Chapter 7 - The Rescue Operation
"CLAIRE! MOVE!" Eric screamed.
He grabbed my waist and threw his weight against me, sending us both tumbling off the muddy embankment just as the silver SUV tore past at sixty miles per hour.
The heavy vehicle crashed violently through the iron rear gates of the estate, spinning out on the slick asphalt of the canyon road before slamming into an oak tree.
Steam poured from the crushed radiator of Cross's SUV.
Eric scrambled up the embankment, pulling me to my feet. "Are you okay?!"
"I'm fine! Go!" I yelled.
Eric sprinted down the road toward the wrecked vehicle, pulling a heavy tactical flashlight from his coat. I followed right behind him, the freezing rain soaking through my clothes.
Inside the crumpled driver's side of the SUV, Daniel Cross was groaning, blood trickling from a cut on his forehead. He feebly reached for a handgun resting on the passenger seat.
Eric kicked the shattered driver's door open, reached inside, and grabbed Cross by his coat collar, dragging the billionaire out onto the wet asphalt.
He swept the gun off the seat, tossing it into the brush.
"It's over, Cross," Eric growled, pinning the man against the side of the wrecked SUV.
Daniel Cross looked up through the rain, his face twisted in venomous rage. "You think you've won, Whitaker?! You think a former foster trash kid can destroy me?! I have lawyers! I have judges! That boy belongs to me!"
"That boy doesn't belong to anyone," I said, stepping up beside Eric, my voice loud and ringing clear over the storm. "He is a human being. And his mother is free."
Sirens wailed in the distance as four federal law enforcement vehicles rounded the bend, their red and blue lights flashing brilliantly against the rain and fog.
Agent Martinez and six tactical officers spilled out, their weapons trained on Cross.
"Daniel Cross!" Agent Martinez announced loudly. "You are under arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigation!"
Cross was forced onto his knees, heavy steel handcuffs snapped around his wrists. As they dragged him toward a federal transport van, Cross stared at Eric and me with pure, impotent fury.
Ten minutes later, inside the medical transport unit on the estate grounds, Maya Bennett lay on a gurney wrapped in warm blankets. An IV line was flushing the sedatives from her system.
When she saw Eric and me step into the back of the ambulance, tears welled in her dark eyes.
"Eric..." Maya whispered, her voice frail and raspy.
Eric rushed to her side, taking her hand in both of his. "I'm here, Maya. It's over. Cross is in federal custody."
Maya looked past Eric, her eyes landing on me.
"Claire," Maya choked out, reaching her trembling hand toward me.
I stepped forward and took her hand, squeezing it gently.
"Is... is Noah okay?" Maya begged, her tears overflowing. "Did Cross hurt him? Please tell me my baby is safe..."
"Noah is perfect, Maya," I said softly, wiping the tears from her cheek with my thumb. "He's sleeping peacefully at our estate under armed protection. He's safe. I promise you."
May you like
Maya let out a long, sobbing sigh of relief, closing her eyes as she squeezed our hands. "Thank you... thank you both... I didn't know where else to turn..."
"You turned to family, Maya," Eric said, his voice thick with emotion as he kissed her hand. "And family doesn't let you fall."
