An elderly man was driving his beloved granddaughter in his old pickup truck—but suddenly, their path was blocked by a gang of thugs! And when they caught a glimpse of something under her dress, they were utterly speechless

Her thoughts shattered with a jolt—the screech of brakes, the car lurching to a stop. “It’s happening,” Daisy thought, panic rising. That morning’s nagging feeling, the one she’d ignored, screamed now.

In an instant, rough hands yanked her from the car. Daisy nearly lost her mind, staring into the faces of four hardened thugs. Their black SUV, windows tinted like death, had cut them off on the rural road back to town. Not a soul was around. “Hand over the cash, old man!” one of them snarled.

“What cash? I don’t have any money,” Nick said, trying to stay calm. “Don’t play dumb. We saw you at the bank,” another thug snapped. “Give it up, or we’ll beat you so bad you won’t get up.” He grabbed Nick by the collar, shaking him so hard the old man nearly fell. But Nick wasn’t one to scare easily. As a kid, he’d once stumbled across a bear while picking berries and lived to tell the tale. Nothing had frightened him since—except when it came to Daisy.

For her, he’d give anything. Before he could act, a mocking voice cut through from behind. “You’ll talk when we start on your granddaughter.” One of the thugs grabbed Daisy, who fought back fiercely, and tried to force her to the ground. “I’ll give you the money! Take it!” Nick shouted, unable to bear it. He rushed to the car and pulled out an envelope stuffed with cash.

“See? That wasn’t so hard,” the leader sneered. “But it’s too late, old man. You stalled too long. And your granddaughter’s too pretty to pass up. Jake, I’m first—then you guys.” To Nick’s horror, the thug leaned over Daisy, unbuttoning her dress. He froze, spotting an antique bat-shaped pendant around her neck. “Where’d you get that?” he demanded, stunned. An identical pendant hung from his own neck.

At that moment, Nick’s desperate cry pierced the air. “Help! Please, help!” He’d slipped free while the thug gawked at Daisy and sprinted to the road, flagging down an approaching car. It stopped. “We don’t need witnesses! Let’s go!” the leader barked. The four piled into their SUV and sped off.

Daisy, trembling, got up and staggered back to the car. Nick returned moments later, thanking the strangers who’d stopped. “Daisy, are you okay?” he asked, voice shaking.

“I’m fine, Grandpa. Thanks to you,” Daisy said, holding back tears as she hugged him. “Me? Daisy, I got us robbed! At least we’re alive, thank God. I should’ve listened to you. This never would’ve happened. I never thought bandits would show up in our quiet town. Forgive me, Daisy,” Nick said, guilt overwhelming him.

“Grandpa, when did I get this bat pendant?” Daisy asked, catching him off guard. Nick hesitated. “Your mom put it on you when you were born. Said it meant freedom and happiness, that God and this charm would protect you. But it didn’t save her.”

He sighed, pain in his voice. “Why do you ask?” “You said it’s a charm. Maybe it protected me today,” Daisy replied softly. Truthfully, she was reeling over the thug’s matching pendant. Could it be a coincidence? And how would she tell Alex, a cop who worried about her more than she did herself? “He’ll be so upset,” she thought, already dreading the conversation…

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