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    Our Hero: Family by Choice, #23
    Our Hero: Family by Choice, #23
    Our Hero: Family by Choice, #23
    Ebook288 pages2 hours

    Our Hero: Family by Choice, #23

    By Robin Nadler

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    About this ebook

    Sometimes things happen in life that truly shake your core beliefs.

    Sometimes you live through tragedies that make you question everything you believed to be true in life.

    Sometimes you learn that life throws you curve balls and if you don’t swing, you suffer a direct hit.

    Tommy had learned those lessons.

    He had been through the worst in life. He had suffered incredible trauma and had made a life that was meaningful and full of love.

    He had a wife who was the love of his life.

    He had a daughter who was the light of his life.

    Everything was as it should be.

    And then it wasn’t.

    A danger he never saw coming struck without warning. He was suddenly in a fight for his life and his daughter was being used as bait.

    There was no time left.

    He wasn’t going to get away.

    His only goal…

    Save his daughter.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRobin Nadler
    Release dateMar 11, 2018
    ISBN9781386600008
    Our Hero: Family by Choice, #23
    Author

    Robin Nadler

    Robin Nadler is a high school teacher, romance author, animal enthusiast and sarcasm aficionado. When not standing in front of a classroom of teenagers, she is immersed in the lives of the characters she creates. As a fighter of Multiple Sclerosis, Robin continuously pushes the boundaries of what is expected of her and what she knows is always possible. Her goal is to inspire and share a love of humor, romance and passion. For information on her Family by Choice series, as well as her current works in progress, please connect with her on any of the following platforms. Facebook: facebook.com/nadlersnovels Twitter: @buka163090 Instagram: rnadler103 Blog: www.nadlersnovels.com

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      Book preview

      Our Hero - Robin Nadler

      Table of Contents

      Our Hero (Family by Choice, #23)

      Chapter One:

      Chapter Two:

      Chapter Three:

      Chapter Four:

      Chapter Five:

      Chapter Six:

      Chapter Seven:

      Chapter Eight:

      Chapter Nine:

      Chapter Ten:

      Chapter Eleven:

      Chapter Twelve:

      Chapter Thirteen:

      Chapter Fourteen:

      Chapter Fifteen:

      Chapter Sixteen:

      Chapter Seventeen:

      Chapter Eighteen:

      Chapter Nineteen:

      Chapter Twenty:

      Chapter Twenty-One:

      Chapter Twenty-Two:

      Chapter Twenty-Three:

      Chapter Twenty-Four:

      Chapter Twenty-Five:

      Chapter Twenty-Six:

      Chapter Twenty-Seven:

      Chapter Twenty-Eight:

      Chapter Twenty-Nine:

      Our Hero

      Family by Choice

      Book 23

      By Robin Nadler

      Copyright 2017 by Robin Nadler

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and plot are all products of the author’s imagination and are used as fiction. Nothing is to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

      For Tommy. You continue to inspire me every day.

      Chapter One:

      L et her go, he said . I'll do whatever you want.

      The man laughed at him. 

      I told you what I wanted. You need to die. But first, you can suffer a little, he grinned and pushed the stun gun into Naomi's side. 

      Stop it you sick son of a bitch! Tommy yelled. I’ll give you whatever you want. Please!

      The man looked at Naomi and smiled. 

      Your daddy loves you, doesn’t he? He knows if I do this, with all of your problems, your body won’t be able to handle it. Do you know what will happen? Your body will melt from the inside. It will hurt like the worst pain you’ve ever felt. 

      Naomi stood there, crying. 

      Naomi? Listen to me, Tommy said. Just breathe and listen to my voice. You’re going to be fine, okay? I love you and you’re going to be fine.

      The man let her go and walked over to punch Tommy in the face. 

      No! Naomi cried and ran to him when the man grabbed her arm again.

      Oh, how rude of me. Let me introduce myself. My name is Paul James, or P.J. I used to have a sister, but your dad destroyed her. Now I need to destroy him, so the best way I can do that is to mess with his mind. I am not going to hurt you any more than I have to.

      If there is any decency in you, please let her go, Tommy said as he felt the blood fall down his face. Your issues are with me, not her. Do what you need to do to me, but leave her alone.

      The man looked at Naomi. 

      Your daddy wants to be brave, doesn’t he? He knows what this would do to you if I used it. He knows I’m right because he’s a doctor and he saves children, right?

