Redeemed Hearts

by Susan Mason

  “It’s too dangerous.” He pinned her with a stern glare. “I’m bringing Matt because he knows his way around. If we find Lindsay, I’ll call you.”

  A jumble of emotions crossed her features. “Fine. But be careful. Please.”

  Conscious of Matt in the back seat, Aidan checked the strong urge to kiss her. “We will. Remember, ten minutes. Then call the chief.” He ignored Matt’s sputter of protest. Aidan got out of the car, sidestepping litter and broken bottles. The stench of urine and stale liquor assailed his senses.

  For all his bravado, Matt hugged Aidan’s back as they made their way down a dark alley.

  A silent prayer moved over Aidan’s lips. Please, Lord, keep us safe and help us find Lindsay before any harm comes to her.

  They entered the building through a side door.

  “Down the hall on your right.” Matt’s whisper seemed loud in the cavernous area.

  They inched forward in the blackness until a street lamp filtered through the broken windows, illuminating their way.

  Matt pointed to a partly open door.

  Noises from inside the room made the hairs rise on the back of Aidan’s neck. He looked around for a weapon. The only viable item was a plank of wood. He picked it up, and then motioned for Matt to follow. Aidan moved through the doorway into a huge room, and his hope to go unnoticed evaporated.

  Three dark figures whirled around.

  Tension cinched Aidan’s muscles. With sudden clarity, he realized how foolish he’d been to come here with only a teen for back up. He prayed Chloe would call Chief Hillier sooner rather than later. Better yet, that Mike was already en route.

  “Where’s my sister?” Anger laced Matt’s voice.

  One of the biggest guys strutted forward. The dark hood of his sweatshirt covered his head. “If it isn’t my boy, Matt.”

  Aidan took a protective step forward. “Just give us the girl and we’ll forget this ever happened.”

  The leader barked out a loud laugh. His cohorts joined in. “Why would we do that?”

  The two others moved forward, revealing a figure on the floor behind them.

  “What did you do to her?” The feral snarl erupted from Matt as he sprinted forward.

  “Matt, no.”

  The boy dove at the leader, butting his head into the guy’s stomach. The two hit the ground with a sickening thud.

  When the others rushed forward, Aidan had no choice but to fend them off. Swinging the board, he connected with one kid’s shoulder, knocking him over. Aidan’s arm throbbed from the contact, but he regained his balance.

  Matt was pinned under the leader.

  Aidan wielded his weapon again, knocking the thug off Matt.

  The other two rose and attacked as one.

  Searing heat exploded across Aidan’s shoulders. He let out a warlike yell and swung with all his strength, clipping one in the head.

  Matt clung to another guy’s back, choking him from behind.

  The leader staggered to his feet and pulled a knife from his pant leg.

  The air seized in Aidan’s lungs. God help us. Would Chloe have called Mike yet? As the knife loomed closer, Aidan feared it wouldn’t matter.

  Chief Hillier would be much too late.

  28

  The siren’s wail split the night.

  Chloe released a pent up breath. Thank you, God. It had been ten minutes since Aidan and Matt had entered the building. She’d called the chief as soon as they’d gone in. But Aidan and Matt hadn’t returned, and Chloe feared the worst.

  When the police cruiser pulled up behind Aidan’s car, Chloe jumped out onto the filthy sidewalk.

  Chief Hillier met her, with a fresh-faced deputy trailing behind.

  “Thanks for coming so quick.” She pointed to the alley. “They went in through that side door.”

  “Joe and I will check it out.” Mike motioned for the deputy to follow him.

  Chloe stood on the sidewalk, her emotions shredded. She couldn’t bear the thought of a possibly traumatized Lindsay being alone with gang members, or of Matt or Aidan being hurt. Ignoring her thudding heart, she entered the building.

  Immediate blackness enveloped her, swallowing her whole. Perspiration dripped down her spine as she flattened her back to the wall and tried valiantly to control her fear. A scream sent chills down her arms. Dear God, help us.

  “Stop. Police.” Mike Hillier’s voice boomed out.

  Chloe snapped away from the wall to a nearby doorway and peered around the frame. Terror clouded her vision as she searched for Aidan in the melee.

