Page 82 of Then We Shatter

I get close to the spot I’m aiming for, but the tide keeps pulling me back. I swim harder and get within a few feet of the shattered rock, only to be dragged out again. And again. The muscles in my arms and legs burn, my reserves of strength non-existent so when I do make a grab for the rock, the Pacific reclaims me with ease.

With the next wave, my elbows scrape the surface of the ledge and I burrow my nails into the rocky surface, snapping off one or two talons in the process. But it’s those claws that help me cling on, and I heave myself further onto the ledge, scraping more skin until finally, I’m on solid ground.

Fearing the ocean will snatch me back, I rise onto shaking legs and scramble to press my back against the cliff face. Night has fallen and the storm is easing, but the waves hold onto their fury.

I allow myself a couple of deep inhales then hold the next breath, ready to call out to Killian. I stop myself just in time. It’s unlikely anyone could hear me from higher up the cliff, but I don’t want to chance letting Eric know I survived.

I don’t know yet if I have survived. I won’t know until–

A dark blob appears between foam-capped waves further out to sea. The ledge I’m on is four feet wide, but it runs for maybe fifty feet in each direction. I scramble to the left, lining up to where I think I glimpsed Killian, but he’s gone. If it was him.

I take shaky breaths as I stare into the gloom. I stare until my vision blurs and I’m about to give into the sob when I see him. There’s no doubt this time because he’s closer.

“Don’t leave me, Killian,” I whisper, waving both hands in the air. “A miracle brought you back to me and it can damn well do the job properly and let you stay. You’re my only reason for living. Please. Stay with me Please.”

His heart must hear my plea because Killian swims straight towards me. He’s weighed down by his Kevlar vest as it absorbs seawater, but he’s already survived the rocks. He can do this. Death couldn’t part us and neither will the entire Pacific Ocean. We exist for each other and this is our moment.

Kneeling down, I reach for his outstretched arm. His hand wraps around mine and I don’t let go.

Chapter 31

Killian

Before

After being shot in the head, I fought back from the brink of death because dying wasn’t an option. I had to save Katarina, it was as simple as that. I’m told my heart stopped twice, but when I came around, I was ready to leap off the floor and chase after the bastard who shot me. And then I was going to use his severed limbs to beat Vasili to death. But first I had to break free from my restraints.

“Shit, we need to sedate him,” some dickhead says.

“Do and I’ll fucking kill you,” I hiss, although my words are a series of gurgles because my lips aren’t moving the way they should.

Not surprising. My mind is full of garbled messages. It’s darker than it should be in the foyer, and there’s a whoosh-whooshing sound that I can’t make sense of. I ignore it and put all my energy into straining against the straps holding me down.

“Untie me right fucking now!”

“What’s he saying?” asks someone else.

“He’s awake?” comes another voice, and this one I do recognize.

“Ash! About time you showed up,” I shout over. Or think I do. “We need to find Katarina before Vasili gets away.”

“Sir, you have to calm down,” the guy nearest me says. “I appreciate this must be scary, but we need to keep you stable. Once we reach the hospital–”

They’re taking me to hospital? Fuck that. I’ll show him what scared looks like. “Get off me, you fucking gobshite!” I yell, putting more effort into forming my words so someone starts listening to me. “Ash, will you not tell them?”

“Killian, keep still and let them do their jobs!” Ash barks. “You’re in a helicopter for fuck’s sake. You’re strapped to a gurney because you’ve been shot in the head and leg. Christ, two minutes ago I thought I’d be delivering a corpse. I’m glad you’re back in the world of the living, but you’re going to give yourself another cardiac arrest if you don’t start listening to the medics.”

“Katarina.” I say her name as clear as day.

For a second or two, all I hear is the beat of helicopter blades above my head.

“He took her, Killian,” Ash says at last. “The guy who shot you is dead, I put a few bullets in him myself, but Vasili took Katarina and she went willingly. She thinks you’re dead.” He chokes on his words when he adds. “We all thought you were dead.”

I should be touched by the emotion in Ash’s voice, but all I hear is that Katarina’s gone. Vasili will be on his way back to Russia with her. He’ll tie her up in a pretty bow and offer her for sale to some sleaze-bag unless I can stop him.

I know my head’s fucked up, but I don’t understand how this happened. Sure, I was taking a risk crashing the party, but it wasn’t my presence that kicked things off. Vasili didn’t expect me to be there. He showed up because he knew about Ash’s plan.

It’s possible his goons were better spies than we gave them credit for, but if they could uncover a plot for Katarina’s escape, why didn’t they discover her relationship with me? The answer doesn’t take up much brain power. The Bratva didn’t figure it out for themselves. Someone told them. Someone who thought it best not to spill all of Katarina’s secrets. Someone who wanted to protect me.