17. CHAPTER 17
Daniella was on edge. Her legs felt like jelly, and she was queasy from her trip out to sea. She’d nearly collapsed when they’d seen the flames from Alex’s boat as it exploded, and she’d held her breath until they’d found out that everyone had made it off the ship and was safe.
When they pulled up at the Cobble Cove Lighthouse, they were met by an angry but relieved Finn.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite thieves.” Finn’s eyes narrowed. “What the heck were you two thinking?” he seethed as he marched them toward his car. “You’re lucky Harley intervened, or I’d have had the Coast Guard arrest both of you just to teach you a lesson.”
Daniella turned to Harriet and rolled her eyes, finding her once again staring at Finn like a love-sick puppy. Good grief! She drew in a breath and turned to Finn. “Alex had been taken, and if we hadn’t followed the yacht…”
“The Coast Guard would still have been able to find it.” Finn finished for them as he led them to his pickup, yanking open the doors for them to climb in and then slamming them shut behind them. He slid into the driver’s seat. “I’ve been asked to take you to the Summer Inn while Sam sweeps his house for bugs.” He glanced in his mirror as he started the vehicle. “Liam tells me you still have your suite there?”
“I am.” Harriet cleared her throat and squeaked. “I mean, yes.”
“I’m to take you there and ensure you stay there until Harley is back,” Finn told them, pulling off and heading for the Summer Inn.
“Do you have those anti-nausea pills I gave you?” Daniella asked Finn.
“In the glove compartment.” Finn glanced at Daniella. “Why would you even go on a boat when you’re terrified of water.”
“To save my husband,” Daniella informed him and saw his brows raise.
“I heard about that. Congratulations,” Finn said. “Alex is a good guy.”
“Thank you,” Daniella said, fishing the pills from the glove compartment and taking one.
A few minutes later, they passed Alex’s burnt house, where the last of the rescue team was cleaning up. Daniella’s heart sank at the thought it could’ve been their home.
“It’s such a shame about Alex’s house and his boat, all on the same day,” Finn’s voice was filled with anger. “Who would do such a thing? The fire was definitely arson.”
“We thought we knew who it was,” Daniella said, shaking her head. “All I can hope is that this is now over.”
Finn pulled into the Summer Inn as his phone rang. “Hello?”
Daniella and Harriet opened the doors and got out when Finn said, “Sorry, I have to go. There’s a surfer in trouble.”
“Okay,” Daniella said while Harriet just nodded and waved.
“He is such a hero.” Harriet sighed.
They watched Finn drive off and turn to walk into the Inn.
“I need a hot bath,” Harriet told Daniella. “It’s been a heck of a day.”
“I know.” Daniella smiled. “And you were right about Alex.”
Harriet grinned and linked her arm through Daniella’s. “Oh?”
“He told me he was in love with me right before we were cut off,” Daniella confessed, feeling like a sixteen-year-old with her first crush.
“I told you,” Harriet said.
“Not in so many words,” Daniella pointed out.
They had just walked into Harriet’s beautiful suite when there was a knock on the door. Daniella’s heart lurched, hoping it was Alex, so she beat Harriet to the door, pulled it open and froze when she saw a gun barrel pointed at her.
“If you want something done, you really do have to do it yourself.” The cold voice matched the ice in the person’s eyes.
“Who are you?” Daniella asked, raising her arms as she walked backward into the suit.
“Is that Alex?” Harriet rushed into the living room and skidded to a halt. “You!“ She breathed.
“Hello, Harriet!” The person sneered. “I guess it’s my lucky day as I get to get rid of two birds with one gun.”
“Actually, it’s two birds with one stone, implying you’d have to kill both of us with one bullet.” Daniella knew the moment the words left her lips that she’d been hanging around Harriet too long.
“I’m the one with the gun, so I’m the one that can bend things however I please,” the person sneered.
“This is all you’re doing!” Harriet’s eyes filled with realization, and she gaped in disbelief. “Of course it is. I should’ve realized sooner. You always were crazy.”
“I’m not crazy!” The person’s voice rose angrily.
“Harriet, don’t antagonize the crazy person with the gun,” Daniella could’ve kicked herself for not holding her tongue as the barrel of the gun connected painfully with her cheek, and she was knocked to the ground.
“Not so snide now, are you?” The person glared down at Daniella as Harriet rushed to help Daniella up.
“What do you want?” Harriet helped Daniella, who was feeling light-headed, get onto the sofa.