      Naomi tried to move and he held her arm 

      Ow, stop, she cried. 

      Tommy tried to get up, but he couldn’t move from the ties around his legs. 

      Get your hands off her, he said. 

      Paul ignored him. 

      You see, that’s why my sister fell for him. She always loved helping kids, too, and she was the best. She had everything going for her, until your mom ruined everything.

      Paul laughed and looked at them. 

      She must be going crazy right about now. Both of you missing and no sign of what happened. That’s what goes on when there is good planning involved. You can do things for days before anyone can find you.

      Tommy pulled on the ties and one of them loosened. Paul turned around and smiled at him. 

      Hey Naomi, how long ago was it that your dad almost died? When his heart exploded?

      She didn’t say anything and he turned to her, grabbing her face in his hand. 

      I asked you a fucking question.

      Get your hands off of her! I am going to rip you to pieces! Tommy screamed. 

      Si, six months, she said through her tears. 

      Right, so I bet a huge zap of electricity will probably do a lot of damage, huh?

      Paul moved away from her and faced Tommy. 

      What do you think that will do to her? To watch you fry from the inside out? Do you think she’ll ever get over that?

      He walked closer to Tommy and tightened the ropes before he looked at the stun gun. 

      Try not to wet yourself, he said. 

      Tommy saw Naomi looking at him. 

      Mini Red? I need for you to listen to me for a minute, okay? I need for you to close your eyes. Please. Close your eyes.

      She shook her head and he saw the stun gun as the man put it against his side. 

      I love you, baby. Close your eyes, okay? Do that for me, please.

      She cried as Paul shot the voltage into Tommy and his body went into shock. 

      I’ll be back, he said as he turned to her. Better say your goodbyes, although I doubt he can hear you.

      He left and Naomi ran to her father. 

      Daddy? Daddy can you look at me? Oh please, daddy look at me! she cried and held his face as his eyes were open, but he saw nothing. 

      YOU NEED TO EAT SOMETHING, Stephanie said as she sat with Brittany. 

      I’m fine. Do you know if they found anything? she asked. 

      Mike and Bill are going over some things. Jack and Julie are on their way from dropping off all the kids with Ron and Jenny. We will know more soon.

      Her knee shook as she sat there. 

      I’m so sorry, Stephanie said. I wish I had more news.

      Brittany looked up when Jack and Julie walked in. 

      Any news? he asked. 

      Not yet, Stephanie said. 

      Julie walked to Brittany and sat down. 

      My brother won’t let anything happen to Naomi. He lives to protect his family.

      I know, Brittany said. He would give his life for her. I would do the same.

      Jack looked at them. 

      Then we need to find them before he has a chance.

      Mike and Bill came in and Brittany stood up.

      I don’t care what it is, Brittany said. I want to know what’s going on.

      I don’t even know if it’s a good lead, but Megan’s brother has been renovating a cabin near the others they had. The one Tommy was in before it burned to the ground, but he owned the land and has been rebuilding a much larger compound. It takes over more of the land than it did before, Mike said as they sat in a conference room near Jade’s room. 

      We need to go there right now, she said. 

      Bill shook his head. 

      It could be a decoy, he said. We need to be certain before we go in.

      And what’s happening in the meantime? What kind of torture is my family enduring while we take our time? Brittany asked. 

      Bill sighed. 

      I can’t imagine what you’re feeling right now, but we have to be smart about this. If we go there and he has them somewhere else, we might be doing more damage than good. It seems awfully convenient that they would be there.

      And if they are? We have to check! Brittany said. 

      We will. I sent people there to canvas the area and see if there has been any movement. In the meantime, we need to try and figure out who is helping him. He didn’t act alone. He had help and we need to figure that out.

      Brittany shook her head. 

      I need some air.

      They watched as she walked out. 

      I’ll go with her, Jack said. 

      DADDY? PLEASE WAKE up, Naomi said as she tried to rouse Tommy. She looked around for something to help and didn’t see anything. They were in some sort of basement cellar and it was covered with concrete. She went to the door and it was solid steel. 

      Turning, she saw him move a little and she rushed over. 

      Dad? Can you hear me?

      He blinked and smiled at her. 

      You okay? he asked quietly, his body on fire. 

      I’m fine, she cried. I don’t know how to get us out of here. I can’t find a way.

      Shh, he said. We will get out of here, okay?

      She wiped her eyes and nodded. 

