Richie tried his best not to seem suspicious of anything the rest of the day after the phone call, but he wasn't that graceful. He just had to keep telling Mac and Tessa that he was scared about Chloe. He was of course, but he didn't see that point in waiting until the middle of the night. He need some help and he knew exactly who he'd be asking.
"Tessa?" said Duncan walking over to her as she sat at the kitchen table. He knew what she was thinking and he himself had been doing the same the last few hours.
"Duncan, you have to get her back. God what if they've hurt her?"
"Tessa he's a man of his word. He's not going to harm her. I know that she can be brutal to other people when she wants, but he gave me his word that he won't hurt her. I swear to you that she'll be home."
"Duncan, what about Richie? He seems to be taking this hard. I think that he blames himself for not being here when this happened. He's thinking that he could have prevented it. I asked him earlier and he just won't talk to me."
"I'll go see what's going on with him," he said kissing her and going to find Richie
Duncan walked into the store to find Richie standing in the middle of the room just staring off into space. He gently touched Richie and he jumped a mile high. Duncan rather taken back by this didn't bother saying much.
"Mac gee you could have killed someone doing that."
"Is there something going on?"
"No, why would there be something going on?"
"Just wondering Tessa is worried about you."
"Why would she be worried about me? Chloe is the one that got taken right under our noses." said Richie
"She thinks that you are blaming yourself for not being here to protect Chloe?"
"That's nuts Mac I know that there isn't anything that I could have done. I might have made it worse if I'd have been here because something could have happened to me."
Duncan looked at the young man and saw something not right about the answer that he'd just given him, but he figured it was nothing and to let it go. He just had to know that Richie knew he'd bring her back to them.
"Richie you know that I'm going to do everything that I can to get her back right? I love her and I would never let anything happen to her. You guys mean the world to me."
"I know Mac. I just don't understand how they got in here without you guys knowing?"
"I think they were already in here waiting for us when we let in Ty."
"So Chloe was just their pawn to get to you? Why use her and not just come out and fight?"
"Because, he wants me to think about this. He wants me to be more focused on getting Chloe then on fighting him. If I let down my defense then he has the advantage."
"Mac you got to bring back Chloe. Tessa will die if you don't and I don't think any of us will be able to survive if something happens to her."
"I know Tough guy I'm going to bring her back."
Duncan walked out the door and into the night air. He whispered something before getting into his car and going to rescue his daughter. Duncan had so much running through is head. What Richie had said to him before he left, and the thought of loosing his family scared him.
"Come on eat something please? You don't want your father to think that I didn't keep my word."
"Go to hell."
"Fine have it your way. It's a pity that it'll be the last time that you see him."
Chloe wanted to cry and scream. She didn't believe that this was happening to her. Everything was wrong and she wanted to be home with her family safe. Would her father be able to save her even if he got here? How did this happen? What exactly did these people want with her father?
Richie snuck into the back of the car when Duncan was saying bye to Tessa. I something happened to Duncan then it was up to him to save Chloe and there was no way that he' d screw this up. Richie had a plan and he was going to follow through with it and show them that he was able to be the hero. The one thing that Richie hadn't thought of was that he had no idea what these people were like.
"Boss there is a car pulling up."
"Alright Chloe it's show time."
They walked out to greet Duncan. Chloe saw her father and wanted to scream but they had her gagged. The two men faced each other and Chloe tried to make out what was being said. All she knew was that they were both not happy and that her father seemed scared.
"I thought I said to come alone." said
"I did now where is my daughter I want to talk to her."
"First I want to be sure. Check the car."
Two of his men checked the car and found it empty. Then he told one of them to go get Chloe. Duncan saw her and his heart melted.
"Dad!" said Chloe trying to get away.
"Baby, I'm here."
They let her go and Chloe ran to her father. Duncan picked her up and held her. He started to cry and Chloe too. All he wanted was to walk away from this and go home. He knew that wasn't an option for him. Now he'd have to explain to Chloe what he needed to do.
"Dad come on lets go home," said Chloe pulling on his arm
"Baby, I need to take care of some business with him before I can go. I need for you to wait for me in the car. If I'm not back in an hour call mom and Richie to come get you."
"Dad, no, I'm not leaving without you."
"Chloe, I have to do this. Please just go wait for me."
"Dad…" she said with tears in her eyes.
"I love you." he said getting up and walking away.
"Dad!" screamed Chloe
"You know that I'd be more then happy to raise her as my own."
"Just fight."
Chloe waited for what seemed like forever when she saw someone standing by the car. She got out seeing who it was and saw that it was Richie. He scared her and he was glad to see her, but he was hurt. Richie hugged her like he'd never let her go. Chloe was confused as to where he came from.
"Richie what are you doing here?"
"I came to save you."
"Dad just left me here. Richie where is he? Your hurt."
"It's nothing I'm fine. Which way did Mac go?"
"No Richie don't leave me here. I don't know where he is."
"Chloe tell me where he went."
"Richie stay here with me."
Richie walked off in the direction of Duncan and Chloe was left standing by the car. She wanted to go after him, but she was too scared to move. All she wanted was to go home with them and forget that this had ever happened. How long had it been?
Richie saw lightening and started to run towards it. When he got there he found Mac laying on the ground breathing. Duncan opened his eyes to fine Richie standing over him and he nearly jumped out of his skin. Where had he come from?
"Richie what are you doing here did Chloe call you? Where is Tessa?"
"Mac relax Chloe is fine. I snuck in the back of the car and followed you."
Duncan gave him a glare that sent shivers down his spine. He knew that he was in trouble, but Duncan just took his sword and hugged him. They walked back to the car where Chloe was laying in the back seat asleep. Duncan and Richie got in and drove home to a very frantic Tessa. When she saw that Richie she started hugging him and checking him over for injuries, but she was also very cross at him fro sneaking off. Then Duncan walked in carrying Chloe in his arms and the first thought that ran through her head was that Chloe was dead. Duncan though reading her mind told her that she was just asleep and fine. He walked upstairs and placed Chloe in her bed and went to change his clothes.
"Duncan." said Tessa hugging and kissing him
"I love you."
"Is she alright? Where was Richie?"
"Richie wanted to be the hero and save Chloe and he snuck into the back of the car. Chloe though we need to be careful of. I have a feeling that she's going to take sometime to get over this. Don't' worry he took car e of her. I'm more afraid of the after affects of things."
"Mac?" said Richie walking into the room
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry for what I did."
"Richie we aren't mad that you tried to help we just wished that you would have told us how you felt. This was a situation that could have turned ugly fast. Next time tell us what you are really feeling and that way we can help you figure out what your role is." said Duncan
"Thanks, goodnight."
"Richie, one more thing you're grounded for a week."
"Aww, man I knew it was too good to be true. Night."
"Night."
