Chapter 18 Maddy #2
He put his finger to his lips, signaling silence. Then he made a series of hand gestures that Trinity, at least, would understand from growing up around military personnel. Hide. Take cover. Stay down.
Both girls nodded their understanding. He watched as Maddy called out something to Todd about needing the bathroom. Todd barely paid attention, just waved them off without looking. The girls moved quickly down a hallway, and Christopher heard a door close and lock.
Perfect. They were as safe as they could be for the moment.
His phone vibrated softly. A text from Logan: In position. The back door is accessible. Waiting on your signal.
Christopher texted back quickly: On three. Front and back simultaneously. Secure the suspect. The girls are in the bathroom down the hall.
He moved to the front door and tested it gently. Locked, but it was an old lock. Not much security. He could kick it in easily enough.
Christopher counted silently in his head. One. Two. Three.
He kicked the door just beside the lock with such force that the wood splintered around the old mechanism, and the door crashed inward.
“Get on the ground!” Christopher shouted, his weapon drawn and trained on Todd.
Simultaneously, Logan crashed through the back door with a sound like thunder. Todd spun between them, trapped, his face going from angry to shocked to terrified in the space of a heartbeat.
He reached for something in his pocket, and Christopher didn’t hesitate. He closed the distance in three long strides and took Todd down hard, slamming him face-first into the floor. Todd grunted as the air left his lungs.
“Hands behind your back,” Christopher ordered, his knee in Todd’s back, keeping him pinned.
Logan tossed Christopher a set of zip ties, and Christopher secured Todd’s hands behind his back with practiced efficiency. Todd was yelling now, cursing, threatening legal action, but Christopher ignored him completely.
“You have the right to remain silent,” Christopher said flatly. “I strongly suggest you use it.”
With Todd secured, Christopher stood and turned toward the hallway. “Maddy! Trinity! It’s Christopher! You can come out now! It’s safe!”
He heard the bathroom door unlock, and then two faces peeked cautiously around the corner. When they saw Todd on the floor and Christopher standing there, both girls came running down the hallway.
They threw themselves at him, and Christopher caught them both, going down on one knee so he could hold them properly. His heart was pounding, adrenaline still flooding his system, but he forced himself to be gentle as he checked them over.
“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” His hands moved quickly, checking for injuries, looking for any signs that Todd had harmed them.
Both girls shook their heads. “We’re fine,” Trinity said, her voice muffled against his shoulder. “We knew you’d come.”
Maddy nodded, tears streaming down her face now that the danger was over. “You’re our hero.” She glanced up. “You too, Logan. Our heroes.”
Christopher’s throat tightened, and he pulled them both closer. “I’m just glad you’re safe.”
Logan stood over Todd, looking genuinely disappointed. “I didn’t even get to clock him.”
Christopher couldn’t help but grin despite everything. “Maybe next time.”
“There better not be a next time,” Logan muttered, nudging Todd with his boot. “This piece of trash is going exactly where he belongs.”
The sound of sirens cut through the night air, getting progressively louder. Christopher’s contact must have called in law enforcement once he’d confirmed their location. Two police cruisers pulled up in front of the cabin, their lights painting the trees in alternating red and blue.
Officers emerged with weapons drawn, but Christopher was already reaching for his identification.
He showed his credentials and quickly and efficiently explained the situation.
The officers took custody of Todd, hauling him to his feet and reading him his rights properly as they led him toward one of the cruisers.
As they loaded Todd into the back seat, he started yelling at Maddy. “This isn’t over! You tell your mother that this isn’t—”
Christopher stepped between them, blocking Todd’s view of the girls. His voice was ice-cold when he spoke. “It is over. You’re going to prison for kidnapping, extortion, and child endangerment. The lawyers Charlie has lined up will make sure you never see daylight again.”
The officers closed the car door, cutting off Todd’s protests, and Christopher finally allowed himself to breathe properly.
The officers wanted to take statements, but Christopher shook his head firmly. “These girls need medical evaluation and their families. Statements can wait until tomorrow.”
The officers looked like they might argue, but one look at Christopher’s expression and the two terrified but trying-to-be-brave twelve-year-olds made them reconsider. “Tomorrow morning, then. We’ll need all of you at the station.”
“We’ll be there,” Christopher promised.
He and Logan loaded the girls into Logan’s truck, Trinity sitting up front with Logan while Maddy climbed into the back seat with Christopher. She immediately reached for his hand and didn’t let go.
“Thank you,” she whispered as they drove through the dark woods back toward civilization. “For saving us.”
“Always,” Christopher told her, squeezing her hand gently. “I’ll always keep you safe. Both of you.”
The drive to the hospital felt both endless and too short.
Christopher knew everyone would be gathered there, waiting for news on Gabe’s leg and Jane’s head injury.
He’d messaged Holly as soon as Todd had been secured and the girls were safe.
Holly had messaged back that they were all at the hospital, Isabella and Julie as well.
Jack had thought it safer for them all to stick together.
Christopher had told Holly they would meet them there, as the girls could get checked out as well.
