Page 75 of Unstable

“I don’t know what I’d have done if…” His voice broke as he trailed off. “Thank God you’re okay.”

“Sir…” Off to the side, the medic’s voice slowly penetrated the blood rushing through his ears. “I need to check you both over.”

He wrapped his fingers around Irina’s where they grasped his shirt and nodded, his eyes still locked on hers. “Her first. Make sure she’s okay.”

He gave her hand a little squeeze to let her know he wasn’t going anywhere, then released her so the woman could finish her work. Everything had happened so quickly, and he finally took a moment to look around. His eyes were drawn to the pier, looking for the man he’d knocked out on the way to find Irina, but he was gone.

He swept his gaze over the dim beach before it fell on Chief Rutland. He stood off to the side, watching as two patrolmen slapped a pair of handcuffs on a man. Roman couldn’t make out his features in the moonlight, but he was positive it was the same guy from the pier. They hauled him to his feet, then escorted him up the beach, presumably to take him into custody.

Rutland’s gaze swung to Roman, and he staggered to his feet. Rutland held out a hand as Roman approached. “Well done. We couldn’t have done it without your help.”

Roman bit back the angry retort that sprang to his lips as he shook Rutland’s hand. Had they listened to him and questioned Aster, maybe this wouldn’t have happened. Or maybe, he thought as his anger slipped away, it would have been too late. If they’d gone in to talk with Aster, he never would have heard the noises on the beach that led him to her. They certainly would have been pulling up a body instead of his wife, who was finally safe.

“Thank you for your help.” He dropped his hand to his side, then tipped his head in the direction of the condo where Aster was staying. “What’s happening with Aster?”

Rutland rested his hands on his duty belt. “My men are bringing her in as we speak.”

After everything Irina had been through, Roman was going to make sure she never had to worry about her safety again. “What about the guy? Did he admit to anything?”

“Not yet.” Chief Rutland shook his head. “His story is that Aster was the mastermind.”

“The jerk threw her in the ocean and left her to drown.” The thought still had the power to make Roman’s blood run both hot and cold.

“I know, I know.” Rutland held up his hands in supplication. “And we’ll get both your statements so we can do our best to put both of them away.”

Roman scowled. That wasn’t good enough, but he knew Rutland was doing everything he could. Despite his feelings on the matter, he was bound by the law. “I want a restraining order against both of them—same goes for Irina.”

He threw a look at the woman in question, who the EMS were currently loading onto a stretcher, then turned back to Rutland. “Where’s the closest hospital?”

“Right over the bridge in Bradenton.” He tipped his chin at Roman. “Make sure they check that wound.”

Roman gave a noncommittal nod as he dug his phone out of his back pocket, grimacing as he hit the home button. After his swim in the ocean, he didn’t expect it to work. Miraculously, the waterproof cover he used actually seemed to have protected it because the screen lit up immediately.

He glanced at Rutland. “I’ll touch base with Knox and let him know what happened.”

“No need.” Rutland waved him off. “I’ll take care of it, make sure you guys are good to get home as soon as you’re released.”

“Thanks.”

Every muscle in Roman’s body protested as he made his way up the beach behind the medics. Once they’d loaded Irina in the back of the ambulance, the medic who’d cared for Irina nodded to him, and he shot her an appreciative smile as he hopped in.

Irina’s eyes met his, squinting against the brightly lit interior of the truck. He took her hand in his as he leaned in close to her ear. “Good thing I’m gonna be around from now on. Someone’s gotta keep you out of trouble.”

A tiny smile lifted the corners of her mouth at his gentle tease, and he brushed his lips over her temple. “I’ll never let anyone take you from me. You’re mine, Irina Incardona.”

CHAPTER

THIRTY-NINE

“Babe?”

“Back here,” she yelled from the bedroom. She grabbed the last pair of socks from the bottom of the laundry basket and shoved them into the dresser, then closed the drawer with a smile. She loved seeing her clothes next to his, the way he’d welcomed her wholly into his life. She loved being surrounded by his things, being surrounded by him. Though it had only been a few weeks, they had fallen into a comfortable rhythm.

After the ordeal with her father and Aster, she had spent a day in the ICU in Bradenton before they flew back home. The studio had cut ties with Aster, who had initially claimed innocence. She hadn’t been able to make bail, so she was still awaiting sentencing. Her father had several prior offenses, and he had been denied any chance at bail. He was currently being charged with attempted murder and would likely be put away for a long time.

In her statement to the police, she had explained their plan to kill her, then swindle her mother out of the life insurance payout she would have received on her behalf. An officer spoke with her mother to corroborate the events that had transpired prior to her arrest a little over a month ago.

Apparently, Dale had swept back into her mother’s life like a white knight, luring her away from Burt. Her father had conned her mother into moving in with him, and since her mother never had any money of her own, he had made several small deposits into her account to win her over. While she thought Dale had been helping her out, she had unwittingly given him access to her account information and checkbook. He would have easily been able to drain the account with her none the wiser.