

Ridge looked up at the guy, and it nearly made him pass out. Okay, so maybe he needed to get seen by a doctor.

“Sorry I didn’t believe you.” Basuto lifted his chin. “Old wounds I didn’t realize were still there.”

“Do me a favor?” Ridge lifted his chin as well.

Basuto said, “What’s that?”

“Grab Cherry before she flees. She was in on it with Nicholas.”

The minute everyone had turned to the fleeing car, Cherry had tried to make a run for it. Trotting off like a person unaccustomed to exercise. Still, she was halfway across the yard already.

Basuto took off after her.

Amelia twisted around and looked in the direction he’d gone. “He needs to get you a helicopter to take you to the hospital, then he and I can call it even.”

Kane came over and crouched. “Amelia, you okay?”

She nodded, sitting up a little. When Kane walked away, she turned to Ridge. “You were shot.” Her body shuddered, her voice raw. “I thought you were dead.”

He touched her cheek and leaned his forehead on hers. “I think I might be. It hit the vest, but it still hurts.” Actual tears rolled down his face. He had to suck in a breath. “Don’t let me pass out.”