Anthony was working in the downstairs office of the cottage when he heard Evie wake up and come downstairs, pour herself some coffee, then go out the backdoor. He wanted to finish this email before going out to join her on the beach. Since learning about Jeremy, he’d spent almost every waking hour wanting his revenge. It grew, almost completely taking him over. After hearing Kat’s story, he knew what it could end up doing to him. Feeling like he was on the verge of something huge he paused. He thought he’d heard something.
Fear gripping him as he rushed out of the house and onto the beach to see Evie being pulled into the water. His knees almost buckled. Panic rushed headlong into him; there was nothing he could do to stop it. He knew he had to get ahold of himself. Racing towards the water, he could smell the rain in the air and the wind had picked up. The waves crashed harder on the beach. Pulling his phone from his pocket to call the main house, he heard footsteps running towards him. Looking over he saw security heading in his direction.
“No!” he screamed as he saw Jeremy holding Evie under the water for too long. Moving as fast as he could through the water, his only thought was getting to her. Saving her. It felt like a nightmare, where no matter how fast you move, you still aren’t going anywhere and your destination just keeps getting further away.
Jeremy was so focused on Evie he didn’t hear Anthony’s scream. Anthony watched as an arm came up out of the water with a rock in it and hit the side of Jeremy’s head. Jeremy fell into the water and started to float away. Anthony knew he had to get to Evie, she hadn’t surfaced. With the waves beating at him, his only thought was of Evie. He couldn’t find her. Time and time again he went under the water never finding her. Wanting to scream, rage and cry he knew they were running out of time. Finally his hand brushed against her. Taking her in his arms, he surfaced and started moving as fast as he could to shore never looking back to see what had become of Jeremy.
She was so cold and still in his arms. He fought back the thought that this could be the end. This vibrant woman, whom he’d spent so much time with was gone. He couldn’t accept it. Lying her down, he started mouth-to-mouth, begging her with each breath to fight and start breathing. He almost started sobbing like a baby when she finally coughed up the seawater. Pounding on her back, he said a silent prayer when he heard the sirens approaching.
– CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO –
Images flashed through her mind. Jeremy. The water. No breath. Floating. Burning. Coughing. Anthony. Anthony. She had to get back to him. Slowly, she opened her eyes and there he was. Trying to lift her arm she found that she couldn’t, frowning she tried to look around but couldn’t take her eyes off of Anthony. Her rock. He was here. A tear escaped from her eye.
“Shhh… la mia belezza, everything is fine. You’ll be okay. No, don’t try to talk, you’re safe. You’re going to be okay.”
“Jeremy?”
He reached over for the water and she took a sip, soothing her burning throat. “They’re looking for his body. You scared the hell out of me. I went out to join you on the beach and he had you. A storm blew up quickly. All of a sudden, I heard people running in my direction. I knew I had to get to you, they wouldn’t make it in time.” He bowed his head. “I couldn’t get to you fast enough. I saw everything. I thought he was going to kill you. Then you had the rock and swung it. I saw the blood burst from the side of his head and he floated away. My only thought was of you.” He smoothed the hair back from her face. “All I thought about was getting to you. I pulled you from the water and we got most of it from your lungs. But you wouldn’t wake up. I’ve never been so scared in my whole life. I couldn’t lose you.”
“I’m here,” she whispered, “I’m not going anywhere.”
He leaned over so that their foreheads were touching. “You’d better be. I can’t see my life without you. Those few moments when I thought you were dead were the worst in my life. Worse than anything else Jeremy had done to me. I’d be lost in the storm without you.”
“Sounds like you’re stuck with me.”
“Sounds like it. I love you, Evie. I don’t know what the future holds. They are still looking for Jeremy’s body. With the storm, the current made it difficult to search. I’m not going to rest until I know he won’t hurt us anymore. But I can’t live without you. If I have to choose, continuing my search for Jeremy running around the world or you, I choose you.”
“Anthony, I love you. I know we can do this together. No matter what, we’ve seen the worst and now we can reach for the best, together.”
They had been so wrapped up in each other they didn’t notice Lexi and Noah at the doorway until Lexi started sniffling. Evie looked over at her and smiled. “Now, who’s doing the ugly face cry?”
“Shut up.” She raced to Evie’s side and hugged her. “I’m so happy you’re alive.” Lexi looked at Anthony. “Thank you. Thank you for saving her.” She leaned over and hugged him. Noah walked up behind her and put his hand on her back offering her his support.
Seeing the two people who meant so much to her embrace, Evie lost it and started crying. It was all going to be okay. They were all going to be okay.