hurt like hell anyway. I shuffled out under his watchful eye.
“Don’t blame anyone but yourself, Arabella,” he hissed. “It didn’t have to be like this.”
Yes, it did.
The little blue shack was swept bare. There truly was nothing for the police to find now. Everything had worked in Mal’s favor.
But not in Bracknell. Sending me here ruined whatever hideous plan he had for me then, and I was gifted this one last summer with Preston, Carter, and Nathan.
Tears welled in my eyes.
I was dangerous for them. I should have stayed away, and still, I wouldn’t trade a millisecond of our time together. I’d hold them in my heart during these years with Malcolm. I’d get by knowing that, whatever happened, those years would be short.
“Hurry up. I want out of this place.” He grabbed hold of my forearm, pulling me out the door and down the dock. I bit my split lip to hold in a groan as I quickened my pace to keep up. Mal stomped on my knee in the midst of my beating. The deep ache and worsening limp did not bode well.
“He picks us up at noon on the dot,” Mal said as he climbed the ladder. “If we’re late, our chance to get home won’t come again for weeks.” He turned around, reaching to lift me up. “You’ll like our new home in Lismore. It’s where my mother is from.”
Lismore, Ireland.
I should have known. Mal would want to be somewhere he could still control the situation. And send people after me if I tried to run.
“We have new identities waiting for us on that boat, a chroí. A new life.”
I said nothing. Just raised my hands for him to lift me.
Malcolm secured me under the shoulders.
“Belle?!”
Our heads jerked up.
No, don’t do this to me. Don’t taunt me after everything I’ve been through! I haven’t earned this torture!
“Belle!” Nathan’s voice said. “We’re here!”
I twisted, and there he was. Perfect. Beautiful. Unharmed.
Unreal.
This apparition was my mind conjuring one last jab. A death rattle as it gave up all hope.
“How?!” Mal shouted. “You’re dead!”
What? Mal can see him too?
“Baby, run!” Nathan raced toward the dock, curly locks flying, and arms held out. “Run to me!”
He no sooner said it than Carter and Preston were there, racing behind him.
An emotion took over me, bursting through the thick, clinging film of sorrow that seeped into my soul.
I reared back and slammed my forehead into Mal’s hurt nose.
“Arggh!” He dropped me and I ran. Ran as fast as my hurt knee could carry me.
A thump shook the dock. Mal fell on me, snatched me off my feet, and bounded up the ladder.
“Let me go,” I shrieked.
He sprinted down the steps and threw me in the cabin, bouncing me off the couch. “Stay here!”
Mal made to slam the door. Shooting forward, I stuck my hand in the jamb, muffling my cry as it banged on my hand.
Malcolm didn’t notice. He was already on the deck, cursing and racing around.
I crawled up as he unmoored the boat. Keeping low, Mal didn’t notice me on his way up the cockpit. When he was out of sight, I burst from below, running to the ladder.
My boys were there. Feet from me. One jump and I was free.
“Nathan. Preston. Carter.”
“Jump, Belle,” Nathan said. He reached the boat first. “We’ve got you.”
I swung my good leg over.
“Don’t fucking move.” A click sounded behind me. “Arabella, get back on the boat.”
Dropping my leg, I moved back slowly. Mal loomed over us—his gun leveled on the boys.
He started the engine, puttering the boat down the dock. Despite the threat, the guys kept pace, hard and furious meeting his gaze.
“Provoke me,” Mal said. “Please. Nothing would make me happier—”
“Nathan, now!” Preston shouted.
Nathan whipped something from his back pocket. I caught a glimpse of a snubbed, red piece of plastic, and then it exploded.
A streak of fire flew over my head and Mal’s cry pierced the air. He fell on the steering wheel and the boat lurched portside, swinging away from the dock.
“Carter!”
The three jumped and tumbled on deck, landing by my side.
“Belle.” Scrambling up, Carter cradled my face. His heart cracked before my eyes. “What did he do to you?”
“Doesn’t matter now.” The dock was growing smaller in the distance. “We have to get off this boat.”