Page 67 of Rescued Dreams
TWENTY-THREE
Acar pulled into the drive. Amelia watched as it rolled slowly down the gravel toward where she stood in front of the house. Kane and Maria were close by. The twins had gone to school hours ago, and Ridge had to be on shift later, but right now he was beside her.
The light breeze making everything feel colder than it should be ruffled her hair. At least it wasn’t raining.
“Tell me again why we agreed to this?” She glanced at Ridge, who had been in the kitchen this morning making pancakes. Sweats and a tight T-shirt, his feet bare.
That little peek into his personal life had been like being launched away on a rollercoaster. They’d gone from easing into personal conversations to sleeping in the same house in just a week. She felt like she’d been spun around too fast and was still trying to get her balance at the sudden change.
“Elam offered information freely, but this was the price.” He didn’t look any happier about this situation than she was, which counted for something. But not enough to void the fact that he’d gone out with Kane last night and not woken her to tell her. Though, the way he’d told it, Kane hadn’t even told him they were going after Elam. Just that they were following a lead.
“He could have knocked on the door when he got out of prison.” For her father, this would’ve been about leverage. And when had Elam been so different from him? “Now I have to let him walk through the house and do whatever he wants? There’s nothing I can do about it. He could take anything…or burn the place down.”
All that had been her fear every night she’d stayed in the cabin out back.
That something terrible would happen during the night.
But last night, she’d slept great and woken up in Ridge’s bedroom—which had been a little unnerving, if she were honest. Her cabin had become a sanctuary, not just a home. His place was different from her style, but knowing she was safe in a way she might never have been before counted for a lot.
Ridge said, “It sounded like he just wanted to retrieve something.”
Even though she didn’t think there was a huge payout hidden somewhere by Steven Hilden, her brother might be aware of something in the house. A secret compartment where the old man had left…whatever he would leave. Amelia tried not to think about it.
“I hope so. This could go so many different ways, and most of them are nasty.” She glanced at him. “Did I tell you what kind of kid he was?”
“Sorry, but it’s a means to an end.”
“I’m just scared.” She had to admit that to someone. “Not that I think he’s going to make my life a nightmare. It’s that hecould, but I have no idea if he intends to or not.”
Ridge’s expression softened. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
The car stopped on the gravel in front of them.
She felt Ridge’s hand a second before he slid his fingers between hers. Her brother climbed out of the passenger side, which meant he had someone in his life he trusted to drive him around…or he was honoring the fact his license had no doubt expired while he was in prison.
He still had that long hair he’d grown in high school. Their father had hated it long and threatened to shave his head clean while he slept, but the elder Hilden had never followed through on it.
He’d much preferred the mental game of fear.
Elam’s hair was tied back behind his head. He wore a T-shirt over jeans, with a denim jacket over the shirt. Black boots. Chains around his neck, and a few days’ worth of stubble on his jaw. He was more slender than he’d been before prison, but at the same time he seemed more solid. As if he was tight-packed muscle under those clothes.
“Elam.” She had no idea what to say. It wasn’t really nice to see him, but she did live in his childhood home.
Did he want it back?
“If you want the house, you should just ask.” Amelia tried to sound strong but not obstinate. With the weight of fatigue on her shoulders, she had to fight to be who she wanted him to see her as. “It’s been on the market for a long time. No one else wants it, so there wouldn’t be any competition.”
Elam’s expression shifted. “No kidding.”
Not what he’d expected her to say, she supposed. She wasn’t going to be who he thought she was, because he’d never bothered to get to know her. And wouldn’t now—hopefully. As far as she was concerned, he could have the house andshewould leave. He’d never have to see her again.
Elam gave the house an assessing look.
Ridge said, “Not a bad place to house a criminal empire. You and all your buddies. There’s plenty of room.”
“It would be a little on the nose, considering the house’s history,” Elam said. “Don’t you think?”
Amelia didn’t know whether to laugh or not. “Well, I don’t want the place. And no one else will buy it. Maybe you should take it off my hands.”
