Chapter 154
Ridley’s POV
The warehouse loomed ahead of me, dark and abandoned. Albert had
tracked Selena’s phone to this location.
“Sir, I’ve confirmed movement inside,” Albert whispered, lowering his
binoculars. “Through the broken window–looks like several men
cornering a woman.”
My jaw clenched. What the hell had that crazy woman gotten herself
into this time? And why did I have this sinking feeling in my gut?
“We have enough men to handle whatever’s in there,” Albert assured
me, then pressed his ear against the corrugated metal wall. His face
went pale. “Wait… I think I hear Master Oliver’s voice.”
My blood turned to ice. “Oliver is in there?”
A child’s voice suddenly pierced through the walls, high and defiant despite the fear underneath. “Don’t you touch her! I will make you
pay!”
Oliver. My son.
1/6
Chapter 154
I shoved past my security team and kicked the door in myself. The
scene that greeted me ignited a rage I hadn’t felt in years.
Cedar was pinned down on the floor, a large man gripping her throat
while another tore at her clothing. Her eyes were unfocused,
movements sluggish–drugged. And above, suspended from an
exposed ceiling beam like some cruel exhibition, Oliver dangled by
his wrists, tears streaming down his terrified face.
“Daddy!” Oliver cried out when he saw me.
Selena stood in the center of the warehouse, her expression shifting
from triumph to terror as she registered my presence.
“Take them down,” I ordered my team, already moving toward Cedar.
The man holding her didn’t even have time to react before my boot
slammed into his stomach. As he doubled over gasping, I shoved him
to the ground and pressed my heel into his chest until he stopped
struggling.
Without missing a beat, I stripped off my suit jacket and wrapped it
around Cedar’s shoulders.
Behind me, my security team made quick work of the other men. All
of Selena’s hired muscle was neutralized. I caught Cedar as she
216
Chapter 154
slumped forward, her body burning with fever.
“Ridley?” Her voice was barely–audible, her pupils dilated from
whatever they’d given her.
“I’ve got you,” I assured her. “You’re safe now.”
“Daddy! Help me!” Oliver called again, his small arms clearly
exhausted from supporting his weight.
I felt Cedar stir against my chest. “Oliver,” she whispered urgently.
“They have Oliver… Save him.”
The familiarity in her voice struck me. Why did she sound so
protective of him? As if he were her own… How was that possible? My
mind raced with questions–was she somehow involved with Oliver
before tonight? Had she been captured trying to protect him?
But those questions would have to wait. My son’s safety took
precedence over everything.
“Albert, get my son down now,” I ordered, my attention split between
holding Cedar and ensuring Oliver’s safety.
“Yes, sir.” Albert moved swiftly to the pulley system, carefully
lowering Oliver until his feet touched the ground. He worked
3/6
Chapter 154
methodically to untie the ropes binding my son’s wrists, his
experienced hands making quick work of the knots.
I shifted Cedar slightly in my arms and crouched down to Oliver’s
level. “Are you hurt?” I asked, scanning him for injuries while keeping
my voice steady.
Oliver shook his head, his lower lip trembling: “I’m okay, Daddy. They
didn’t hurt me. They just scared me.” His small hands reached for me,
and I could see the rope burns on his wrists.
“We’ll have a doctor look at those,” I said, nodding toward his injuries.
Relief washed through me–he was frightened but essentially
unharmed.
Only after confirming Oliver’s safety did I turn my attention to
VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: We Want Mommy Not You Daddy (Cedar)