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Chapter_51
Brenda stood frozen for a moment, eyes darting between the two children and the looming figure of Tiger. Her heart pounded in her chest, terrified for her kids but determined to protect them. The situation had escalated far beyond her understanding, and with each passing second, it felt like they were running out of time.
“Let them go!” she shouted, mustering every ounce of courage she could. Her hands were shaking as she dialed the police, but the phone felt like it was weighing a ton.
Tiger’s eyes narrowed. He was losing his patience with the children’s resistance. His grip on the parrot cage tightened, and he made a move toward the door, clearly intending to make a swift exit.
Mia, still clutching the broken broomstick, wailed, “Let go of Coco!” Her tiny body trembled, tears streaming down her face, while Nathan stood firm in front of her, ready to face whatever Tiger had in store.
“You’re making this harder than it needs to be,” Tiger muttered, his voice low and threatening. He reached out, grabbing Mia by the arm and yanking her back.
Nathan’s fists were clenched, his small body shaking with a mix of anger and fear. “Don’t you touch her!” He lunged at Tiger, catching him off guard. The clothes rack swung, hitting Tiger across the chest, forcing him back a few steps.
Tiger snarled, his eyes flashing with rage. He wiped a streak of blood from his lip, the first sign of damage he’d sustained. He wasn’t used to being bested by children, let alone ones so small. His mind raced as he recalculated the situation—he was losing control, and if he didn’t act quickly, everything would spiral out of his hands.
Brenda, seeing her children putting up a fight, felt a rush of protective instinct. She threw herself between Nathan and Tiger, her arms wide. “Stop! I’ll do whatever you want—just leave them alone! Please!” Her voice cracked, desperate for him to relent.
Tiger paused, studying her. The glint in his eyes showed that he wasn’t moved by her plea, but the tension in the room was palpable. He had no intention of hurting them—at least, not physically—yet. But if they didn’t cooperate, things would certainly take a darker turn.
“What do you want?” Brenda asked, swallowing hard, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice. “Just take the parrot and leave my children alone. They have nothing to do with this.”
Tiger’s gaze flicked back to the parrot, Coco, still perched on the balcony. The bird squawked, seemingly aware of the chaos surrounding it.
“I want the chip,” Tiger growled, his patience running thin. “I know it’s inside that bird. And I’m not leaving without it.” He gestured toward the cage with an iron resolve.
Nathan’s heart pounded as he realized just how dire their situation was. The chip—the thing that had been so casually passed around, now the very reason their family was being torn apart. He glanced at Mia, who was still sobbing, her small form trembling in fear. He didn’t know how long he could keep this up, but he couldn’t—wouldn’t—let Tiger have what he wanted.
“You’re not going to get it,” Nathan said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. “Coco doesn’t have the chip anymore.”
Tiger’s eyes flicked to him with a cold, calculating look. “What do you mean? If you’ve hidden it, I’ll find it,” he threatened, his hand moving toward the cage again.
Brenda’s heart raced. “Please, we don’t have it. It’s gone. Please… just let my children go.” She was nearly pleading now, her voice barely above a whisper.
Tiger’s hand froze mid-air, and for a moment, it looked like he might listen. But then the door burst open, and the sound of footsteps came crashing into the room.
“Hands up! Police!” The shout echoed through the house.
Tiger spun around, eyes widening for a split second before he dashed for the window, his grip on the parrot cage tightening. He had no intention of getting caught now.
Nathan didn’t hesitate. “Brenda, call them now! Do it!” he yelled, adrenaline surging through his veins.
Brenda, now more confident with the arrival of help, quickly pressed the phone to her ear. The police were here. It wasn’t over yet. But the fight wasn’t won. Not yet.
Tiger made one final, desperate dash for the door, and just as he reached the threshold, a blur of motion tackled him to the ground. The struggle continued for a few moments—grappling, fists landing, breaths coming in sharp, frantic gasps—until the sound of a solid, authoritative voice rang out.
“Freeze! You’re under arrest.”
Tiger froze, his expression twisted in disbelief as two officers hauled him off the ground, hands cuffed behind his back.
Brenda’s breath caught in her throat. She looked down at Nathan and Mia, who were clinging to each other, both still trembling from the ordeal. Nathan’s face was pale, but he stood tall beside his sister, a protective hand on her shoulder.
Sadie’s voice suddenly crackled over the line, barely audible through the chaos. “Brenda? Is everyone okay? What happened?”
Brenda let out a shaky breath. “We’re okay… but we need to talk. There’s more to this than we knew.”
