Landen

by Holly C. Webb

  “Landen,” Finn said suddenly, pulling him from his thoughts. Landen looked up at his brother, giving him a questioning look. “We’re here.”

  Landen lifted his head further, looking past Finn, out the window, as a sudden rush of adrenaline coursed through his body.

  “Landen, I need you to stay here and let me do my thing,” Liam said, looking back at Landen before he climbed out of the car.

  “I need to go with you,” Landen insisted, as he too climbed out of the car, but Liam was having none of it.

  “I’ve got this,” Liam replied, giving Landen a look that told him he meant business.

  Suddenly there was a scream from somewhere inside the building and Landen instinctively went to run towards the building but both Liam and Finn stopped him before he had barely taken two steps.

  “I told you to wait here!” Liam hissed at him, and for the first time, Landen saw Liam as more than just his kid brother. He was a cop, through and through. “You stay here, and you let me do my job because it’s hard enough knowing Amelia is in there. I can’t do my thing if you’re in there too. I won’t lose my big brother today because of some asshole.”

  “But I need to help her,” Landen insisted, his heart racing so fast, he could barely breathe.

  “Then do what I say,” Liam replied, giving his brother a pleading look.

  “Okay,” Landen nodded as much as he hated it. He knew Liam was right.

  “Dad,” Liam said, still watching Landen. “I need you to stay here with Landen and Finn, too.”

  “You’re not going in there alone,” Sean insisted. Landen could hear the fear in his father’s voice.

  “I won’t be alone,” Liam replied as he finally looked at his father. “But the same applies to you, as it does for Landen. I won’t lose you either, not because of this scumbag. So please, just wait here.”

  Sean stared at Liam for a moment, before he finally nodded his head. Then with one last look at Finn, as if to check that he knew what his job was, he turned and started towards the building.

  Landen held his breath as he watched his kid brother hurry towards the building, wearing a flak jacket, holding a gun up in front of him. He was followed closely by dozens of armed officers, as they moved silently, but with great speed towards the building.

  They stopped when they reached the doorway. Liam turned and gave them instructions using only hand signals.

  Landen wanted so much to just rush in past them all, and get to Amelia. Standing there, waiting for God knows what was going to happen next, Landen had never felt more helpless or useless in his life before.

  Once more there was a scream from inside the building as Landen could feel his stomach turn in knots, and it felt almost like someone had his heart in a vice-like grip.

  He was about to make a break for it, but Finn’s grip on his arm tightened. Landen knew that Finn will do whatever it took to stop him from going into the building.

  Finally, he watched as Liam vanished into the building, and one by one, the police officers followed him inside.

  “They’re going to get her, Son,” Sean said as he placed his hand on Landen’s shoulder. “Everything is going to be okay.

  The words had just left Sean’s lips when the sound of gun firing echoed through the early evening air. Then another, and another until Landen lost count.

  “AMELIA!” Landen screamed as he pulled free from Finn, running towards the building. He had just reached the door when three police officer blocked his path and pushed him back. “I need to go in there, my…my girl is in there, and my brother. I need to go in.”

  “We’ve got this, Sir,” one of the officers responded. “We can’t let you into the building.”

  Before Landen could reply, a voice through one of the walkie-talkies sounded.

  “Officer down, I repeat, Officer down,” the voice announced. “We need Paramedics in here. There are three down, I repeat, there are three down.”

  Landen felt like the world was suddenly spinning out of control.

  He needed to know that Amelia and Liam were okay. He needed to see them both right now, but instead of people coming out of the building, more were rushing in.

  He held his breath as he watched Dylan run past, carrying his medical bag. As he past Landen, he gave him a look that told him, right at that moment, he was as scared as Landen was.

  Finn took hold of Landen’s arm and pulled him back from the entrance, as Sean too hurried into the building.

  Suddenly every ounce of energy seemed to leave Landen’s body, as his legs gave way, as he crashed to the ground.

