Chapter Eight
Stellan
It’s been nearly a week since the storm, and the bridge is almost done. The construction crew cleared off most of the debris and rebuilt it, but some work had to be done before Mr. Knight could finalize the structure to ensure it was sound. Unfortunately, the terrain hadn’t been safe enough to land a helicopter, and the winds had been a bit rough the past couple of days, making it more difficult on the cove. Still, we were fine, but we were down to scraps and eating cans of food that were stored just for such emergencies. The road was mostly blocked to even get to us, but they could plow the debris away.
“Is there someone in the distance?” she asks. It’s off onto the side of the bridge. I looked, and then I told her to duck as I dragged her down. The shot comes out of nowhere. We’re both on the ground, sliding toward the bedroom door. I reach out as another shot is fired.
“I need my phone. I can call the sheriff,” she says. She stands, and then the shot comes again, sending Georgia to the bed with a scream. I quickly crawled to her and checked the wound while grabbing the phone and dialing 911. Thankfully, they answer without hesitation. I quickly explain the situation to the operator.
“Please hurry. I don’t know what kind of situation we’re still in or if the shooter is going to keep at it.” I wrapped her top around the wound, grateful it was small and tight. It helps with bleeding.
“Stay put. I’m going to check downstairs and look for a weapon just in case she comes closer.”
“I don’t think it’s safe.”
“It’s probably not, but we’re just sitting ducks if we wait. It’s going to take a bit for her to cross the bridge.”
“Okay.” I crawl out on my hands and knees and then rush down the stairs, grateful there are no windows from the shooter’s vantage point. Then I found the kitchen knife block untouched, so I took the large one to arm myself. The sound of a vehicle approaching gets my attention quickly. I duck to the side and peek through the one window to see that it’s my former assistant in all black with the rifle on her back. She looks muddy and full of twisted rage. Shit, I have to hurry before she gets to Georgia again. There’s no way I want anything to happen to my future wife.
“I’m going to kill that bitch,” she says. “Stupid whore, stealing my man.” My mind reels with the shit coming out of her deranged mouth. She opened the front door, which was still broken by the weather. As she does, I pounce, slamming her against the open doorframe and the wall. She crumbles, sending the rifle across the floor. Although she’s down, she’s not out. Felicity flails and kicks at me, trying to get up.
“Why her? Why are you doing this to me?”
“Have you lost your mind?” I already know the answer, but it flies out of my mouth.
“My mind. You waited all this time to give yourself to a hillbilly harlot who cheated on her boyfriend for you. I have been faithful to you all this time for nothing.” My eyes are wide with shock. Could she have been this delusional the entire time?
The sound of sirens in the background sent relief through me. “You were only ever my assistant and nothing more. Georgia is everything to me, and if she doesn’t make it, there will be nothing you could ever do to stop me from taking every last drop of air from your body.”
The first people to arrive were the National Guard, who happened to be in the area for the recovery project. They take her in custody due to the lack of extra law enforcement in the area. The medical team went straight upstairs to Georgia, and I followed behind. She was pale, but thankfully, she was awake and looking for me. “Please tell me she’s either caught or dead.”
“She’s in custody, ma’am. We need to see your wound and get you to the hospital. The sheriff's office was flooded, so for the time being, she’ll be housed with the National Guard.”
She nods and lets the medics do their thing before they move her. I’m impatient with their assessment, which they refuse to give. “The bullet is still inside, so we can’t say anything until she goes into surgery, Mr. Knox. You can either ride with us or the other team.”
“I’ll ride with you.” I wasn’t going to leave Georgia unless necessary, and it wasn’t necessary. The entire ride felt so slow.
“How far are we going?”
“We have to take her to the next town. Unfortunately, this town doesn’t have the best trauma hospital. With the evacuation, there were only a dozen people to return just in case it was needed, and it was already full with the injured. The ride is another ten minutes on the highway, and the road will be clear once we hit the mainland.”
“Good. Let’s just get my Georgia there safe and quick.” My patience was wearing thin, and it wasn’t their fault. Georgia reaches out with her uninjured hand and squeezes mine.
“Calm down, Stellan.” It’s sweet that she’s worried about me when Georgia needs help.
“I will once you’re well. Until then, I need them to take the best care of you.”
“We will,” one of the medics promises. It aches in my chest when I consider that Felicity was hurt because I didn’t read the signs and that I believed the closest person to me.
****
She spent the next three hours in surgery because the bullet traveled from her arm to her chest cavity. Luckily, there hadn’t been any major damage, but it still was a dangerous and long process. I wanted to kill my former assistant.
As I paced the hospital, my phone rang off the hook. “What the hell happened, Stellan?” my agent Morris asked.
“Felicity is my damn stalker.”
“What? Felicity? I guess that’s not far-fetched, but damn, your voicemail said you were shot at.”
“Yes, she tried to kill me and my future wife.”
“Wife? I can’t believe you’re getting married. We could really run with this.”
“We’re not running with anything. I want to keep everything hush.”
“How hushed?”
“Anything less than silent is a bullhorn in Hollywood, and you know it. She’s been shot, and Felicity is in custody right now. I want a total blackout while I deal with the police on this matter.”
“I’ll have someone say you were spotted in Greece.” I never lied about important things, but my whereabouts are one thing I don’t mind them fudging the details on. We started doing that when I had a stalker. I could laugh about it now.
“Sounds wonderful, and if it goes well, there’s a bonus in it for you.”
“I’ll make it happen.” I ended the call and then waited impatiently for the doctors or nurses to bring me news that she’d be okay.
Footsteps approached behind me, but they weren’t medical ones. It was the sheriff with two other officers. “Hello, Mr. Knox. We’d like a word.”
“Sure.”
“First, were you aware that your assistant had been in town?”
“No, I wasn’t, or at least I wasn’t aware until the storm hit, and I realized that she was my stalker.”
“How did you know?”
“Georgia came to get me out of the cabin, and we talked. It’s complicated.” I see the doctors approaching, and I rush past the police.
“How is she?”
“Ms. King is going to be just fine.” I let out a deep sigh of relief. My chest is pounding with a new happiness. There is so much to do.
“Ask your questions and get it over with because I have to see my girl when she comes to.”