The Ultimate Gentleman (Part 2)

Sixty

Michael, Ben and Malcolm had managed to get in the kitchen and the most senior immediately put his finger to his lips silencing his wife and Lily. They were both delighted to see them, Ben got to work immediately yanking at the ropes and setting them free. "Grandpa." Lily said almost like a small girl again, as she fell into his arms, as Grace joined the hug too. Ben looked at his mother who said quietly "Three of them. Cameron has Holly." Malcolm then asked panicked "And the kids?" "I think they are still in the basement. That's where we were when they arrived." Lily said panicked. The two men nodded, and Ben removed his jacket, following Malcolm out the kitchen.

In the dining room, Sean, Travis and Johnny had managed to enter the house undetected and were slowly making their way around the long table, Johnny was extremely anxious and worried. He heard a female scream and prayed they had got home in time. Sean burst through the doors that led to the sitting room and saw Hannah fighting off an assailant. "Hey you!! Get off her!!" Sean lunged forward surprising Joe and knocking him to the ground. "Where is Holly?" Johnny shouted loudly. "Johnny!!!!" He heard his wife shout. It was a cry for help if he had ever heard one. He rushed out the living room whilst Travis tackled Frank who was stood in the doorway. Johnny looked around, Cameron had Holly at the top of the stairs and was holding her against her will. He rapidly fast took the stairs two by two as Cam tried to rush Holly into a nearby bedroom, yanking at her hair and clothes. She did her best to fight him off before she saw Johnny yank Cameron by the scruff of the neck away from her and begin punching him hard. Holly crumbled to the floor with the realisation of being saved, but also what she had gone through. She managed to scramble to her feet, and almost fell down the stairs, as she quickly rushed to the living room door where Hannah was on the sofa being comforted by Ben, Joe and Frank were handcuffed and lying face down on the floor. She turned and saw her mother and Lily slowly walk out the kitchen, their hands being held securely by her father who looked deeply shocked. The traumatised woman then rushed down the stairs that led to the cinema room. She began to open the door but ended up banging her head hard on it as it wouldn't budge. She looked round in despair as she heard sirens approach and the front door being banged open.

After a few moments Johnny, Hannah, Ben and Travis all joined her. "She barricaded the door." Travis said quietly. "It was the last thing she told me before her phone died." Holly's eyes widened. If Tara knew what had been going on, did that mean the children did too? She banged on the door. "Tara!! It's me. Open up." "No!" "What??" Holly asked shocked. "Why??" "You could be being forced to. I am not opening this door for anybody." "Tara I swear, it's just me, and the family, the police are here. It's over. It's really over." Holly said with tears rushing down her face. "How can I be sure you're telling the truth?" Tara said clearly sad and desperate. "My Daddy will come. He promised." Lottie yelled out, making both Johnny and Holly cry. "Tara. HERE IF YOU NEED." Holly said loudly. "What does that mean?!" Johnny said shocked. "At school when we played netball, I always yelled it to her, and it's been our mantra ever since, with all the shit she's been through." She turned towards the door again and said loudly "Here if you need." She then heard what sounded like furniture being moved and the door slowly open.

Holly fell to her knees embracing her two daughters and then her baby who Tara passed to Johnny on her way to greeting Travis. Ben and Hannah were involved in an equally as emotional reunion with their two children, as Lily and Jack rushed down the stairs and joined their father and step mother embracing their younger siblings. "I swear, I will never let anyone ever hurt any of you again." Johnny mumbled. "I knew you'd come Daddy. Lottie said you would, because you pinky promised." Pippa said muffled from right in the middle of the group family hug.