pointed at Tony as he ran to the other side of the small kitchen table so that he could get a clear shot on us.
Suddenly, the door behind him burst open.
Saul wheeled around with his gun only to run right into Derek who grabbed the gun and began to wrestle Saul for it. The two men were locked in a hard fight struggling with the gun above their heads. Saul kicked Derek in the groin and Derek’s grip began to falter. He was about to lose this fight. Saul was so dirty.
Saul kicked him once more. Derek screamed and tried to hold on, but his body was collapsing right then. He was almost out of this one. And that would mean his certain death.
Tony leapt off the floor and tackled Saul to the ground. The gun fell from his grip and scattered on the floor. Tony was on top of Saul now reigning punches on him. I could hear each punch landing with a huge smacking sound as Tony’s fist met Saul’s face, pounding him hard. Yes! It was so satisfying. I stood up and walked over to where Tony was finishing pummeling this man into a pulp.
Tony stopped punching and stood up breathing heavily. Saul was out. His face was bloodied as could be and he was unconscious.
Derek was up now pointing the gun at Saul. The other cops were running through the door right then. “Cuff him!” Derek demanded.
The cops went to work cuffing Saul. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. It was awesome to see, but the feeling I got from it was beyond anything I could ever have imagined. It was real. This was really happening.
Saul was totally unconscious and needed some medical treatment, so an ambulance was called.
I stood there looking at Tony. I felt like collapsing. The emotional and physical stress this had all just taken from me was just too much. I leaned against him and let myself fall forward. He held me tightly to his body just then. His hands came behind me. One hand was on my lower back and the other was stroking the back of my head. It was so comforting. I couldn’t believe that this was really it.
“Are you ok?” Tony asked.
“Yeah,” I replied. “I’m finally alright. I… I just can’t believe it’s done. It feels like a dream, something I am afraid I am just going to wake up from.”
“I know, but I can assure you it isn’t a dream. It’s real. Every single bit of it is real. You were amazing.”
“Yeah, it was so much fun punching him.”
He laughed. “Yeah. I saw that. I would have stepped in sooner, but it looked like you had it under control, and I didn’t want to step on your toes. I wouldn’t have dreamed of depriving you from some much-needed payback.”
“Thanks,” I said. “But you could have been a bit faster when he pulled out the gun.”
He laughed. “Yeah, that kind of surprised me, too. I should have.”
“I guess not,” I said. “But you did pretty amazing yourself. I can’t believe you set all this up. If it weren’t for you… I don’t know what would have happened.”
Tony pulled me closer to him gently and kissed me on the mouth. His kiss was warm and so loving. “Honey, I’ll always be there for you. I want you to know that. You will never be alone again. I will always do what I can to keep you safe and support you in any way that I can.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, babe. I love you so much.”
I leaned into his arms and I knew that he meant every single word.
19
Tony
Three Weeks Later
I had to do a double take when Julie walked into the room. She was by far the most beautiful vision that my eyes had ever beheld. Her long, beautiful hair was flowing and shining brightly as it bounced softly on her shoulders. Her piercing eyes were sparkling to me. The dress was clinging to her body in that oh so perfect way so that it hit every single curve when she walked.
And her energy was right on point. It beckoned to me and I smiled warmly at her as I watched her entering the room of our mansion in Anchorage. Every single person in the room turned and stared at her. None of them could believe such a beauty was real, but there she was a real-life work of