  What if Liam was the officer down? What if Amelia was dead?”

  Landen couldn’t hold back anymore. He buried his face in his hands and cried.

  Chapter 26

  Landen sat in the hospital waiting room, playing over everything that had happened in his mind. Today was supposed to be the happiest day of his life. This wasn’t supposed to be how it went.

  “I don’t understand how this could have happened,” Nell said as she paced up and down the waiting room. “There was security all over the house; how could he just walk in like that. How could he have been so bold?”

  “He had dyed his hair,” Sean explained to Nell for what felt like the millionth time to Landen. “He was dressed like the rest of the catering staff. He had bigger balls than any of us gave him credit for.”

  “But how did he find her again?” Nell asked giving her husband a questioning look. “We were so careful about everything.”

  “They found a cut out of the article that ran in the paper a few weeks ago,” Sean explained with a sigh. “Given who Landen is, it didn’t take much to work to find out where he lived. And given the fact that Amelia lives with him, all he had to do was sit outside the apartment building for a few hours, and he would have seen her coming or going.”

  “Can we please stop talking about him?” Landen said suddenly, unable to listen to it anymore.

  “Are you okay?” Amelia whispered as she slipped her hand into Landen’s.

  “Yeah, I just…” Landen said, turning to her, and giving her a smile. “I just want to forget this whole day ever happened. I want to forget any of us ever heard of Pete Reynolds.”

  “I know,” Amelia said, as she gave him a smile that said that was all she wanted too. She rested her head against his shoulder, releasing a long sigh, but she didn’t let go of his hand.

  “What is taking so long?” Nell demanded, and Landen knew that his mother was struggling to keep it together.

  “They will be out soon,” Finn assured his mother as he stood up, walked up to her and hugged her tightly. “You need to try not to worry.”

  “I can’t help it,” Nell replied honestly. “He is my baby, you’re all still my babies, I hate not knowing what’s going on.”

  “I know,” Finn said as he looked down at her and gave her a smile. “But I’m sure Dylan will come and talk to us when he can.”

  Landen watched his entire family sitting around the hospital waiting room, he hated that this was all because of him. He brought Amelia into their lives, which is something he would never regret, but maybe he shouldn’t have involved his family until he knew that Pete Reynolds was dealt with.

  He also should have never agreed to let Amelia stay on her own in his parents’ house. If he had been with her, then maybe Pete would have never got near her, and Liam wouldn’t have been hurt. This was all his fault.

  He glanced over at his father, and their eyes instantly connected, and Landen knew that his father was blaming himself too.

  Landen thought back to when he was on the ground, outside the old warehouse. Everyone one was running around, sirens were blaring, yet to Landen, it felt like things were all moving in slow motion. Like his life was on pause, at the very worst moment. All he could hear was his own breathing and his heartbeat in his ears.

  Finn was talking to him, but Landen couldn’t hear a word.

  The only thought he had w
as that Amelia was dead, that once more he had let her down.

  But then finally, after what felt like an eternity, his father appeared back in the doorway of the warehouse, and in his arms was terrified looking Amelia, still dressed in her wedding dress.

  The moment Landen saw her, he was on his feet and running to her as fast as his legs could carry him.

  When she saw Landen, she broke free from this father’s embrace and hurried to Landen.

  “Are you okay?” Landen asked as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her as close to him as he could. It almost felt like a dream that he was actually holding her, Landen prayed that if it was, he never had to wake up. “Did he…did he hurt you?”

  “I’m okay,” Amelia replied through her tears before she buried her face into his chest and sobbed once more. “I’m okay.”

  “She’s okay,” Sean assured Landen as he carefully set his hand on her back. He gave Landen a look that he had never seen from his father before, it almost broke Landen’s heart. “I know you’re probably angry with me right now, but for what it’s worth, I’m sorry I let this happen. I promised you both I would take care of her….”