“How about both of you dead and out of my way for good!” the person spat angrily.
“How about you put the gun down, and you may still get to see daylight again,” Alex’s deep voice came from behind the person who swung around.
“Alex! You must understand I wasn’t going to hurt you. But you needed to realize that what you were doing was wrong. She’s not your destiny.” The gun was pointed toward Daniella.
“Put the gun down,” Alex said, holding up his hands. “Then we’ll talk.”
“You’re not going to listen to me until these two are gone.” The hand with the gun was flapping the weapon about like it was nothing more than a laser pointer.
“Let them go, and I’ll stay here so we can talk,” Alex reasoned. “Come on, Monica. Remember how we used to talk for hours before?”
This is Monica?Daniella’s eyes widened. Wow. She was even more obsessed than Ron had been with Daniella.
The word obsessed hit a nerve and sparked Daniella’s anger. She was tired of having people trying to manipulate her life and now Alex’s. Red dots blurred her vision as her anger turned to fury. Her eyes landed on the vase filled with pretty colorful daisies in the center of the coffee table. While Alex tried to reason with the crazed person, even though Daniella hated the turn crazed or crazy, she’d seen the glazed look in the gun-toting person’s eyes before-there was no other way to explain it except crazed. She inched forward and grabbed the vase, ignoring the blood rush to her head or the ache in what she could only assume to be a fractured cheekbone.
“I can’t do th…” Thawk. Daniella landed the vase on the woman’s head.
“You crazy obsessed lunatic,” Daniella yelled with all the pent-up fear, anger, frustration, and pain, having had to hide away for years because of people like Monica. “That’s for my house, my husband’s boat, and thinking you could come between love!”
She was so enraged Daniella had no idea how she’d managed to stop herself from kicking the woman when she was down. But that would’ve made her like Monica the Maniac.
“How dare you bug my houses and put my loved ones at risk.” Daniella couldn’t stop herself while Alex and Harriet stared at her in awed disbelief.
“Daniella!” Harley’s bark from the door snapped her out of her tirade.
The next minute, the suite was filled with cops. Her eyes met Alex’s, and they flew into each other’s arms.
“Your cheek!” Alex hissed, his eyes widening as he gently kissed it before pulling her closer to him. “I’ve never been so scared in my entire life when I saw Monica pointing a gun at you.”
He kissed her head and her forehead. “I’m sorry about all this.” He looked into Daniella’s eyes. “While we were thinking I was saving you, you were the one saving me from my own stalker.”
“Well, then, let’s make a pact that from this day forward, we never date anyone else,” Daniella told him. “Well, technically, we’d be having affairs if we did date anyone else as we’re married.” A grin split her lips, making her wince as it hit a nerve in her tender cheekbone.
“We need to get your cheek looked at,” Alex said before he gave her a sideways look. “What are you saying?”
“That I don’t want to have to date anyone again.” Daniella swallowed, knowing she was making a complete mess of getting out what she wanted to say. “I guess what I’m making a complete mess of saying is, I don’t want to be with anyone else, Alex.” She saw the surprise and relief flood into his beautiful blue eyes. “I love you and want to stay married to you for the rest of my life. And I know if I didn’t, my daughter would probably disown me.”
Alex stood staring at her wide-eyed for a few seconds before his lips swooped down and crushed hers. Daniella ignored the pain in her cheek as her arms entwined around his neck, letting him pull her closer. When they finally came up for air, they were surprised to see that the police were already carting Monica away.
Harriet coughed, catching their attention. “I’m going to stay in Dawn’s suite for the night.” She smiled. “Help yourself to my clothes,” she told Daniella. “They may be a bit long, but they should otherwise fit.”
“Thank you,” Daniella said to Harriet. “For everything.”
“Ethan will bring some clothes for you later,” Harley told Alex.
“Thanks,” Alex nodded. “Both of you, for everything you’ve done for us. Like Daniella said, you put your lives in danger and went above and beyond.”
“That’s what family does,” Harriet told them with a grin. “We stick together.”
Harriet hugged Alex and Daniella, as did Harley, before the two of them left. They were barely out the door before Alex pulled her to him once again.
“Before we go to the clinic to have your cheek looked at,” Alex’s voice was hoarse with emotion, “I need to make sure I’m not dreaming this.” His lips neared hers again. “I love you, Daniella, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much.”
His lips gently teased hers until Daniella pulled him to her to seal their love.
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