      Okay.

      Can you try and untie my legs?

      She looked at the rope and tried to untie it. His hands were tied together and there was a rope connecting them to the tie around his thighs. 

      It’s too tight. I need to try and cut it, she said. 

      Can you move it down my legs at all? Maybe try and slide it off? he asked, fighting to stay alert. 

      She looked at his legs. 

      It’s so tight, she said through her tears. Isn’t it hurting you so much?

      I’m okay, he lied. Can you squish my thighs and try to pull it down?

      She did and he saw stars as the pain ripped through his back. He tried not to make any noise, but he had trouble holding it in.

      I’m sorry! Did I hurt you? I’m sorry!

      No, Mini Red, you’re doing great. I think it moved a little. Keep going, okay? I need to get free so we can get out of here. My legs will heal. It’s okay.

      She looked around and then leaned in and tried to use her teeth to cut the twine. 

      It’s not working! she cried as she sat up. 

      Okay, he said. Can you try and help me sit up? Maybe it will help.

      She moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around his upper arm and pulled with all her might.

      Stop, stop, Tommy said, the pain intense.

      I’m sorry. Are you okay?

      He lay there and closed his eyes, breathing slowly. 

      Don’t go to sleep. Please look at me, she cried. 

      I’m here, it’s okay, he said and smiled at her. I just needed to catch my breath.

      She looked around and then her eyes lit up. 

      Are your keys in your pocket?

      I don’t know, he said. Check.

      She did and felt them. 

      Okay, I think I can use this as a saw and cut the rope, she smiled. 

      Be careful. Don’t hurt yourself, he said as she worked on the ropes holding his wrists. 

      Did they hurt you at all? Before I saw you? he asked her. 

      No. They just put me in a room and I was blindfolded until they brought me here, she said as she worked. 

      Okay, good, he said and tried to ignore his pain.

      They heard someone coming and they both froze. 

      Put the key back and hide. Please go hide, he said in a panic. 

      The door opened and Paul walked in. 

      Chapter Two:

      B rittany, wait, Jack said as he followed her onto the roof. 

      Jack, please leave me alone, she said. I can’t talk to you right now.

      Yes you can, he said as he walked to her as she stood by the ledge. You can’t lose hope. We will find them.

      She looked at him and her face was almost translucent next to her red hair. 

      I know, she said. 

      Alive, he added. 

      She turned and looked out across the dark sky. 

      He has never gotten over what Megan did. I never pushed him on it and he refused to talk about it. I should have known because of how upset he was after Jimmy brought it up. This will blindside him, Jack. And with Naomi there, too, she said as her tears came. 

      I know, but I think it might actually be a good thing that Naomi is there, too.

      She looked at him and he sighed. 

      I don’t mean that it’s good she was taken, but it will give Tommy another reason to fight. Protecting her will be more important to him than anything else.

      I just feel like this is different, Brittany said. This isn’t about a bigger picture. This isn’t because of what happened to me or because of Janet or Chris or anyone else. This is about a sick freak who stalked my husband and came as close to killing him as humanly possible. Now her brother is possibly holding my husband and my beautiful innocent daughter. I can’t breathe. I can’t imagine the terror they are both feeling. There is no way we are just going to find them. He doesn’t want anyone else. He just wants to hurt them.

      Jack looked at his hands and nodded. 

      Then we have to work harder. We have to trust that Tommy will do everything he can to fight and to protect Naomi and I know he is counting on us to find him. We are smart and we can do it. I believe in that.

      I know, and I do, too, but I’m terrified, she said as she looked at him. Naomi has been through so much, and when I think of her being manhandled or worse, she shook her head. I feel like I want to crawl out of my own skin.

      I know. When Tessa was missing, I don’t think I could breathe until we found her. I remember when Stephanie and Tessa were both missing so long ago. I remember the feelings of fear and helplessness like it was yesterday. What I can tell you is that you have to try and stay positive and focus on what we can do to help. It’s all we have. It’s all we can do.

      She nodded. 

      Thank you. It means everything that you’re here with me, that you’re all here with me.

      He smiled. 

      You’re family. Let’s head down and see if there is any news.

      She took a deep breath and followed him. 

      JULIE SAT IN THE ROOM with Jade and the baby and tried to focus on the positive. 

      She was struggling with that. 

      Do you want to talk about what you’re most worried about? Jade asked her. 

      Julie looked at her. 