  “This is not your fault, Dad,” Landen assured his father, as he held Amelia as tightly as he could, “This is all Reynolds doing, and you have nothing to be sorry for.”

  “Well, he won’t be a problem anymore,” Sean sighed as he looked into Landen’s eyes confirming the one thing Landen wanted to hear. “He was not letting them take him alive. He was determined to go down in a blaze of glory.”

  “He’s dead?” Landen asked, needing to hear the actually words out loud.

  “He is,” Sean replied with a crack of emotion in his voice. “It’s over.”

  “Liam is hurt,” Amelia said through her tears, as she lifted her head and looked up at Landen. “Pete…he…he shot Liam.”

  “Where is he?” Landen said as once more he felt like he was going to be sick. “He’s not…he’s going to be okay, right?”

  Landen would never be able to forgive himself if Liam gave up his life to protect him, and to save Amelia.

  “Dylan is with him now,” Sean replied as a look of fear filled his face. “But there was nothing Dylan could do for the other officer.”

  “Someone died?” Landen asked his stomach heaving once more.

  “Some rookie kid,” Sean replied with a sigh. “No more than twenty-two. He was dead before Dylan even got to him.”

  “How bad is Liam?” Landen asked, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear the answer.

  “I don’t know,” Sean replied honestly and for the first time that Landen could ever remember, there were tears in his father’s eyes. “I honestly don’t know.”

  Landen closed his eyes, trying to push the memories from his mind, but it was hard, he just wanted to hear that Liam was okay.

  “What is taking so long?” Nell asked once more, pulling Landen back to the present.

  “Maybe I should go and check!” Callum said as he stood up from his seat across from Landen, and Landen knew that Callum was getting worried too.

  Just then, the doors to the treatment area opened, and Dylan appeared, followed closely by Liam. His arm was in a sling, but otherwise, he seemed just fine.

  “Oh, thank God!” Nell exclaimed as she hurried toward her son and hugged him tightly.

  “Careful, Mom,” Liam said with a laugh as he tried his hardest to hug his mom back. “I may be a hero, but I’m a wounded one. I think I’m going to need lots of TLC.”

  “Anything you want, Sweetheart,” Nell said, but Landen couldn’t help but roll his eyes. He was relieved that his little brother was okay and that not even a bullet to the shoulder could kill his dreadful sense of humour.

  Amelia stood up and walked toward Liam, she too gave him a big hug.

  “Thank you for what you did, Liam,” Amelia said as she smiled up at him. “You are braver than I ever could be. And I know you were the one to stop Landen running into that building. I don’t know what I would have done if I’d have lost him. If I’d lost any of you.”

  “You were all he thought about when we got to the warehouse,” Liam said as he glanced over at Landen. “All he wanted to do was get to you. But I knew you would have kicked my ass if I let him get hurt, so I did what I had to do. But, it was Finn almost had to rugby tackle him the ground to hold him back.”

  “Well, I’m very grateful to you all,” Amelia said as she leaned up, kissing him on the cheek, then looked around the waiting room at everyone that was gathered there. “I don’t know how to begin to thank you all; for everything each of you have done since the day Landen crashed into my life, literally.”

  “You survived,” Nikki said as she stood up, walking up to Amelia, and hugged her friend once more. “That’s thanks enough for me.”

  “I think maybe it’s time we all went home,” Nell suggested as she gave Amelia a smile, then she turned to Landen, and her smiled widened.

  Landen didn’t know why, but something told him that his mother was most definitely up to something.

  When they arrived back at his parents’ house, Landen was surprised to find the house already lit up.

  “We’re home,” he said to Amelia, who was dozing on his shoulder. “Well almost.”

  “I can’t believe I am going to say this,” Amelia sighed as she sat up, looking down at her now, dirty and torn wedding dress. “But I can’t wait to take this dress off.”

