Chapter 274 Only a Child
Gabriel turned his head and stared at Ethan, who was earnestly tapping away on his iPad, his hand suddenly clenched tight.
"I found them, they're near South Alley, but I can't determine the exact location," Ethan announced.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at South Alley, and after some tracking and investigating, they pinpointed the kidnapper's location.
The place was a dilapidated area of ancient buildings awaiting demolition.
"Oww... Mommy, where are you?" Emma's crying voice came through, and Ethan wanted to rush forward but Gabriel held him down.
"Stay in the car!" Gabriel advised, firmly.
"I have to save Emma! She must be so scared right now!" Ethan insisted, his eyes were red as a rabbit's.
"Trust me, I will get her out," Gabriel said, looking into Ethan's eyes, his hands firmly pressing down on Ethan's shoulders.
Ethan gradually calmed down. "You have to save Emma, otherwise I won't acknowledge you!" he demanded.
Gabriel's heart jolted, and his face tensed. "I will!" he promised Ethan.
Watching Gabriel's broad back as he turned to face the danger, Ethan was deeply moved. If only he were as strong as Gabriel, then he could protect his sister and his mother. But he was still too young, and too small!
Emma's pitiful cries grew fainter, and it felt to Ethan, as if by some telepathic sense, that his chest was heavy and uncomfortable. He felt that Emma must be in pain; she had to be hurt.
A gunshot "bang" sounded, and Ethan sat up straight, staring intently down the road.
Gabriel picked up the barely breathing little girl from the ground, blood spilled everywhere, and he tried hard not to move too much, handling her with the utmost care for fear of causing her more pain.
"Bad, bad daddy?" Emma thought she was mistaken, calling out in a tiny voice, her tears all spent, her eyelids fighting a battle, she was so sleepy, so very tired.
Before drifting off, she mumbled, "Emma hurts, and wants Mommy's kisses."
Gabriel's hands were also stained with blood as he leaned down to whisper in Emma's ear, his voice hoarse, "Okay, you'll get Mommy's kisses."
The criminals didn't escape; they were all caught.
Sophia rushed to the hospital as soon as she received the call.
Outside the operating room, there were only Ethan and a few police officers.
Sophia called out, "Ethan." She embraced Ethan.
Ethan could no longer control himself, as smart and strong as he was, he was still just a child. In his mother's arms, tears came pouring out.
"Mommy, Emma lost so much blood, a lot, she must be in pain, she's so afraid of pain, she will cry, Mommy..." he cried, telling her his worries.
Sophia held Ethan tightly, her eyes blurred with tears as she looked up at the police. "Please, tell me, how is my daughter?" she asked.
Sophia's heart clenched painfully.
Emma was severely injured! Why Emma? Why her child? Why hadn't they taken her instead?
It would have been so much better if they had taken her. Since she was an adult, she could handle the pain.
Emma was still so young. She had never experienced such suffering before.
Sophia hugged Ethan, soothing him with gentle strokes down his back.
An hour later, Gabriel was wheeled out of the operating room. His face was pale, but he was conscious.
Seeing Sophia, he gritted his teeth, "Sophia, you better have a good explanation for this!"
Sophia's mind and eyes were only for her child. She asked, "Where's Emma? How is she?"
Gabriel closed his eyes, maliciously thinking to let her worry and give her a piece of his mind. He didn’t answer on her purpose, to make her anxious.
The nurse pushed him off to his room while Sophia continued to cradle Ethan, waiting outside.
About twenty minutes later, the doctor finally came out.
"How's my daughter?" she asked immediately.
The doctor answered, "She's out of life-threatening danger, but she needs to be under observation in the ICU, and family members can't visit for the time being."
Sophia's heart sank and then she stood still, overwhelmed by concern again.
Stark Arya supported Sophia. "Don't worry too much, Emma is going to get better," she reassured her.
"Mrs. Arya, thank you," Sophia said. Collapsing into Stark Arya's arms, Sophia's tears fell, uncontrollably. Stark Arya gently patted her back like a mother would.
At that moment, Sophia felt as though her real mother was there with her, and she sniffled hard. Ethan, quietly cradled in Colin's arms, watched his mom cry, and he felt like crying too.
Sophia refused to go home and insisted on staying outside the ICU.
Stark Arya tried to persuade her for a long time but couldn't change her mind.
"Aren't you going to make Ethan suffer outside here with you?" she asked, making Sophia waver.
Ethan spoke up, "I want to stay with Emma too. I'm not going home."
Sophia sat in the chair, holding Ethan tightly. With no other options, Stark Arya left Colin there to take care of them.
"Mr. Colin, you take Mrs. Arya home. Ethan and I will be fine here; this is a hospital. The kidnappers have been caught, and we won't be in any danger anymore," Sophia urged, not wanting to be too much trouble for Colin or Mrs. Arya.
"Let Colin stay," Stark Arya declared with finality.
Alex approached them. "Kelly, take the kids and get some rest in the ward. I've sorted everything out," he said.
Sophia shook her head.
Alex reassured, "I'll keep watch here. I'll call you immediately if anything happens."
Sophia got up, holding Ethan, and said, "All right, thank you for your help."
"It's no trouble at all. It's what we should do," Alex assured.
Once things were taken care of by Gabriel's men, Stark Arya and Colin finally left the hospital with peace of mind.
Sophia didn't feel the slightest bit tired. She stayed up with Ethan in her arms until dawn.
At the police precinct, Tiffany was drinking milk while on a phone call.
"Caught? Serves them right. I warned them not to stir the hornet’s nest," she chided, "Those idiots!"
Tiffany felt a hint of regret.
The Raskolnikov brothers were loyal to a fault, they were willing to do anything for what they considered their duty.
She had merely hinted to them that it was Sophia who had helped The Parkers win their court case, and they were all too eager to avenge Raskolnikov Rodion.
What a shame they were so foolish!
She had advised them to wait until that little girl was alone before making a move. But they were too impatient. Now, they were all arrested, and she didn't even know what to say.
Luckily, she had not been involved in it. All she did was stir the pot a bit, then vaguely point them in the right direction.
Hence, the police couldn't trace anything back to her.
"What?" Tiffany's face went pale as she heard the message on her phone. She stood up in shock as she asked in disbelief, "Gabriel was also involved in the rescue?"
Why would Gabriel be part of the rescue?
Could it be that Gabriel already knew about the existence of those two children?
Why!
Twice now, twice Sophia had managed to turn peril into safety. The last kidnapping had ironically led to Sophia and Sam recognizing each other, and now Sam had even accepted Sophia.
This time, it resulted in Gabriel recognizing those two children. Tiffany felt like she was going to vomit in frustration.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Emma had regained consciousness. After some check-ups, she was transferred to a regular room.
"Mummy, it hurts so much," Emma cried as soon as she woke up.
"Hush, hush," murmured Sophia as she gently blew on her daughter's injury.
But Emma was still in pain. "Those people are so mean. They stabbed me with a knife." She complained.
"Yes, very mean. Don't be scared, Emma. The bad guys have been caught," Sophia reassured her tenderly.
Gabriel walked in just in time to hear Sophia's gentle efforts to comfort her child.
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