  Mike had one man pinned against the wall. Chloe made out two dark figures at the end of the room, but her focus snapped to the body on the ground. Her heart froze.

  Aidan!

  Joe held the radio to his mouth. “We need an ambulance at the abandoned warehouse on Thirty-Second Street.”

  Chloe’s knees almost buckled as she rushed to Aidan’s side. He lay very still, his eyes closed. Kneeling, Joe pressed his hand to Aidan’s shoulder, but blood continued to seep through, soaking his shirt and jacket.

  A sob rose in Chloe’s throat. She picked up his cold hand. “Hang on, Aidan. The ambulance is coming.”

  Sounds of distress came from behind her. Chloe turned to see Matt hunched over Lindsay on the ground. Dark patches of blood stained the girl’s dress.

  Chloe dragged herself away from Aidan.

  “Help her, Miss Martin. She’s dying.” Tears coursed down Matt’s face.

  Lindsay’s lip was split, and bruises had begun to bloom on her cheek. The neckline of her dress was in ragged tatters. More bruises marred the whiteness of her arms.

  From where the blood was situated on Lindsay’s dress, Chloe had a pretty good idea of the cause.

  Hot anger surged through her. What had Lindsay done to deserve this? Hadn’t she been through enough misery in her short life?

  She brushed a hand over the girl’s hair. “Hang on, honey. We’re here now, and no one’s going to hurt you again.”

  ****

  Chloe’s back ached from sitting on the hard plastic chair in the hospital waiting room. The overhead lights blinked and buzzed in annoying spurts. She pushed the hair off her face, fighting the fear that threatened to consume her. If someone didn’t come out to tell her something—anything—about Aidan or Lindsay, she would storm the cubicles.

  Beside her, Matt sat with his head hunched over his knees.

  She placed a tentative hand on his back. “I’m sorry Lindsay didn’t tell you about the baby. She didn’t want anyone to know.”

  A tremor went through him.

  “I want to kill Dylan Moore. And those animals—”

  “It won’t help Lindsay if you get into more trouble,” Chloe said gently. “She needs you to be strong now.”

  Matt swiped an arm over his face and turned away.

  “The best thing you can do for her is testify against the guy Chief Hillier caught. With your word, the chief’s, and Mr. North’s, he’ll go to jail for sure. He might even be persuaded to turn in his friends.”

  Matt lifted terror-filled eyes to her. “The others will kill me,” he whispered. “Why do you think I didn’t get out long ago?” A look of complete hopelessness settled over his features.

  She laid a hand on his arm. “You’re not alone. You have all of us behind you.”

  A doctor clad in green scrubs entered the waiting area. “Miss Martin?”

  Chloe shot up. “Yes.”

  “Mr. North would like to see you now.”

  “Will he be OK?” She gripped her hands together to control the trembling.

  “I believe so. He has a pretty nasty stab wound, but we’ve stitched him up. As long as he takes it easy for the next few weeks, he should be fine.”

  Relief flooded her body, leaving her weak. Thank you, God.

  “How’s my sister?” Matt asked.

  “Another doctor is with her. You’ll have to wait until he comes out.”

&nbs
p; Matt shoved his fists into his pocket and slumped back in his chair.

  “Will you be OK for a few minutes while I check on Mr. North?” Chloe asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “I won’t be long.” She followed the doctor past several curtained areas.

  He pointed at a cubicle. “We’ll be moving him to a room shortly, but you can go on in.”

  “Thank you.”

  Aidan lay completely still on the bed, his face as pale as the sheet covering him. Bulky bandages swathed his shoulder area, and one arm lay limply on top of the blanket.

  He could have died tonight. Her throat tightened, and tears stung her eyes. Chloe raised a trembling hand to brush the hair off his forehead.

  His eyes opened, and a faint smile bloomed. “Hi, beautiful.” His voice rasped out in a hoarse whisper.

  “Hi.” A tear slid down her face. “How are you feeling?”

  “Not bad. I think the drugs are working wonders.” He nodded his head toward the IV pole. Behind it, monitors blinked.

  “Can I get you anything? Water? Ice?”