      I’m okay. I just want to know what they found out.

      I know you’re okay, Jade smiled. I was just trying to get you out of your own head.

      Julie sighed. 

      It’s hard not to go to a worst case scenario, she said. Not just for my brother, but for my niece, too.

      I know, Jade said as she held her daughter. But I believe they will fight with everything they have to get home to all of you. My guess is that they’re pretty angry and will not be easy targets.

      Julie smiled a little. 

      My brother is nothing if not stubborn. He will never let anyone get to him if he can help it. That’s what I worry most about. If they come after Naomi, he will sacrifice himself without a second thought.

      I know. That’s why Mike and Bill will find them. They simply won’t give up.

      Julie nodded. 

      I know.

      JACK AND BRITTANY MADE their way back to Mike and Bill as they were hanging up the phone. 

      The officers that checked out the compound said there was no sign of anyone having been there. I don’t think they are there, Bill said. 

      Where could they be? We need to figure it out before it’s too late, Brittany said. 

      Mike was looking on his phone and then faced them. 

      I need to talk to Evan. I have an idea.

      I’ll go with you, Brittany said. 

      Just then, Evan came down the hall. 

      What are you doing here? Brittany asked. 

      Jason came back and is with Liz. I need to know what I can do to help.

      Mike nodded. 

      Do you remember if Titan had any property that remained after he died? There is nothing registered under the name, but I wonder if maybe there was a building or complex that he used. Somewhere we wouldn’t look.

      Evan was quiet for a minute. 

      There was a mansion where they lived, but I’m pretty sure they sold it after Titan and his son were gone. I don’t know much about their life after we moved back to LA.

      Where was the house? Brittany asked. 

      Evan sighed. 

      Liz would know, he said and thought for a minute. I think it was by the woods in the secluded park of Lakefront Avenue. They had a ton of property.

      Bill called the precinct to check on the property and Brittany went to sit down. 

      You okay? Stephanie asked as she sat next to her. 

      Brittany nodded. 

      Okay, I think it’s worth checking out. Evan, will you stay here with Stephanie, Jade and Julie and the baby?

      Of course.

      Stephanie looked at Jack.

      Be careful, please.

      Always.

      She hugged Brittany and watched as the four of them left.

      THEY HEARD SOMEONE coming and they both froze. 

      Put the key back and hide. Please go hide, he said in a panic. 

      The door opened and Paul walked in.

      Naomi huddled next to Tommy when Paul walked in. 

      Aww, did I interrupt a father daughter moment? To be honest, I thought you would be drooling on the floor after the voltage I gave you, but it’s actually more fun this way.

      He grabbed Naomi by the arm and jerked her to him. 

      Let her go! Tommy said as he struggled to rip free from the ropes. What do you want from her? Just let her go.

      Paul ignored him and looked at Naomi. 

      You look just like your mom, you know that? he touched her hair.

      I swear to God I will rip your arms off, Tommy said. 

      Not everyone likes redheads. Some think they are part devil. What do you think?

      Naomi didn’t say anything and Paul grinned. 

      You should really learn to speak when spoken to, he said. 

      You should learn to be nicer to people, she said firmly. 

      Paul chuckled. 

      There’s the redheaded personality, he said. 

      You should let my dad go, Naomi said.

      Is that right? And why would I do that? I’m just starting to have fun.

      Naomi looked at Tommy and held his gaze. 

      Hey, did you know that my sister gave you and your mom something to remember her by? Paul asked. 

      Naomi ignored him and Tommy kept working on his ties. 

      She gave your mom a medication that made you stupid and she gave your mom a bleeding disorder. It was actually brilliant. Your mom is a disgusting whore and now she will die alone. I’m just sorry it took me so long to finish what she started.

      Naomi looked at Tommy who nodded his comfort to her. Neither one of them reacted to Paul’s words. 

      That doesn’t anger you? he asked as he jerked Naomi back to him. I talk shit about your mom and you don’t defend her?

      Why don’t you pick on someone your own size, Tommy said. Do you think it makes you a man to yell at a child?

      Paul turned to Tommy and grabbed the stun gun. 

      I think it’s time for another jolt of who’s in charge.

      Naomi fumbled with her side and Tommy’s heart sank when her monitor went off. 

      Paul turned to her and smiled. 

      Having some sugar issues?

      Naomi? Look at me baby, just try and relax, Tommy said. 

      "I nneed my

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