They pulled into the emergency entrance, and Christopher could see the group gathered outside despite the late hour. As soon as his truck came into view, they started moving toward it.
Isabella saw Maddy through the window and broke completely. She ran to the truck before Logan had even fully stopped, yanking the door open and pulling her daughter into her arms. Both of them were crying, Isabella’s sobs mixing with Maddy’s as they held each other.
“I’m okay, Mom,” Maddy kept saying. “I’m okay. Christopher and Logan saved us.”
Holly was doing the same with Trinity, pulling her granddaughter into a fierce hug while tears streamed down her face. Jack had his arms around Jane, both of them trying to hold back the tears of relief.
Charlie appeared at Christopher’s side as he climbed out of the truck. She didn’t say anything, just squeezed his shoulder hard. Logan stood beside his truck, watching the reunions with moisture in his own eyes.
“Come on,” Holly said finally, when everyone had cried themselves out and verified that both girls were truly unharmed. “Let’s go upstairs. Gabe’s awake and absolutely furious about being drugged, but he needs to see Trinity.”
They all filed into the hospital and up to Gabe’s room. Christopher hung back slightly, letting the families have their reunion moments, but he heard the commotion when they opened the door.
Gabe was indeed awake, propped up in the hospital bed with his leg elevated and freshly casted. He looked furious about something until Trinity appeared in the doorway. Then his entire expression transformed.
“Dad!” Trinity ran to the bed, careful of his leg but climbing up beside him anyway. She threw her arms around his neck. “I knew you’d find us. I knew it.”
Gabe held his daughter with one arm, his other hand coming up to stroke her hair. Over Trinity’s head, his eyes found Christopher’s across the room. He mouthed two words: “Thank you.”
Christopher nodded. No other words were needed between brothers.
A doctor appeared in the doorway, looking pleased. “Good news about Ms. Christmas. Her brain scan came back clear. No internal bleeding. She has a concussion and will need rest and monitoring, but she’s going to be fine.”
The relief that washed through the room was palpable. Julie started crying again, and Jack pulled Jane into another hug, both of them shaking with emotion.
The doctor continued with an update on Gabe’s condition. “We had to reset the bone in your leg. I’m afraid you’ll need several more weeks of healing time, and you’ll need to be much more careful about staying off it.” He gave Gabe a stern look. “That means actually resting this time.”
Trinity looked up at her father with shining eyes. “Does this mean you have to stay home longer?”
Gabe managed a smile despite the pain medication making him groggy. “Yeah, sweetheart. Looks like you’re stuck with me for a while.”
“Good,” Trinity said firmly, snuggling closer to him.
In all the commotion and joy and relief, Christopher and Isabella managed to slip out into the hallway. They needed a moment alone, away from the chaos, the questions, and the overwhelming emotions.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Isabella threw herself into Christopher’s arms.
“Thank you,” she sobbed against his chest. “Thank you for saving my little girl. For saving Trinity. For putting Todd where he can’t hurt us anymore.” The tears came harder now, all the fear and terror and helplessness of the past hours pouring out of her.
Christopher held her, one hand stroking her hair, letting her cry. Letting her release everything she’d been holding in. When her sobs finally quieted to hiccups, he pulled back slightly so he could look into her eyes.
“I need to tell you something,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “And I know it’s insane. We haven’t even known each other for a week, but...” He took a breath. “I’m falling in love with you, Isabella. Actually, I think I’ve already fallen.”
Isabella’s breath caught, and fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. But these were different tears. “I feel the same,” she said immediately. “I know it’s crazy. I know it’s too fast. But I don’t care. I love you too, Christopher.”
Relief and joy flooded Christopher’s face. He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs wiping away her tears. Then he kissed her. Really kissed her. Not a quick promise or gentle comfort. This was real. Full of everything they’d been holding back. Everything they felt. Everything they wanted.
Isabella kissed him back with equal intensity, her hands fisting in his shirt, holding him close like she was afraid he might disappear if she let go.
Instead of the world fading away around them like in movies, applause suddenly broke out.
They broke apart and turned to see the hospital room door standing open.
Their entire new family was crowded in the doorway, watching them.
Gabe was grinning from his hospital bed despite the pain.
Trinity and Maddy were bouncing excitedly, holding hands and squealing.
Holly was crying happy tears. Charlie and Logan were smiling.
Jack had his arm around Jane, both of them clapping.
And Julie stood at the front, looking absolutely smug, as if she’d known this would happen all along and was pleased to be proven right.
Christopher laughed, keeping his arm around Isabella. He didn’t care that they had an audience. Didn’t care that they’d been caught. “Guess we’re official now.”
“Guess so,” Isabella agreed, laughing through her tears.
And right there in the hospital hallway, at the end of the worst day that had somehow turned into the best day, surrounded by the family they’d found in just one week, Christopher kissed Isabella again.
And everyone cheered.
“Wish number two—granted!” Julie ticked the air and grinned at Maddy and Trinity as they turned wide-eyed stares of disbelief on her.