<b>Chapter </b>348
15
“W–<b>what </b><b>are </b>you trying to do?” Edwin stammered, <b>still </b>struggling to get <b>up </b>after Bowen’s kick. <b>Panic </b>seized him <b>as </b>he watched Aubree stride menacingly toward him with <b>a </b>jagged, broken beer bottle in her hand.
Aubree said, “I’m not doing anything. You like to run that filthy mouth, don’t you? Let’s see how much it <b>can </b><b>really </b>handle.
“Your parents talk tough, too. Let’s <b>see </b>which is tougher<b>, </b>their mouths, or this broken bottle in my hand.”
Edwin’s pupils dted in terror <b>as </b>he scrambled to his feet, desperate to escape. But Bowen was faster. His hand mped down on Edwin’s shoulder, a chilling smile ying on his lips. “Going somewhere?”
Josiah also silentlytched onto Edwin’s legs. He wasn’t much of a fighter, but he sure knew how to make himself useful.
<b>‘</b>Monsters! They’re all monsters!‘ Edwin thought in terror.
“Dad, Mom! Help me! Hurry, save me!” Edwin howled shrilly.
Themotion was deafening, yet no one dared toe out and gawk. The moment those cars pulled up outside, everyone nearby could tell these people were not to be trifled with.
Aubree gripped Edwin’s face with one hand, brandishing the jagged, broken ss bottle in a reverse grip with the other, poised to ram it straight into his mouth.
Edwin thrashed wildly, his muffled cries stifled by Bowen’s iron grip that rendered him utterly powerless.
Ruth, seeing her precious son in peril, blurted out hastily, “I’ll talk! I’ll talk! Th–that bitch–I mean, Birgitte is in the room. The key’s here. I’ll give it to you. Just let my son go. Don’t hurt him.”
Felix spat furiously and snarled, “You goddamn bitch! Now that you’ve spilled the beans and they’ve taken her away, you won’t get a single cent.”
“You goddamn pock–faced bastard, Felix! If anything happens to my son, I’ll fucking kill you first!” Ruth shouted back.
Aubree had no patience for their bickering. The moment she got the information, she snatched the key from Ruth and stormed inside.
Bowen and the others had <i>a </i>grim idea of what awaited inside. With a silent understanding, they stayed behind in the living room, keeping watch over the four culprits.
The door creaked open, and Aubree’s eyes red crimson with rage. In the corner, Birgitte sat disheveled and battered, her hands and feet tightly bound. At her feet was nothing but a meager bowl of watery gruel.
Even in this dire situation, Birgitte refused to yield. Her eyes zed with resolve as she fought against the ropes, determined to seize any chance <i>to </i>escape.
“Ms. Miller!” Birgitte’s face lit up with a joyous smile. “I just knew you’de to rescue me.”
She didn’t have a shred of me for Aubree, only overwhelming relief and joy at being saved.
Of course, she wouldn’t me Aubree. She’d already prepared herself for the calls to go unanswered. In fact, Birgitte knew perfectly well that even if Aubree had picked up, immediate rescue would have been impossible, and what was meant to happen would still happen.
All she could do was ry <b>as </b>much information as possible. Thank goodness Aubree came.
Birgitte’s eyes shone with bright hope, sending a sharp, suffocating ache through Aubree’s heart. With trembling hands, she untied the ropes, tore off a strip of the bedsheet, dipped it in the water left on the floor, and gently wiped Birgitte down.
Birgitte gently grasped Aubree’s wrist. “No need, Ms. Miller. I need to preserve this evidence for the medical report. It’s fine. Just think of it <b>as </b>a dog bite. None of this can break me.”
“Birgitte, I’m so sorry.” Tears streamed down Aubree’s face uncontrobly as she threw her arms around Birgitte. “This is all my fault. You wouldn’t have been targeted by Milena if not for me.”
“It’s okay, none of <b>this </b>is your fault. The me lies with those who did this. We’ll make them pay.”
Aubree agreed that they’d make them pay.
Rage zed in Aubree’s eyes <b>as </b>she rose to her feet, shrugged off her coat, and draped it over Birgitte’s shoulders<b>. </b>Then she grabbed the nket from the bed and wrapped it tightly around Birgitte.
“Let’s get you to the <b>hospital</b>. I’ll hire the best <bwyers </b>for you. Those four scumbags will rot in prison for what <b>they’ve </b>done.”
“Okay,” Birgitte said, taking Aubree’s hand and walking out with her.
Unbowed, she paused for just <b>a </b>second <b>as </b>she passed Felix. Then, without the slightest hesitation, she drove her foot straight into his groin.
Felix howled in pain.
At Bowen’s cue, the police arrived btedly and carted off all four culprits in cuffs, armed with rock–solid evidence.