Page 16 of Dirty Money

The woman is in bad shape, and if she's been under Bradley's thumb for any length of time, she's right to be scared. He's volatile right now. I guess I'm waiting for backup after all.

I don't have to wait long. About fifteen minutes later, Sam, my police contact, comes in with his guys and surrounds the place. They call out to Bradley, but he doesn't respond.

Sam gives me a bulletproof vest and lets me know the team is going in. He knows me well enough to know I will follow them to get to Amber. Nothing could keep me from her. The police smash the door open and rush inside the house. But my gut tells me I should go to the back of the building.

A couple of cops see where I'm going and follow me, and we find Bradley getting into a car with the woman in it. I don't know what overtakes me, but I practically rip him from that car and start punching him. Sam has already given me clearance with the cops, so they give me about a minute before they pull me off him. They cuff him and read him his rights. Meanwhile, the woman cowers in the car.

I go to that side of the car and open the door.

"It's okay now. You're safe," I tell her.

"What if they let him go?"

"We've got him on more than kidnapping charges. But your testimony might be needed. Do you think you could do that?"

"I…I don't know."

I hear the sound of an ambulance and look to see the paramedics approaching.

"The paramedics will check you out. Stay here."

My phone rings, and I answer it. It's Sam.

"We've got her, Jason. She's downstairs in the basement."

"I'll be right there!"

I rush inside and down the basement stairs in less than a minute, and I see Sam cutting the restraints that were holding Amber. Anger floods through me at what that bastard put her through. I run to where she's sitting, now massaging her wrists. I kneel before her, my heart beating faster than I ever thought possible.

"I'm sorry, Pixie. I should have been there with you at the apartment. Will you forgive me?"

"God, Jason. It's not your fault. Will you hold me?"

"The paramedics need to check on you first. They're checking the other woman right now."

I want to hold her, but I'm afraid to. I don't want to hurt her. And right now, I'm trying to keep inside all the feelings that are overflowing. This is not the right time for a lover's confession.

"Who is she?" Amber asks.

"She's his girlfriend. Though I think she wouldn't call him her boyfriend now. He's been stealing from her."

Amber shakes her head, her eyes moist with tears. "Get me out of here, Jason. The paramedics can take care of me outside of this awful place."

"You're right."

I help her up, only to have her sway on her feet.

"My legs don't seem to work. I've been tied to that chair for too damn long."

"Here, let me."

I scoop her up in my arms and take her outside of this hellhole. I carry her to the ambulance and transfer her into the care of the paramedics.

"Don't leave me." She pleads when I step back to let the paramedics do their job.

"I'll be right here, Pixie."

The whole time the paramedics are tending her, she keeps her eyes on me as if I'd disappear if she took her eyes off me. I know I can't begin to understand the horror she's been through, and I'm eager to take her with me to my suite and have her safe in my arms. The medics say she doesn't need to go to the hospital, which she seems to be glad of, but that bastard punched her. Maybe she has a concussion, so I speak up.

---