Page 84 of Rescued Dreams

Kane’s—

“Focus, bro.” Kane was already over the barrier. “You with me?”

Ridge took a breath. Kane squeezed the back of his neck above the collar of his coat, and Ridge said, “She’s in there.”

“I know.”

Ridge stopped, not quite back at his crew. He bent and put his fists on his knees.

“Breathe.”

He sucked in a breath. The world closed in around him, and sound became a blur he couldn’t hear. Whomps instead of voices. Just a mass of sensation with nothing to pick out and anchor himself to.

Lord, You are with me. Be with her as well. I know she doesn’t quite believe, but she could. Draw her to You.

Kane’s hand was still on the back of his neck. The way it had been that night when Grandpa had died. Ridge focused on it, the steady presence of the man who was more like a brother to him than anything else, and his best friend. The only family who’d been worth anything while he was growing up, and even now, with the twins in his life—and his home—he still needed Kane to stand beside him.

Ridge straightened. The world quit spinning for a second.

“She’ll be okay.”

“You can’t know that.”

Kane had a look in his eye.

“What is?—”

“Maria is in there too.” Kane’s brows rose.

“What?” He dragged Kane by the sleeve over to his crew. “What do you mean, Maria is in there?”

Kane just shrugged, like it was a completely normal coincidence. “She was keeping an eye on Amelia today. It’s just that Amelia didn’t know she was there.” He grinned, but it didn’t last long. “When she went into the bank, Maria was waiting for her to come back out. Instead, she saw Elam go inside, followed by his guys. She went around the back and broke into the employee exit. Hid in the back when they locked it down.”

“You need to tell the police chief that.”

Kane nodded. “You’re coming with me. You need to hear what Maria told me.”

They walked together toward the two chiefs.

“Sirs?” When Macon and Conroy turned, Kane said, “My fiancée is inside the bank, and she’s been communicating with me.”

Conroy said, “How is she doing that?”

“She sent me a text to come here, and when I got in range, our comms worked.” Kane tapped his ear.

Macon frowned. “You and Maria wear comms earbuds all the time?”

“No,” Kane said. “We keep them on our person. Just in case.”

“Just in case what?” Macon asked.

Kane just shrugged.

“So we have eyes in there,” Conroy said. “And now we have ears too.”

Kane nodded. “Maria is with the group of employees. They have been whispering when they can about the Hilden family. Speculating about an account at their bank with the old man’s treasure in it. They figure the brother and sister are there to withdraw their money.”

Ridge folded his arms. “Why would Elam need to create a hostage situation to do that?”