  “Nope. Having you here is all I need.”

  “That’s all I need, too. To know you’re OK.” More tears blurred her vision. “When I saw you on that floor, I thought you were dead.” Her world had almost crashed around her.

  Aidan lifted his good arm and placed his palm against her cheek. “I’m alive, thanks to you. You called the chief right when I asked.”

  “Actually, I called him the minute you went in.”

  He gave a short laugh, and then winced. “I should’ve known.” His breathing grew shallow. “How’s Lindsay?”

  “We’re waiting for news. The doctor’s still with her.” Now was not the time to tell him everything.

  “Did—did they catch them?” The effort to talk seemed to drain him of energy.

  “They got one guy. Mike is hoping he’ll give up the names of the others.”

  Aidan’s lids began to droop.

  “You should rest. Save your strength.”

  He opened his mouth to speak, but she silenced him with a quick kiss. “I’ll be back after I check on Lindsay. You sleep now.”

  He mumbled something before his eyelids fluttered closed.

  As Chloe stepped away from the bed, she thought she heard him say, “I love you, Chloe.”

  ****

  Chloe leaned against the wall in the corridor, her heart thundering an uneven beat. Had Aidan really said he loved her? She took in a shaky breath and attempted to focus on the kids. Matt needed her strength and calming presence. She only prayed Lindsay’s prognosis was as positive as Aidan’s.

  As soon as Chloe arrived in the waiting room, Matt stopped pacing the floor.

  “Any news on Lindsay?” she asked.

  He shook his head.

  Anxiety built to a painful pressure. She looped an arm around his thin shoulders. “Come on. Let’s talk to the nurse.”

  The plump woman at the desk gave Chloe a sympathetic smile. “The doctor will be out when he’s finished. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a bit longer.”

  “Could someone at least get us an update?”

  The nurse nodded. ”I’ll see what I can find out.” A few seconds later, she returned. “Good news. You can see her now. I’ll take you over.” She led them down the hall, past Aidan’s curtain to another cubicle.

  The doctor came out as they arrived.

  “How’s my sister?” Matt asked, his voice anxious.

  The gray-haired man gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “She’s got some fairly serious injuries, but she should make a full recovery.” He paused. “I’m sorry to tell you that she lost the baby. Miscarriages at this stage of pregnancy are common, especially after the trauma she endured.”

  Poor Lindsay. How would she handle this devastating news?

  “The worst of her injuries are a broken arm and two broken ribs. We’ve set the arm and taped the ribs as best we could. The other lacerations and bruising we’re treating with ice and painkillers.”

  “Can I see her?” Matt asked.

  “Sure. Just try not to wake her. She needs the sleep right now.”

  Matt stepped into the cubicle.

  Chloe turned back to the doctor. “Were you able to tell if…” She trailed off, unable to voice to her question.

  He gave her a frank look. “Besides the miscarriage and broken bones, there was no other sign of trauma. She was beaten, nothing more.”

  “Thank you, doctor.” Chloe exhaled deeply. One thing to be grateful for.

  “Do you know if the girl’s parents are on the way? We need her medical history as well as insurance information.”

  Chloe stiffened. “I’ve left a message for her mother. The father’s out of the picture.” She prayed Mrs. Brown would pick up her voice mail message and get to the hospital.

  “Let me know when you hear from her.”

  “I will. Thank you so much for your help.”

  He gave a brisk nod.

  Chloe pushed through the opening in the curtain.

  Bruised and swollen, Lindsay barely resembled the girl who’d arrived at the party that night. Her broken arm lay on top of the covers, the pink cast giving a garish glow. IV tubes snaked down to her taped hand.

  Matt’s head lay on Lindsay’s good arm. Quiet sobs shook his frame. “I’m so sorry, Linds. This is all my fault.”

  Chloe slid beside him and laid her hand on Matt’s back. “It’s not your fault, honey. You’re not responsible for what they did.”

  His shoulders continued to shake.

  Chloe pulled up a chair and prepared to share his vigil. “Come on, let’s pray for Lindsay and Mr. North.” As she took Matt’s hand and prayed out loud, she offered a silent entreaty to God for Matt’s deliverance from the guilt that haunted him.

