Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
D eke waited as long as he could before edging around the corner of his house and peering in the window of the lanai. Suzi sat with her back to him, even though she didn’t know it. Could she sense him? He hoped the knowledge he was coming for her comforted her.
Inside the lanai, Boucher faced away from him as well. He was fiddling with something in his hands, but from this angle, he couldn’t make out what it was.
He was talking to her. What right did he have to speak in her prescience? He shouldn’t even be able to breathe her air.
Boucher moved again. Whatever he was holding was dark and fluid. If he shifted to a better location, he might be able to tell what it was, but he might also be discovered. With Suzi on the inside near Boucher and him on the outside, he couldn’t risk it. He suspected the gun that had killed Crash was Boucher’s, and he probably still had it with him.
Then Suzi laid down the pen and held the paper out to her kidnapper. He looked over it and deemed it worthy. Big of him.
Taking her by the arm, he led her into the garage. What in the hell did he need in the garage? He fisted his hands to keep himself locked tight when what he wanted to do was rip the guy's arms off for daring to touch his Little girl.
When it became apparent they weren’t coming back out of the garage anytime soon, he considered breaking the glass and going in through the lanai. But that would alert Boucher of his presence, so he returned to the driveway and prepared to go in through the side door. At least when they were in the garage, he didn’t have to worry about them seeing him.
He felt, more than saw, his brothers come up behind him. It was a good thing they’d gotten there when he did. He’d decide the time for patience was over. Before he could activate the garage door, it began opening on its own. Everyone scattered to stay out of sight until they knew what they were dealing with.
Deke cut over to the grass and made his way to the edge of the opening garage.
The garage door ground and whirred as it rose, but there was something else. What was it? It was as if someone inside was pressing their face against an inflated balloon and trying to talk.
Wait, was that Suzi?
What the fuck was going on?
Unable to hold back, he ducked under the rising door and froze dead in his tracks. Horror, unlike anything he had experienced, even in the middle of heavy fire overseas, held him in place.
His Little girl, his Rosebud, had been standing on the seat of her motorcycle, but just as he ducked under the door, she slipped off the seat until her feet danced in the air, desperately seeking purchase but finding none.
“Little help!” he bellowed and ran to Suzi. Catching her at the knees, he lifted her so the rope didn’t put pressure on her neck. For some insane reason, she giggled.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a movement. Boucher came at him, hard and fast, and took him to the floor in a full body tackle, making him release his grip on Suzi.
Deke brought his knees up and planted his feet on the man’s hips. He shoved up with all his strength, flipping Boucher over his head. A satisfying grunt of pain echoed in the garage. In a flash, Law came from behind while Deke regained his footing. Spinning them so he faced Suzi, he roared at the sight of her dangling in the air.
“I’ve got him,” Law called. “Get your girl.”
Deke was on his feet before Law could get the words out.
Racing to her side again, he lifted. But this time, she was a dead weight in his arms.
Fuck.
Shit.
Fuck! Shit!
FUCK!
Reid had grabbed a ladder from the wall and set it up in front of Deke. Reaching up Reid cut the rope, dropping Suzi into Deke’s arms. He loosened the noose around her neck and pulled it over her head. Was she breathing? His mind was so fucked he couldn’t tell.
He put her on her back on the floor and put his hand on her throat. If she had a pulse, it was weak and thready.
Pinching her nose closed, he blew into her mouth, willing her to wake.
“Come on, babygirl. Breathe for Daddy.”
Nothing.
He tried again.
“I know it's hard, Rosebud. But I need you to breathe.”
Nothing.
He tilted her head back a bit to make sure her airway wasn’t restricted and then shared his breath with her again.
This time, she arched up into him and sucked in a breath. It was gasping and striated, but it was breathing.
He brushed her hair from her face. And pressed his lips to her forehead, her cheeks, her chin, her eyelid… any and everywhere on her beautiful face.
Her eyes flickered open. She squinted and tried to focus, letting out a couple of gentle coughs.
Her face relaxed, and she gifted him with a weak, timid smile. Reaching up with trembling hands, she caressed his cheek and beard with the palm of her hand.
“I knew you’d come,” she rasped. “I almost gave up, but deep down, I knew.” Then her eyes closed, and her hand slipped from his face.
“Suzi?” he called her. “Suzi!”
“Let me get to her,” Bones said, now kneeling beside them. He ran practiced fingers along her throat, then opened her mouth and shined a small flashlight down her throat. After listening to her heart through his stethoscope, he turned his head to Deke and smiled. “She’s okay,” he assured Deke. “She’d going to need rest, and a soft diet, btu she’d going to be fine.”
Suzi shook her head. Without opening her eyes, she said, “I don’t just need that. I need that and my Daddy.”
Her faith was humbling. What did he ever do to deserve her? He didn’t know. He didn’t care. He was hers, and she was his. He didn’t need anything more.