Then came the crash.
A wall of force slammed into his back.He flew through the air like a ragdoll, hit hard and slid.His mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood.Something cracked.His shoulder maybe.
He couldn’t move his arm.His whole left side screamed.
Mud soaked into every inch of him.His ribs ached.His breath came in short, ragged gasps.
Behind him, somebody moved.Slowly.Deliberately.
He pressed his palms to the earth, trying to get up.His right hand found a rock slick with blood.He couldn’t tell if it was his.He lifted his head.The river was right there.Ten feet.Five.He could hear the burble over stone, steady and cold.If he could just get in and let the water take him?—
Too late.
A weight dropped on his back, crushing him into the mud.All the air fled his lungs.His ribs popped.Not broken yet.But close.
He screamed into the ground.Muffled, pointless.
His legs kicked once.Twice.Then stopped.
The cold didn’t hurt anymore.That scared him most.Because the cold was the only thing that kept him feeling alive.The storm above howled louder.Trees thrashed.Rain started to beat down.
No one heard.
He twisted his head just enough to see the river.
So close.A few more steps.
Please, he thought.But he didn’t know who he was pleading to.God.The river.Himself.
His mouth worked but no words came.His body refused to move.There came a sudden flash of sharp pain, and finally, the darkness took him.
Chapter16
Amka handed a full tray of coffees to Nixi, who balanced it easily and swung it up onto her shoulder.Daisy had been smart to hire the woman.“You’re a great help.Would you like a job while you’re in town?”She could use the extra hands.More tourists kept showing up every day, and she was running behind by the time she opened the doors.
“Yes,” Nixi said, bouncing a little.Her purple hair stuck up on one side, like she’d rolled out of bed and just gone with it.“I’d love that, if you don’t mind.I could use the extra cash while I do this influencer gig.I’m not slated to leave for another week.”
Relief burst through Amka’s still aching body.“Yeah, it’d be great.I can pay you in cash.”
“Perfect,” Nixi said, her grin wide, both blue eyes lit.She turned and headed toward the back like she already belonged there, her slim hips swaying without trying.
Daisy walked in from the kitchen.“I like her.”
“Ditto.”Amka grabbed the coffee carafe and walked down to refill Ace’s cup.She leaned over the bar and rested her chin on her hand.“You don’t have to watch me all day just because Christian asked you to.”
Ace shrugged.“I don’t have anything else going on.Plus, the food’s good, and the ambiance is better.”He nodded toward the bottles behind her.“How about a bit of Kahlua in this coffee?”
“How about no,” she said.“You start with Kahlua, and next thing I know, you’re fighting tourists on my floor, and I’m dragging you out the door.”
His gaze sharpened.Both eyes were the same pale green as Christian’s one green eye.“All right, then how about we have a little chat?What’s going on between you and my brother?”
“Nothing.”She leaned back.“He’s decided I need protecting, and apparently nothing sways him.”
Ace jerked his head and grinned.“Ain’t that the truth.Believe me, I know.”He looked around the tavern.“Where’s your fiancé, anyway?”
“Still in Anchorage.”As far as she knew, anyway.She glanced toward the windows.The morning plane hadn’t come in yet, and she hoped it stayed grounded.One more day of peace wouldn’t hurt.She looked down at her bare hand.Why put on the ring?
“You gonna tell Jarod you stayed out with Christian last night?”
