Page 88 of Rescued Dreams

Della shrugged, catching the eye of a cop and waving. The woman actually blushed, which was interesting. Her Indian heritage gave her gorgeous Middle Eastern features. But it was the care she showed toward victims, particularly children, that made her a great person.

Ridge said, “The explosion could have been planned not just for if the police tried to open the doors but also for him to deliberately set off so he could escape in the confusion.”

“That’s a risky move, but I wouldn’t put it past him to kill everyone inside just so he can have all that money.” She wasn’t sure what route she’d have chosen if she were Elam. As if she would ever rob a bank—even if he’d called it a withdrawal. “How did you guys get in?”

Izan clapped Ridge on the back of the shoulder, jogging them both. “Your boy here got us onto the roof next door, and we shimmied over a ladder between the buildings like we’re the highwire guys in a circus.”

Amelia lifted her brows.

“The cops wanted to do it first,” Ridge said, a gleam of little-boy delight in his eyes. “But we had to make sure it was secure.”

“All right! If you’re not a cop, you need to make your way outside.” Basuto waved them all toward the door. “Ms. Patterson, don’t go far.”

She didn’t respond to him. Her head thrummed with pain, and she touched her fingers to the spot. Ridge caught her hand. “Careful. We need to get that looked at.”

Amelia nodded, which made her head hurt more.

“Come on.” He walked her out, heading for the front door.

“No ambulance.”

He turned them around to go the other direction. “We’ll go to the truck.”

She liked that idea much better. Ridge held her steady all the way out the back door, and before long, he was lifting her by her hips to set her on her seat in the front—his seat.Theirseat. Until she passed the lieutenant’s test and got her spot back.

Then where would he be?

Amelia decided not to worry about that right now. Ridge took a look at her head and shone a light in her eyes. He shook an ice pack to activate it and said, “Hold this to the spot where it hurts.” So she knew she wasn’t bleeding and didn’t have a concussion.

Ridge grabbed the handle at the top of the door, leaned in, and kissed her. “I’ll tell the chief we’re headed back to the house.”

Amelia closed her eyes in lieu of nodding.

She watched him jog away to the back door of the building, speak with Macon, and then jog back. He closed the door for her, and she buckled her seatbelt with only a little help from Della.

Amelia tried to turn around and look at the back seat. She twisted most of the way before it hurt, far enough to say, “Thanks, guys.”

“You think we’re gonna leave you to those cops?” Della snorted and put the truck in Drive, easing slowly down the lane behind the building. “They don’t call the shots. We’re the real heroes.”

Amelia frowned. What was that about? “Are you okay, Della?”

“Sure.” She cleared her throat. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Izan chuckled and leaned forward to squeeze Amelia’s shoulder. “We didn’t know you were in there when we showed up, but if we had, we’d have driven faster to get there.” He frowned at Della. “I could take a turn driving anytime you want.”

Della said, “I don’t.”

Ridge snorted. Even the floater laughed.

Izan said, “I took a picture of Ridge on the ladders between the roofs. I’m gonna blow it up on canvas and put it on the wall in the firehouse kitchen.”

Amelia grinned. “I want a copy for my house.”

The truck jerked, the engine stuttering. Della said, “What?—”

A loud bang sounded behind them, and the back of the truck lifted up. Flipped them over. Amelia saw a ball of fire in the rearview and didn’t even have time to gasp.

The truck slammed back down on the street.