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Holding Aidan’s knife, I use my legs, back and shoulders to keep him in place. The waves are relentless, rolling us forward and back, but it doesn’t stop me from forcing the blade into Aidan’s hand. It’ll take too long to cut his wrist, so I go for his thumb instead, like I’m carving a piece of chicken thigh. As soon as his thumb is detached, I rip his hand out of the cuff.
“Rot in hell!” I let go of Aidan’s hand and kick his body into an oncoming wave.
I push myself up aboard The Peregrine and envelop Amber-Rose’s writhing body.
“Take it off me!” she shrieks in distress.
“He’s gone.” One cuff is still hanging from her wrist, but the one that was attached to Aidan is empty.
Her voice fades, yet it still sounds excruciating. I know she’s repeating her plea: “Take it off me.”
I finally realize her desperation has nothing to do with the handcuffs. There’s a ring on her finger—she wantsthatoff.
I pull off the diamond ring and toss it away, letting the ocean swallow that pathetic, distasteful piece of jewelry. How dare he! Trying to claim Amber-Rose? She’s my little fighter, my other half.
“It’s gone,” I whisper to her as I cut the rope that binds her wrists. With her head firmly on my chest, I cage her in my embrace and take her inside The P.
Although shivering through hitched breaths, she seems to have let go of her fear and strain. Maybe it’s just part of her instincts—to feel me, to feel protected by me—but it’s humbling to witness her faithful surrender.
“Amber-Rose.” I tap her cheek.
“Rob…”
I reach for the first-aid kit and take out a fire blanket to cover her. There’s a cut on her chest, and although it’s not deep, it seems to be hurting her. And that bruise—she might’ve been hit and injured her lung, hence the wheezing.
“Clay.” I radio my brother while reaching for the oxygen tank behind me, giving the mouthpiece to Amber-Rose to aid her breathing. “She’s safe,” I tell him.
I can hear Clay huffing in relief. “Good job, brother. The Coast Guard is already on their way, and I’m almost there.”
Aidan’s desire to have Amber-Rose had powered him to make one last attempt to claim her. He did say that they were the till-the-end-of-time kind of soul mates, and he’d shown just that.
Only Amber-Rose could drive a man to such desperation. Aidan was a man of flammable quality—the tiniest spark could create a deadly fire. When he met Amber-Rose, the contact had to be beyond just a spark. She is a magnificent being, and he exploded.
“Steady,” I say as she hitches, trying to suck in air from the oxygen tank.
In between her wheezing, she labors, “Your cars… yours and Clay’s… check them.”
Unsettling heat spreads through my chest. More of my cars have been tampered with? And Clay’s too? “I’ll take care of it. Stop talking.”
She looks around nervously as noises start to surround us.
“It’s okay. It’s Clay. Aidan is gone. He’s not going to touch you, ever again.” I cry on her forehead.
My brother jumps onto The Peregrine.
“Rob!” he says and hugs me. His presence reassures me that it’s over with Aidan.
Amber-Rose looks at me in relief, and then she smiles sweetly at my brother. I kiss her—a kiss that says I’ll never let her go.
37
ROB
Amber-Rose stays conscious throughout the flight that’s taking us to Los Angeles Hospital. Her hand stays in mine. Both of mine.
No one else would have survived being in the water, beingunderwater, with just one lung, but she made it. Any SEAL would be in awe of her effort. She’s definitely my little fighter.
Behind the oxygen mask, her voice is muffled. To others it might sound like mumbles, but I know she’s calling my name.
