He needed Johann to be across the room.
What were the chances?
Ethan used hand signals to tell the others what was happening.They ducked past him and took position by the metal steps leading to the door.
Ethan followed them and placed his hand on Rhys’s shoulder, who had his on Noah’s.He raised the mirror again and spotted Johann moving towards the door.
Chelsea was out of his range.
Ethan slapped Rhys’s shoulder.In seconds Noah had booted open the door and charged inside.By the time Ethan entered the room, Noah and Rhys had Johann on his stomach, arms behind his back, the knife on the floor out of his reach.
Chelsea rose to her feet with a gasp and he was across the room in three steps, gathering her into his arms.“Are you all right?”He inhaled her hair, the scent calming him.
She clung to him.“I am now.”
She trembled, and Ethan ignored the urge to hit Johann.Chelsea needed him.He stroked Chelsea’s back.“You’re safe.Did he hurt you?”
She placed a hand on the back of her head.“He hit me on the head to knock me out.It’s pretty sore and I’m a little dizzy.”
“Let me look.Rhys, get over here.He’s our medic.”
Dobby replaced Rhys standing over Johann and was telling Connor to bring the cars.Outside, Heath lowered the drone onto the ground.
Rhys smiled at Chelsea.“Glad you’re in one piece.What hurts?”
“My head.”She turned and the matted blood in her hair made Ethan take a step towards Johann.Dobby shook his head.
Heath walked in as if he was visiting a friend.“I called the police.They’ll be here soon.”
Chelsea turned her head.“Mila?”
“With Connor.They’re on their way.”Rhys gently prodded her injury and then examined her eyes.“Doesn’t feel as if your skull is fractured.We’ll take you to get scanned at the hospital to make sure there’s no swelling.”
The two four-wheel drives pulled up and Mila and Connor got out.“I’ll take her now,” Ethan said.
Connor walked in and grinned.“Looks like you didn’t need me.”
“I heard the drone.”Chelsea glanced at Heath, who still had the controller in his hands.“I hoped it was you.I wanted Johann away from me, so I asked for a drink.”
“Clever,” Noah praised.
“Bitch!”Johann spat.
Chelsea ignored him and gestured to the drawings on the table.“Those are his plans for Lilydale.”
Ethan didn’t care.He drew her into his arms again.She was safe.
That was all that mattered.
“Let’s get you to the hospital.”
***
The doctor had finished examining Chelsea before Josh arrived at the hospital to take their statements.It was just as well, because Ethan wasn’t letting anyone near Chelsea until she’d been given the all-clear.Her mild concussion meant she had to rest and be woken every couple of hours during the night, but other than that, she was fine.
Ethan had never been so relieved.
“How are you feeling, Chelsea?”Josh asked.
