Between us

Chapter 34

"Ryder, your phone is ringing." I said and wearily opened my eyes to look at the time. It's 3am and still very dark outside. Who would call so early? 

"Mhm, let it ring." He said and held me tighter and burried his face in my neck. 

"At least see who it is." I said and he groaned and dug his face deeper in my neck. "Ryder." I said sternly and he gave me a long passionate kiss before reluctantly answering his phone. 

"Storm." He answered and listened for a while. "What?! Are you sure?" He barked into the phone and jumped up from the bed and headed outside. 

I also sat upright and stretched while wondering what could be wrong. I had a feeling that something bad happened so I also got up and began to get dressed when my phone also rang. 

Lucy. 

With shaky hands I answered the call. "Lucy? What's wrong?" 

"Charlie, you need to come back immediately, I, I saw Dominic inside Riley's room!" She cried and fear took over my entire body. 

"W-Where's Riley." It felt like a cold hand was ripping out my heart. 

"S-She's here with me, she slept between me and Noah when I heard the noise. Noah rushed after him after I screamed, and some of t-the men also searched with him. I'm sure it was him, Charlie." 

"Lock the doors, Lucy! And keep my baby safe!" I cried and in that moment Ryder rushed in with a worried expression on his face. 

"Dominic." Was all he said before we both grabbed our things and rushed towards his car. He took off with a speed and held my free hand tightly. 

I heard Riley cry in the background and my breathing intensified. "Lucy, put the phone on loudspeaker, let me speak to my baby." 

"It's on l-loudspeaker, Charlie." Lucy sobbed. 

"Puppet? Hush my brave baby, mommy's on her way, right? And when I finally have you in my arms, I'm never letting go." I softly spoke and tried hard not to let my voice break. Eventually Riley stopped crying and tears began to fall freely from my eyes. 

"This is all my fault, I should've never brought you here, that son of a bitch must've stalked our movements, and now he wants my daughter." 

I wanted to assure him that it wasn't his fault, that he didn't cause this, but I couldn't find the words, as a terrifying realization crept in my mind. "Lucy, are you sure he's not still inside the house?" I asked softly, praying that he isn't still inside the house. 

The call got disconnected and that only urged Ryder to drive even faster. 
No, this can't be, Lucy and Riley are still safe, her phone battery must've died. Yeah, that's the only explanation my brain wanted to believe. 

Finally we reached our house and saw an ambulance and police cars parked in front. The car barely stopped and I dashed outside and pushed my way through the commotion. "Let me through! My baby's inside!" I argued when a policeman didn't let me through. 

"Let us through!" Ryder's deep voice growled behind me and the cop was visibly shocked. 

"Morte Nero, ah yes sorry, come through." He said and we rushed inside. 

In the crowd I heard Noah's voice calling out to me, but I ignored it when I saw Lucy getting carried out on a stretcher. There was blood oozing from her stomach and she was crying. "I'm sorry Charlie." 

"Where's Riley?!" I asked her urgently. 

"Teresa." Was all she said before they carried her inside the ambulance. Noah gave me a quick hug before joining her.  

I turned and saw Teresa and Jacob holding Riley tight. I went to them when Ryder grabbed my hand to stop me. I turned to look what's wrong when Dominic stepped outside the house cuffed up and several policemen taking him past us. 

I saw red. 

I rushed in front of him and gave him a tight slap. "How dare you come here to try to kidnap my baby?! I hope you rot in eternal hell!" I yelled but he only snarled at me. 

"We all know whose baby that really is. She's not Storm's baby, she's mine, Riley Gray." He said with a mocking grin and I began to hit his chest in rage. 

"Shut up!" I yelled again and Ryder had to pull me away from Dominic. 

"I'll make you wish you didn't step a foot in Rome." Ryder's voice was low and menacing, and even the policeman looked scared. 

"I'll wait for you, Storm." Dominic replied coldly, but fear was evident on his face. 

"You have to come to the station to give your statement, I'll prepare everything in the meanwhile." An inspector told Ryder and they began to talk. Meanwhile I rushed over to Riley and gave her a tight hug. 

"Come stay with us, dear." Teresa said and I nodded gratefully. I didn't want to be anywhere near this house right now. I watched as they tossed Dominic in the van, and felt relief washing over me like a warm blanket. 

They finally caught him.

"I'll tell Ryder about the arrangements, you three head on home." Jacob said and gave me a hug before we headed to their home. 

                                                                                         ~~~~~~~~

"Strong black coffee, no sugar." Teresa said and put a steaming hot cup in front of me where I was sitting at the table. 

"Thanks." I said absentmindedly and took a sip. "Noah had called, Lucy got stabbed in the stomach but the doctors helped her on time. She'll survive." 

"Oh, thank the great heavens." Teresa began with a smile and then her face turned serious again. "Any news from Ryder yet?" 

"No, not yet. He and Jacob are at the station trying to find out more info on Dominic." I began and she nodded. "He stabbed Lucy, but what if it were Riley? Or what if Noah didn't come on time? What if-" 

"Shush," Teresa said and stood up to give me a tight hug. "Everything will be fine, you'll see. Now drink this painkiller and go sleep, it's 5am, still very early." She ordered gently and I wanted to protest but she gave me a stern look. "Riley is a very active baby, she'll want your full attention later but then you'll be like a zombie. Go sleep, they'll both come with good news." I nodded and drank the pill, then I headed to Riley. 

I laid next to her and held her tight. Sleep quickly took over and about an hour later I could feel Ryder also climbing in the bed and holding us both tight. 

"I'll explain everything later, sleep now." He said and I cuddled closer to him. "We finally have him, and there'll be hell to pay." 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

A/n: Hey guys! 👋
Welcome back to another chapter of Between us! 

They finally caught Dominic! And luckily no one else got hurt in the process. (sighs relieved). 

*Just two more chapters left! Yeet! Time really flies when your life is falling apart...* 

Q: Now that they caught Dominic, will justice be served? Will Ryder turn into the fearful killer Morte Nero again? Will they really be safe this time? Stay tuned for more action...and drama! ^_^ 

Please forgive any typos and please comment...and don't forget to vote! ;)

Kind regards and stay safe :) 

A. Freeman 
 •••••