Chapter 26

Ron Pov.
After I got Amanda's picture from that bastard I thought I was going to puke. A strong feeling of nausea came over me and I had to retreat from the living room where Tyson and Gabriella were. I needed air. I needed to hit something. I need Amanda by my side. Without it, everything falls apart.
I sat down on the bench in the basement and took a deep breath trying to shake off the nausea.
Amanda…I think she hates me now. Who knows what her captors did to her. I'm sure she won't want to see me again. I'm sure while she's being tormented by those men, she's blaming me. And so it would be normal for her to do. If it wasn't for me with my explosive temper now, she would be fine. Untouched by some human jerks. Undaunted…
It's all my fault.
I thought I could protect her from everything. I thought I could be the only man who wouldn't make her suffer. But look... The one person I never wanted to hurt, I managed to destroy. Unintentionally.
I gather my courage and call the man I've been talking to since Amanda was kidnapped again.
"-Did you like the picture, Stallion?" He asks me, and I can already imagine him grinning.
- Please... Please, leave Amanda alone. She doesn't deserve all this. I say, my voice shaking and I feel my eyes fill with tears.
I've never cried for anyone, but Amanda is my weakness.
The man's laughter fills my ears and I run my free hand through my hair trying to stay strong for Amanda.
The basement door opens and Gabriella walks in, signaling to me that Tyson found something.
"-Where would the fun be?!" The man asks me again and I clench my fist feeling my heart break into a thousand pieces.
-Wait a minute...Are you talking to the bastard on the phone now? Gabriella says annoyed, and the man on the other end of the call goes silent.
I just nod at Gabriella and she grabs the phone from my hand and brings it to her ear.
-I'll pay you double what the person who hired you gave you, just give my daughter back. Gabriella says with an authority I didn't think she was capable of.
A few moments go by where she doesn't say anything and I'm ready to take the phone, but then when horror takes over her face I don't know what to think.
- Are you Ghost? Gabriella asks and I frown.
Ghost? How does Gabriella know the bastard's name?
-I can't believe it...Ghost, Amanda is your sister. Gabriella says and I gasp.
What the hell is going on here?
-Thank you very much. She says and then hangs up.
She hands me the phone and I take it looking at her in horror. I don't even know what to say right now. Things are pretty clear. Gabriella does not deserve to be called "mother".
I put my phone in my pocket and prepare to leave the basement.
-Ron…Amanda must never know about this. Gabriella says and I stop in the doorway.
- That's right... because if she finds out, I'm sure she won't want to see you anymore. But Gabriella… All truths come out sooner or later. I say trying to stay calm then go to Tyson.
When I reach the living room, Tyson is already on the phone with someone giving clear directions as to where Amanda is being held.
-You found her? I ask him as soon as he ends the call.
-I found her. I just contacted the police and told them where to look for her. He answers excitedly and I run my hands over my face.
-That means she'll be home soon, right?
I have to ask to make sure I heard right.
Tyson gets up from his armchair and hugs me like a father hugs his son.
-I don't know you at all, Ron Stallion, but I feel my daughter will be safe with you.
-Because of me she ended up being kidnapped. I do not think…
-You don't have to blame yourself. We all make mistakes. The important thing is to learn from them.
My mistake was not being able to control my nerves, but now I know that if I try hard enough, I can control myself. For Amanda. I will not make her suffer anymore because of my actions.
Gabriella also appears in the living room happily, a sign that she heard the conversation, and I clench my jaw.
-You two need to talk. I'm going to the police station. I want to be there when I bring Amanda. I say more to Tyson and he nods.
Gabriella wants to say something, but the sharp look her ex-husband gives her silences her. I leave the house and get into the car, hurrying to get to the police station.
Amanda will be in my arms. I will finally be able to sleep knowing she is by my side.
I will never let her out of my sight.
I stop the car in front of the police station and enter, almost knocking down the doors behind me.
- I'm here for the case of Amanda Clark's disappearance. I say to the Public Relations officer, and she searches the computer for something.
- Take your seat. It will take a while. She says and I sit on a chair in the waiting room.
This is true. I'm actually going to see Amanda.
I still can't believe Tyson managed to find her. A week passed and I was starting to lose hope that we would ever find her again.
I keep looking at the clock on the wall and it seems to me that time has stopped. Waiting for news from the police proved to be quite a task.
A couple of cops walk past me with three prisoners and tempt me to go check if they have any news about Amanda, but one of the cops stops next to me.
- Are you Ron Stallion? The policeman asks me, and I nod. We managed to save Miss Clark but we had to send her to the hospital.
-Why? How serious is it? At which hospital?
-She was drugged all this time. She needs to get rid of the drugs in her body as soon as possible. She is at the hospital of St. John.