  “I’m sorry nobody really got to see just how beautiful you looked in it,” Landen said, as he lifted her hand and brought it to his lips. “But I promise we will get to have our day, and I promise it will be soon.”

  Mike opened the door, and Landen climbed out of the car before he offered Amelia his hand. Finn had come home with him. Nikki and Eloise, travelled with Sean and Nell, while Liam and Dylan travelled home with Callum.

  As Landen led Amelia up the steps of the house, the door opened, and Stella stepped out onto the front steps. Without even thinking she hugged Amelia tightly.

  “I’m so glad you’re okay, Ms. Davenport,” Stella finally said as she released Amelia and looked up into her eyes. “You are very important to everyone in this house. I think more than you even know.”

  “Thank you, Stella,” Amelia said before Stella turned and walked back into the house, softly touching Landen’s hand before she did.

  When Landen and Amelia walked into the house, Harriett, Jill and Jill’s husband Tom emerged from the living room.

  “Amelia, sweetheart,” Harriett exclaimed, as she hurried towards her, and hugged her tightly. “I’m so glad you’re home, and safe my lovely girl.”

  “Thank you,” Amelia said with a smile before she hugged Jill too.

  “Now, Jill and I need you to come with us,” Harriett said taking hold on Amelia’s hand. “Landen your father will fill you in, but right now, us ladies have things to do.”

  Before Landen could reply, Amelia was guided up the stairs, by his mother’s two crazy best friends, followed closely by his mother, Nikki, and Eloise.

  “You want to tell me what’s going on?” Landen asked, turning to his father, and Sean instantly smiled.

  “Women,” Sean replied with a shrug. “Let’s get a drink and I’ll fill you in.”

  A little over an hour later, dressed in a clean suit, shirt, and tie, Landen was standing out on his parent’s patio, beneath the flower arch that had been moved from where it had been in the garden earlier that day.

  “Are you nervous?” Finn asked him as he stood next to him.

  “No,” Landen replied with a smile, he meant it too. He was never surer of anything than he was at that exact moment. He was going to marry Amelia after all, “I’m really not. I guess I’m more surprised that it’s actually happening. I still can’t believe Mom pulled this off.”

  “Well, once Mom knew Liam was okay at the hospital,” Finn explained. “She was on the phone to Harriett and Jill, barking out instruction apparently, and you know
what Mom is like when she gets an idea.”

  Landen laughed and nodded, knowing that his brother was so right.

  After everything that had happened that day, this was not how he saw this day ending.

  “There is one thing though,” Finn said, then coughed to clear his throat. “While it really is an honour to stand beside you and be your best man, I think today; there is a better man.”

  He stood back and nodded towards Liam, and Landen couldn’t help but smile. Finn was right, today Liam was the better man, he would forever be grateful to him for what he did for Amelia.

  “So how about it?” Landen asked, giving Liam a questioning look. “Do you want to be my best man?”

  “I would love to,” Liam beamed happily as Finn handed them the rings. “Thank you, Landen.”

  “No, Liam,” Landen said as he held out his hand to his brother. “Thank you.”

  Liam shook Landen’s hand, then nodded at him for him to turn around.

  As he did, music filled the air, as Nikki and Eloise made their way out through the back door, onto the patio, and down the tiny aisle.

  Landen held his breath, as he waited to get his first glimpse of Amelia. Finally, there she was, standing next to his father. She looked even more beautiful than he ever imagined she could. Her hair was now down, in soft curls, and she had her make-up fixed. But what surprised Landen the most was, Amelia was dressed in his mother’s wedding dress. Landen recognised it from the photographs he’d seen of his mother and father’s wedding day. He couldn’t believe that after all these years she still had it, or that Amelia was now wearing it. She looked simply stunning.

  As she walked towards him, Amelia’s smile was breathtaking. She looked really and truly happy for the first time since the first day he met her.

  When she reached him, his dad shook his hand, then kissed Amelia on the cheek.