  29

  The throbbing in Aidan’s head paled in comparison to the heat that shot through his shoulder. He groaned and opened his eyes. The smell of antiseptic and cleaning supplies made his stomach roil. He tried to push up with his good arm, but fell back, panting, when pain seared him.

  “Let me help you.” A tall nurse pushed a button to raise the head of the bed and rearranged the pillows behind him. “How are you feeling this morning?”

  His face ached, fire burned his throat, and his head spun in dizzying circles. “I could use another dose of pain meds.”

  “We’ll give you something after I take your vitals.” She recorded something on a chart at the end of the bed. “If you’re up for it, you have a couple of visitors.” She handed him a small cup with pills and some water.

  Chloe. Anticipation had his pulse roaring. He took the meds in a daze, his mind moving to last night. Hazy memories of her hand on his forehead, her lips brushing his, flitted across his mind. Did he dream it? “Send them in.”

  Moments later, Maxi’s elfin face appeared in the doorway. Her hazel eyes clouded with concern as she leaned over to kiss his cheek.

  Aidan winced even at that feather touch and tried not to let his disappointment show.

  “You gave us all a scare, mister. What were you thinking? Charging into that building with only a teenager for back-up?”

  “I know. Dumb move.” A sickening thought hit him. “Matt wasn’t hurt, was he?”

  “He’s fine. And Lindsay has some bruises and broken bones, but she’ll be OK.”

  Broken bones? An image flashed in his memory. The inert form of Lindsay on the warehouse floor, her dress covered in blood. Broken bones wouldn’t have caused that.

  A light knock drew his gaze across the room.

  Chloe stepped inside. “Can you handle one more visitor?”

  The pleasure of seeing her eclipsed his pain for the moment. “Sure. Come in.”

  She looked like an angel in a white frothy blouse with her hair caught in a loose ponytail at the nape of her neck. In the morning light, her eyes appeared almost golden. She moved in beside Maxi. “How are you feeling?”

 
; “I’ll feel a lot better when the pain meds kick in.” As much as he loved his sister, he wished she would leave him alone with Chloe. He had a lot he wanted to tell her. Like his last thought before blacking out had been of her. And the one regret he’d had was that she’d never know he loved her. He planned to remedy that fact before the end of the day. Studying her, he noted her pinched features and the sadness in her eyes. “How’s Lindsay?”

  “She’s stable. I’m going to see her after you.”

  “And Matt?”

  “Physically, he’s fine. But he’s feeling incredibly guilty. I couldn’t get him to leave Lindsay last night.”

  Their gazes locked. He longed to take her hand, but not with Maxi there. Instead he tried to convey comfort with his eyes.

  Maxi cleared her throat. “Well, I’ll leave you two alone. Don’t wear the man out, Chlo.” She leaned over to kiss him again. “When they let you out of here, Jason and I want you to come and stay with us. Mama’s frantic, so I’ll go over now and reassure her.”

  “Tell her I’m fine. And thanks for the offer. I might take you up on it.”

  “You will take us up on it.” She shot Chloe a mischievous look. “Unless Chloe wants you all to herself.” Chuckling, Maxi swept out of the room.

  Chloe pulled a chair over. He reached through the metal bars and entwined his fingers with hers. “What’s Lindsay’s real condition? Everyone’s been so vague.”

  “She has a broken arm, cracked ribs, and her face…” Chloe’s voice wavered and she swallowed hard.

  The air whooshed out of Aidan’s lungs. Those animals had beaten her. If only he’d gotten there before the damage had been done.

  Cool fingers touched his jaw. “You and Matt saved her life, Aidan. Be happy things weren’t worse.”

  The raw emotion swirling in the golden depths of her eyes mirrored his own unsettled feelings. “I saw a lot of blood on her clothes. Was that from the beating?”

  The fingers gripping the metal bar of his bed turned white. “Indirectly. Lindsay had a…miscarriage.”

  “Lindsay was pregnant?” His voice nearly failed him.

  “Yes.”

  Realization slowly dawned. “You knew about this?”

  Misery shone in Chloe’s eyes. She nodded.