Race against time

The wicked Patrick Blake escapes from prison just as his ex-fiancée Maxine Minniver and his son Dodger Savage are getting married. When the bride to be is kidnapped-Dodger and his family and friends race to save the missing young woman!

"Dodger…" Maxine said in a scared voice as she was tied up tightly in her beautiful white wedding dress. She was set to marry her new fiancée Dodger-weirdly the son of her ex Patrick Blake but since he was thrown in jail for battery, she had moved on with the gorgeous boat owner and had never been happier.

Dodger hurried over to his girlfriend and wrapped his arms tightly around the terrified woman. He had been going out of his mind, trying to find her since he discovered she was kidnapped! He was so glad he found her in an abandoned warehouse.
"Oh my god. I'm so glad you're all right" Dodger said as he held her face in his hands, he was constantly worried about his poor fiancée and that really taken a toll on him.
Maxine nodded quickly. "How did you find me here?" She asked out of breath.

Dodger found a small pair of scissors and began to cut up the super strong rope that were tied around her wrists and ankles to keep her from moving. "Mostly the police, but also Sienna and Dennis helped" He said.

"Dodger behind you!" Maxine cried out suddenly with sudden terror in her face.

Dodger quickly turned to what scared Maxine and came face to face with his own father-the man who had been abusing Maxine for a long time and was finally caught. But it looked like he was back. "Dad? I thought you were in jail…" He said.

Patrick, a tall man in his forties smirked deviously. "Well…you thought wrong Mark" He said in his cold voice. "I had to come back and claim what was rightfully mine..." He continued.

Dodger shook his head slowly. "No. Maxine and I are getting married, we love each other" He said.

Patrick then reached for a pistol in his pocket and adjusted it so it would be ready before pointing it at his son or former son. He was angry to learn Maxine had moved on with Dodger and now…he had to pay for taking his place as the man Maxine loved.

"Patrick please! Don't shoot him!" Maxine cried out in anguish, not wanting to lose her fiancée just when things were starting to look up for them after being through hell and back to be together.

The evil ex-headmaster then pointed the same gun at his ex-fiancee. Maxine should pay just as much for what had happened.

Maxine automatically froze in fear, not wanting to be hurt.

"No" Dodger said before lunging at his father, his hand on the gun to keep it from going off. The two men struggled over the pistol-both aware it was going to go off any second until BAM

"NO!" Maxine yelled…

Chapter 1

A few weeks earlier…

Maxine stood in the kitchen of her boyfriend Dodger's boat making breakfast for the two of them. It was a beautiful sunny morning in Chester so she decided to open the blinds a bit. She decided on pancakes so she got some mix and eggs before beginning to whisk them together.

Dodger-a handsome young man in his mid-twenties suddenly came into the small kitchen and there she was-his beautiful Maxine making breakfast. He then then walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Hey you"

Maxine smiled as the feel of Dodger's arms around her. "Morning handsome, I was going to do breakfast in bed for you today" She said, kind of surprised he would be up this early but then again he probably woke at the smell of pancake batter.

Dodger smiled. "That would be nice Max, just you and me for a while before you head off to work" He said as he pulled away from his girlfriend and began to make some coffee.

Maxine still had her old job as an event planner and like always Dodger worked on his boat. Her job could be stressful at time dealing with clients' demands and that lot but it was well worth it at the end of the day just to come home to Dodger's handsome face. After all that she had been through with Patrick, she deserved to be happy and actually be in a relationship where she didn't have to walk on eggshells which was always what Maxine did when she with the older man. But Dodger-her Dodger to be exact was patient, understanding, sweet and accepted her flaws and all. Never did he once say she was fat, useless or a tart like Patrick always did.

"Sounds like a plan" Maxine said with a smile as she turned on the stove and began to make the pancakes by pouring the mix into a big circle on the pan before spraying it with cooking spray.

