"We got to where we are because our choices mapped the route and paved the road."
Craig D. Lounsbrough

As Pete and I reached for our door handles to exit the car, headlights approached, and a dark-colored sedan pulled into the house's driveway.

My heart rate accelerated so quickly that I felt it would leap out of my chest.

"Well, this just got complicated," Pete announced the obvious.

I stay silent as a man exits the vehicle with a small bag. According to photos, his build looks similar to Robert Anderson's, but it's too dark to identify. 

He enters the home, and suddenly, it's entirely lit up inside.

I open my car door. "Come on, let's get a closer look."

Pete follows me down the block. We crouch down behind the bushes of the neighboring house before making our way to the target house. We keep low and out of sight.

Once we approach a curtained window, Pete and I take opposite sides. We communicate wordlessly with our hands. I signal him by pointing at myself, then up, letting him know that I will look into the window, and he nods his understanding.

Slowly, I raise myself just enough to observe through the sheer curtains that the room is a pale yellow kitchen with a patterned aged tile floor. The space is empty except for the major appliances.

A man emerges from the hallway and passes by a door and the archway leading into the kitchen.

It's then that I can confirm that Robert Anderson is the man we saw getting out of the vehicle earlier.

I motion to Pete, making a gun with my forefinger and thumb, turning my thumb down, and pointing into the window, informing Pete that our suspect is inside the house.

He nods his head and points to my jacket. I look down and see that my phone is illuminating my pocket, indicating that I have a message. I crouch back down and pull my phone out to see that I have a text from Jerry.

Robert Anderson wasn't home. His wife has no idea where he is or how long he's been gone.

I type out my reply.

He's at the Blanken home. Pete and I are currently observing the situation. I will keep you posted.

As I was putting my phone away, I caught sight of Jerry's response.

Don't do anything stupid.

While I was on the phone, Pete was watching through the window.

I glance up at him and tap his back. He responded by moving his two fingers while pointing them down to simulate walking, then shrugged, telling me that Robert had moved out of our line of sight.

Shit.

I join Pete at the window. Just as my eyes reach the glass, Robert reveals himself again. He's in the hallway between the kitchen archway and the door. He grabs the doorknob, and for some reason, he stops and looks around. Pete quickly ducks beneath the window sill, but I don't move a muscle.

Do you see me, asshole? Come out here, and let's settle this, you fucking coward.

Pete reappears next to me as Robert opens the door and switches on the light, displaying a set of stairs. He begins to descend to what I am sure is a basement and Cindy's location.

I look at Pete, knowing he knows what I'm thinking. We immediately run towards the front door.

Thankfully, the cocky son of a bitch left the door unlocked. I enter the well-lit house first, followed by Pete. We step as quietly as two full-ass grown men can towards the open basement door.

I stop dead in my tracks when I hear Cindy's voice. Relief floods me as I give Pete a knowing look and smile when I see his face mirroring mine. It takes everything in me not to run down the stairs and beat the shit out of Robert fucking Anderson for stealing my girl. Instead, we creep closer to listen in on the conversation. We have no clue where Robert's head is, and we don't want to take the chance of him losing his shit and hurting Cindy.

Once we get closer, I can hear my girl giving Robert a piece of her mind.

"What the hell are you even doing back here, Robert? What happened to not wanting to babysit me?"

God, I love that woman.

When I hear that asshole's voice, fury burns inside me, threatening to consume me right where I am.

"It's time," he says in an emotionless monotone voice.

I hear the crinkling of the paper bag and give Pete the signal that now is the time to move. I have a terrible feeling that whatever is in that bag is not good.

We both pull our weapons and swiftly descend the stairs.

I first see my sweet Cindy's eyes meet mine and widen. A huge smile spreads across her beautiful face. I return her smile as Robert turns to see where Cindy is looking.

When I see the injury on Cindy's head, my smile drops, and my brows furl in anger at the man who dared to touch my fiancee.

I shout with authority, "Police. Stop right there, Robert. I will not hesitate to end you."

Robert freezes, and I notice his hand still inside the bag.

