The Forgotten Heiress novel Chapter 30

Danielle screamed in outrage; a second later there was a tap on the door before it flew open. Danielle was carried in- kicking and screaming- and dumped in the tub. Her captor turned and made for the door like he was being chased by the hounds of hell and slammed it shut behind him.

"To call you a troglodyte would be an insult to a Neanderthal!" Danielle screamed at the closed door.

She flipped her hair back, out of her face, and Christian felt like he'd been kicked in the stomach. Even though he'd prepared himself for that moment the sight of her still stole his breath. In the years that had passed nothing had changed and never would.

Dani saw him and she stiffened but before she could say anything, Jason stuck his head back in, asking him for a quick word outside. Thankful for the reprieve, Christian backed out of the bathroom without taking his eyes off of Danielle and closed the door that would separate them.

Jessica was so relieved to see that Danielle was unharmed; she forgot her reservations and flung her arms around her.

"Jessica, what's going on?" They broke apart and she finally noticed Riley on the floor. "Oh my god, what did they do to him!"

She ran to kneel in front of him and began to check for wounds while Jessica grabbed a towel and ran it under the cold water. "They didn't do anything, Shane did." Jessica knelt on the other side of Riley and began to run the towel over his face. "Christian said he should be coming around any time now."

Danielle rubbed the side of her head. "I'm getting confused. How about you start at the beginning."

Jessica did just that, she told her about her first meeting with Nick and ended with her running up the stairs and being pulled into the bathroom by Christian. Before Danielle could ask any questions Riley began to groan and open his eyes.

"Oh thank god!" Jessica hugged her little brother and surprisingly Riley hugged her back. She felt tears forming and she buried her face in the crook of his neck. She was finally being hugged by her little brother and for the first time since she'd met him, they weren't at opposite corners of the ring. When she felt in better control of her emotions she pulled back and smacked him on the arm. "What the hell were you thinking when you stepped up to Shane?"

Riley smiled at her and used his thumb to wipe an errant tear off her cheek. "That you are my sister and no one else messes with you but me."

Jessica smiled back at him wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. "Thanks, but next time don't get hurt because of me."

"Now would be a good time to clue me in." Riley patted the floor next to him.

Jessica sat and told him the same story she'd told Danielle.

If there was one good thing that she got out of the whole experience it was the chance to connect with Riley and Danielle. For the first time they were talking without being prodded by their parents and getting along. Jessica wasn't a fool to think that everything was fixed, but she knew that they'd finally taken a step in the right direction.

It was just over an hour when they felt something crash against the house. The whole house shook from the impact. Jessica had just ushered Danielle and Riley into the bath tub when Christian rushed in, slamming the door behind him and bracing himself against it.

"He's here." He was looking at Jessica when he said it and she immediately knew who he was talking about. After a couple more crashes the house finally stopped shaking and everything went silent. Even then Christian kept his guard up. Tension was flowing out of him in waves and it proved contagious.

It was just after midnight when Christian stiffened when there was a knock on the door.