"Need any help?" Dodger asked as he stood at the stove next to her, silently marveling at her beauty. Maxine was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. Her big blue eyes made his heart pound in his chest, her smile made him weak in the knees and the feel of her soft skin against his made him dizzy with longing.

"No thanks babe, I got it" Maxine said before pecking his soft cheek and continued with her task, the sweet and buttery aroma of the mix filling up the kitchen.

Dennis, who was Dodger's cousin suddenly made his way into the kitchen and immediately smelled the delicious breakfast food. "Morning all" He said with a goofy smile. Dennis was always a jolly fellow with a big sense of humor and was quirky at times but loveable.

"Morning Dennis" Maxine said with a friendly smile as her boyfriend's cousin joined the couple. Dennis had become one of her closest friends and thanks to him and Dodger of course she was back to how she used to be-not some terrified woman always scared of making mistakes. On instinct, she leaned forward to Dodger and said softly to him- "I guess our for breakfast in bed are ruined".

Dodger smirked. "Don't you have to be somewhere Dennis?" he asked his cousin. The two men were as close as normal cousins could get but actually he was planning on having some Maxine time before work.

"Oh, you're right I do" Dennis said quickly before putting on his thick glasses and grabbing what he needed for the day before hurrying out the door.

Maxine laughed at the silliness of Dennis as she got out some plates for the pancakes. "He sure is a joy to be around" She said as she got out everything they would need.

"Yes but I know who's better?" Dodger said with a cheeky smirk as he wrapped his arms around Maxine like last time before Dennis came in.

Maxine giggled. "And who would that be?" She teased.

"Well...gorgeous event planners named Maxine Minniver" Dodger said as he began to kiss her neck which still had some of the feminine notes of her perfume left from the previous day. The scent drove him crazy and it had been for a while-since he first developed feelings for her and fell in love.

Maxine tried to keep her composure which was nearly impossible thanks to Dodger's kisses. He was so sweet and gentle, romantic with her but as she found out he could be quite fiery and passionate "Dodge...babe..."

"It's not my fault you look good in my shirts" Dodger protested. Maxine was in one of his plaid button downs and she looked so sexy in it, he couldn't help himself.

Maxine then turned to face her boyfriend before kissing him on his full lips, wanting to give Dodger what he wants so he would be happy. And if he was happy then she was as well.

Dodger brought Maxine closer to him-their bodies pressed together in intense passion; the threat of cold pancakes was so trivial and could wait. They had each other to take care of first. "Don't you have to get to work?" He asked against her lips.

"I do in fact or else I'm going to be late and my boss hates that" Maxine as she kept kissing Dodger.

"Well then you better get going" Dodger teased as he gently pulled away from her. He didn't want to stop and honestly wish playing hooky was an option.

Maxine gave him one last peck on the lips before disappearing into their bedroom. She found a trendy yet work appropriate blouse and skirt before doing her hair and makeup. As she in the middle of her grooming ritual, Dodger joined her and threw on a t-shirt.

Dodger couldn't help but have a nice long look at Maxine's curvy frame-the same one he wanted to touch and be close to for a long time during her relationship with Patrick. He then decided to push any reminder of his controlling monster of a father out of his mind and be happy he had Maxine with him now.

"How do I look?" Maxine asked as she did a turn for her boyfriend.

"Gorgeous as always" Dodger said honestly with an approving smile. He loved that tight black skirt on her-it showed off her nice, long tan legs but it wasn't outrageously short.

Maxine smiled before grabbing her bag and giving Dodger a kiss goodbye before leaving. "I'll see you tonight?"

"Of course. Have fun at work" Dodger said.

Maxine rolled her eyes jokingly. "Work and fun do not belong in the same sentence babe" she said over her shoulder before heading out the door.

Dodger sighed happily at good his life was going. He had his family or what was left of them since Will and Patrick were locked up, his mum Anna was dead thanks to his crazy brother and Liberty was working on her music career, he had his friends and Maxine as well. He had been through so much for his age-considering he was only 26 but all that pain had made him a better man.