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Suddenly, the officer tasers Andre and hits him in the head.
“I don’t have a dog,” the officer mocks while Matty wisely runs to me.
His gravelly voice…
Even if there were a hundred other men here, I’d know who that voice belongs to.
“Stop right there.” I hear a gun cock.
I turn around, facing the man I’d wished I would never see again.
“I used to eat men like him for dinner.” Aidan nods at Andre, who’s lying on the ground. “Real-life fighting trumps bodyguard training.”
Aidan can fight, but Andre was ambushed because of an unthinkable disguise.
“Relax, he’s still alive,” Aidan drawls. “By the way, hello, Amalia.”
“Amber….” Matty murmurs. I stand in front of the boy, shielding him completely.
“It’s okay, Matty. I know this man.”
“Listen, kiddo.” Aidan rounds me to face Matty. “If you scream or run, I will shoot your lovely Amber. You won’t do that, will you?”
Matty shakes his head.
“Aidan, you want me.” His name tastes caustic on my tongue. “Here I am. Let the boy go.”
“Of course,” Aidan says. “Stand there, kiddo. Face the wall.” He points to the back wall of the workshop. “Don’t you move or say anything, or I’ll shoot her.”
“I’ll be okay, Matty,” I say, kneeling in front of him. Never mind what Aidan has in store for me—right now, I’m more concerned about the boy having a seizure. I hold Matty. “I know this man. He won’t hurt me.”
“But he hurt Andre.”
“I know. But he won’t hurt me. I promise. You do as he says, okay? I’ll go with him, but I’ll be fine.” I take off Rob’s gold chain and put it on Matty. “Will you keep this until I come back?”
“Don’t go, Amber.”
“You have to be strong for me. I’m counting on you. Take a deep breath.”
He does.
“Say you’ll be okay.”
“I’ll be okay,” Matty says tentatively.
“We’ll be okay.” My tone hardens while I put my hand on his shoulder.
“We’ll be okay.” Matty nods.
“Come on, Mary Poppins!” Aidan says.
“Go,” I say, encouraging Matty to face the workshop wall as Aidan instructed.
“Move!” Aidan points the gun right at my jaw, forcing me to desert Matty. “Don’t look, kiddo,” he warns when Matty discreetly turns to see what’s going on behind him. “Stay there until I’m gone.”
When we’re about fifty yards away from the workshop, Aidan drags me into a run with him through the forest-like backyard of the Hartley estate. He seems to be more familiar with Rob’s property than I am.
After running along a path, we come out on another road. There is a police car parked there, but I can’t see anyone in it. Meanwhile, Aidan drags me toward a turn, and around the bend another car is waiting.
