It felt like forever swimming to the boat, but I got there and hoisted her torso over the side, allowing her legs to dangle into the water. Careful not to knock her off, I pulled myself into the boat, instantly towing her the rest of the way in and laying her flat.
“C’mon, baby,” I murmured, tilting her chin up and checking for air. My heart stopped when I realized she wasn’t breathing, and just like the night I first found her, I began CPR.
It was endless minutes of breathing and pumping. The entire time, I begged her to open her eyes.
Finally, there was a gurgle in the back of her throat. I pushed her onto her side as water emptied out onto the boat floor. When she was done, I sat down, pulled her partially into my lap, and rocked her back and forth.
“Eddie,” she whispered, reaching for my hand. I gave it readily, my heart damn near collapsing in my chest.
“It’s okay now,” I told her, kissing the back of her hand.
“You came for me,” she said, her voice hoarse.
“Always,” I whispered.
“Cross your heart?”
“Hope to die,” I murmured, fighting the emotion trying to choke me up.
Her lips pulled into a smile. “You will be forever mine.”
“I love you.” I groaned, pulling her a little farther into my lap.
Her teeth began to chatter, and I remembered we were in the middle of the lake, it was cold as shit out here, and someone just tried to kill my girl.
“No time for romance now, baby. We gotta go.”
She laughed, but it turned into a wheeze. Concern darkened the relief I felt at finding her, and I flipped a cushion off one of the seats. Thankfully, there was a blanket, and I quickly wrapped it around her shoulders.
“The widow,” she murmured, teeth still chattering.
“I hope the bitch drowns,” I growled.
Am snatched my arm as I pulled away. “Wait,” she implored. “She knows who I am.”
“Fuck!” I spat. Truth was I didn’t care anymore. Sadie or not, I loved her. But I knew that answer might not be good enough for her. Especially not after tonight. She needed answers. We wouldn’t be able to move on until we had them.
If the widow of Rumor Island had them, then I couldn’t let her drown.
“I’ll find her.” I promised, briskly rubbing my palms up and down Am’s arms. “You sit right there. Don’t move.”
She nodded, and I spun around, scanning the darkness for the woman. The sound of splashing drew my attention, and I moved to the end of the boat, closer to the sound. Squinting into the dark and wind, I thought I could make out a shape moving away from the boat, not too far away.
With a curse, I picked up the flashlight I had onboard and shone it in her direction. Sure enough, it was her trying to get away.
I fired up the engine (saying a little prayer of thanks it actually started, because wouldn’t that be some shit if it didn’t) and made a U-turn, pointing it directly toward her. She saw me, attempting to swim faster, but she was no match for the boat.
I drove up right alongside her, not worried in the least I might hit her. If I did, we’d get our answers some other way. Fortunately for her, I didn’t run her down. She was sputtering and coughing when I reached over the side and grabbed a handful of her hair.
“Let’s go, psycho,” I ground out and yanked her aboard.
I’d been ready for a fight, hell, even primed for one. But she collapsed against the floor almost instantly. Exhaustion clung to her like a newborn kitten to its mother. I grabbed some five-fifty cord out of the same cubby I’d gotten the blanket and quickly tied her hands and ankles together.
She didn’t say anything at all. It was almost as if she’d gone catatonic. It was creepy as hell. When she was tied up, I snapped my fingers in front of her face, but she didn’t even react. Thinking she could be faking, I stood over her and watched her chest, finally seeing it rise and fall with her breathing.
“Don’t move,” I growled, but again, she gave no reaction.
Keeping myself on high alert, I picked up Amnesia and brought her to the wheel. Keeping my body anchored around hers, myself positioned between her and Mrs. West the entire time, we flew over the water back to shore.
Glowing blue and red lights served as a guide as I barreled toward shore. Hopefully, Tom wouldn’t be too pissed I hijacked his boat without asking.
Not that it mattered. He could be pissed all he wanted. I didn’t care. All that mattered was Amnesia was here and she was safe. Although, I did make a mental note that maybe it was time for me to get a boat of my own.
When I drifted to the dock, the police were already there waiting.
“I tied her up,” I said, motioning toward the widow. She had yet to move. I was beginning to think she wasn’t even blinking.
Everyone was shocked silent, strange for the people in this town, but this was something no one expected.
“What the hell happened?” one of the officers asked as I practically lifted Amnesia off the boat and onto the dock.
Before I raced onto Tom’s boat, I’d called 9-1-1 and gave a very basic rundown of what was transpiring—no details, just enough to get them the hell out here.
“She was trying to kidnap me,” Am answered, drawing everyone’s stare. “She knows who I am and where I’ve been all these years.”
Her teeth started chattering again and her legs gave out. I scooped her up the second she started to sink, holding her close against my chest.
“Let’s get you guys to the hospital,” the officer said, abandoning his inquiries. “Ambulance is right over there.” He pointed.
I left the cops to deal with the old woman as I trudged through the grass toward the waiting EMTs.
I knew this was likely the only reprieve we were going to get from the questions. There were going to be so many. I just hoped, for Amnesia’s sake, there were some answers, too.
We both had a concussion and were admitted for the night. Thankfully, the staff here knew us well enough they didn’t even bother putting us in separate rooms. There were two beds in the one they put us in, but only one was going to be used.
Eddie had stitches in his head behind his ear. They had to shave off a patch of his dark curls to stitch the gash the witch had put there. The fact he was able to get up off the floor, with a split head and a concussion, steal a boat, and find in me in the center of the lake was a marvel to the police and the hospital staff.
He saved my life… I’d lost count how many times it was now. After tonight, there were more questions than answers, but I knew something that would never change. I would always be able to count on Eddie. And maybe the circumstances in which we met and fell in love were totally odd and a little unbelievable, but the love was real.
I didn’t have any stitches, but I had a knot on my head, various cuts and bruises, and my hand in a cast. One of the bones cracked when the widow crushed my hand with the oar.