"Slowly remove your hand from the bag and drop it. Kick the bag away from you and place your hands behind your head," I direct him, attempting to keep my tone steady and in control. "I swear, Robert, one wrong move, and it will be your last."

Before I can blink my fucking eyes, Robert grabs Cindy by the hair, yanking her towards him. I see my most significant fear play out before me as a flash of metal emerges when the paper bag falls away from Robert's hand.

Cindy gives me a loaded look, not out of fear but total confidence. It is then that my training kicks in. Cindy drops, making her body go slack. The only thing Robert has is her long hair in his grasp. My finger immediately squeezes the trigger, and my bullet finds its target right between Robert Anderson's eyes. At the exact moment, another shot hits him square in the chest.

Robert falls back, taking Cindy with him.

Pete and I rush over. Pete untangles Cindy's hair from Robert's grasp as I drop to my knees. I pull the love of my life into my arms. My throat constricts as my heart beats so hard that I'm sure she can feel it through my chest.

Through her tears, I hear her repeat. "I knew you'd save me, I knew you'd save me."

I place my palms upon her tear-stained face, look deep into her chocolate eyes, and kiss her hard. There is no tenderness, no seduction; our kiss is desperate and needy. Our tongues do not fight for dominance; instead, they are equally aggressive. Each of us wants the other to know that we are in this life together, we will never give up on each other, and nothing will keep us apart.

Footsteps are pounding down the wooden staircase and jerk us out of our intense moment. Cindy and I turn our heads to see Jerry and Frank entering the basement with their guns drawn.

"Dad!" Cindy's full, puffy lips call out to her father.

"Dee!" Jerry's face is pink after exerting his energy running down the steps, but his smile reveals his happiness from finding his daughter safe and unharmed.

"Why is Dee still shackled to the wall?" Jerry says, clearly annoyed that I haven't freed his daughter from her restraints.

"Shit, Babe! I'm sorry," I say as I remove my handcuff key from my jacket and work on releasing her wrist from the pipe.

Cindy leans into me and whispers, "That kiss was worth waiting to be freed."

I shiver as her breath tickles my neck, and her words squeeze my heart.

Jerry speeds over to us and takes one look at Robert's dead body. His lips curled, and his forehead wrinkled in disgust for the man who dared to kidnap his daughter.

As soon as I free Cindy, Jerry reaches for her and helps her. She places her blood-splattered arms around his waist, and he embraces his daughter tightly. I can't see Cindy's face, but I see tears spilling from Jerry's eyes, so I walk away to give them a moment.

I take in the scene before me. Uniformed officers enter the basement, and Frank is in full detective mode, instructing the officers to secure the crime scene. Robert's body lays in a puddle of his blood, and it takes everything in me not to go over and kick the lifeless asshole.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, causing me to look in that direction. Jerry is standing there with Cindy. Their matching red-rimmed eyes show no sadness but relief that this nightmare is finally over. 

Jerry speaks first, "My daughter would like to go home, but I was hoping that you would back me up. I think that she needs to get that head injury looked at first."

She looks at me with those deep brown, determined eyes, "I refuse to go in an ambulance."

It amazes me the strength my love has. I swear that whatever this woman wants, come hell or high water, I will give it to her. 

I grin and tell Jerry while keeping my eyes connected to my favorite chocolate orbs,  "I'll drive her, Jerry, and I promise to get her evaluated by a doctor before I take her home."

Satisfied, he hugs Cindy and kisses the top of her head. "Call me when you get home. I want to know what the doctor has to say. Also, Frank is going to need a statement. He can wait till tomorrow, but ensure you contact him.

She hugs him back. "I will, Dad."

Jerry shakes my hand and nods before heading over to Frank.

I grasp Cindy's hand. "Let's get you to the doctor."

"Can't we go home? I guarantee that I will make it worth your while." She looks at me, and I swear I see sparks in her dark eyes.

Shit.

"Babe, as tempting as that sounds, I made your dad a promise, and I'm a man of my word." I can hardly get the words out because going home and taking her into my arms is all I want to do.