His heartbeat raced beneath her hand—and didn't slow.
Chapter 41
Cliff’s Edge
The rain stopped.The wind died. The sudden absence of both sank into her consciousness where she lay tucked up against Zach, one hand resting over his heart.
The storm was breaking, or they were between bands now. Either way, the weather had calmed; the sun was peeking out from behind the clouds.
Her heart leapt. Could she finally get a signal?
She straightened enough to pull her phone out of her pocket and check the screen. Yes! One bar, but that should be sufficient. She hit Nick’s contact and prayed.
“Emma! Where are you? Is Zach with you?” Emma almost cried when Nick’s voice sounded in her ear.
“We’re at the cliff, by the top of the cave trail. Marcus was here. Zach’s hurt…” She was babbling in her rush to get everything out, terrified she’d lose the connection again.
“Zach’s hurt? How bad? Can he walk?”
“No, he’s not strong enough to walk more than a few steps. He’d never make it back to the resort.” She fought to keep the sobs inside.
“Are you safe from Marcus?”
"Yes, he’s gone." She wasn’t ready to put it into words, to say that Zach had killed two men to protect her.
“Okay, we’ll bring a golf cart as far as we can take it, and David and I will carry him to it if necessary. Give us ten minutes and we’ll be there. Take care of him.”
Nick hung up, and Emma sobbed in relief. Help was coming.
It was only eight minutes before Nick and David burst into the clearing at the cliff’s edge. Emma knew because she’d been unable to keep her eyes off the time on her phone.
She sat up as they skidded to a stop beside her. David was carrying a first aid kit while Nick wore a backpack. She was so relieved to see them, but couldn’t move out of their way. She sat between them and Zach.
“Emma—what happened?” Nick squatted and reached a hand toward Zach, and it was Marcus reaching for him.
Terror flooded her veins, and Emma moved, throwing herself between them. “No! Leave him alone!” She faced Marcus and the assassin again, and they were trying to hurt Zach. She had to protect him.
They glanced at each other, obviously deciding on a strategy to evade her. She wouldn’t let them hurt him. Not again.
“Emma, honey, it’s Nick. We’re here to help Zach.” He paused, eyes moving over her face, flickering to Zach, and back to her again. “Come on, honey. It’s all over now. You’re safe. Zach is safe. Let us help you.”
Her vision wavered, and four men were now in front of her. She blinked rapidly, her eyes darting between them until the figures resolved into Nick and David crouching in front of her.
The assassin was dead. Marcus went over the cliff. She shook her head, and pushed the residual terror aside.
“Oh, Nick, I’m sorry!” She scrambled back, flushing, still holding Zach’s hand, but letting them approach. “I must be losing my mind.”
She looked from Nick to David. Nick was kneeling next to her, but David stood facing the trees, tension in the lines of his muscles.
Nick smiled. “We understand.” He reached out and placed his fingers on Zach’s pulse. “First, how safe is it here? Is there anyone we need to watch for?”
Oh, that’s why David was watching the tree line! “No. The assassin and Marcus are both dead.”
David’s posture relaxed, and he knelt down next to Nick. “Good, what can you tell us about Zach’s condition?”
“He was poisoned. Lionfish venom. I think.” She frowned. “I’m not 100% sure, but I treated Zach for that anyway. He did improve somewhat. He was able to climb the cliff after me and protected me from Marcus.” She left out the minor details.
Well, not minor, but her mind still shied away from those memories.
