Chapter Ten Sienna
The crack of gunfire is followed by the squeal of the boat's engines shutting down. The dock, the boat, Blake, and his partner go quiet.
A splash off the bow fills the air. The weight of the boat shifts. “Sounds like your partner just jumped ship,” I say to Blake. “You should get off, too. It’s the only way you’re going to save yourself.”
Darcy joins Ollie on the pier, and they move toward us with their guns trained on the boat.
“Blake, it’s over,” Darcy says. “I've known you most of my life. I don't want to see this turn out the way it looks like it’s going to turn out. Get off the boat. Let's stop this before it gets worse. The charges you're facing now are nothing compared to what you'll face if you hurt Sienna.”
“Fuck,” Blake says and pulls a gun from somewhere beside the boat's wheel. “You’re coming with me.”
“Where?”
“Overboard.”
I don’t move.
“I’ll kill you here, Sienna. Or you jump with me. Your choice.”
I can’t die because that would mean I can’t be with Ollie.
I don’t resist when he pulls me to the side of the boat.
“We could’ve been so good together,” he hisses into my ear.
“You and I would’ve had the most beautiful children.
We’d have been happy, Sienna. Why did you keep ignoring me?
I don’t know what I did wrong. I could’ve given you the world if you’d given me a chance.
But then you went and shacked up with that bodyguard? What does he have that I don’t?”
Integrity, honor, passion, loyalty to his friends and coworkers, a genuine smile, a kind heart.
I love him, and I don’t want to end this thing between us because of one comment he made about my past. It was awful what he said. But I need to let go of some of my defenses.
“He has me.”
“Fuck you.” Blake rises to the boat’s ledge and jumps into the dark water.
A boat with a tall upper deck, massive antennae, and blaring lights comes into view as Blake surfaces.
Darcy runs to the end of the pier and aims at him. “The Coast Guard is here. Don’t try anything, Blake. Turn yourself in. Make it easy for all of us.”
The Coast Guard boat cuts its speed and floats toward Blake.
“Put your arms up and tread water,” Darcy yells.
Blake curses and does as he’s told.
I turn from the side of the boat and find the love of my life working his way across the stern.
“Sienna.” Ollie sweeps me up in a hug that deprives me of the deck below my feet, but grounds me in his power and capacity for love and care.
He places me on the deck and holds my elbows, so my arms stay wrapped around his midsection.
“This was my mistake. I never should’ve let you take a chance like that. ”
“It was my choice.”
“Maybe I love you too much to let you make your own choices.” The sides of his mouth quirk with a grin breaking through.
I burst out laughing. “Maybe I love you too much to make any choices without you.” I study his soft hazel eyes. “What you said earlier was mean. Also naive. And I was mean, too, when I didn't need to be.”
“I’m working through my thoughts on all of it. I know laws aren’t perfect and they’re always evolving. I know there are thousands of reasons to go into sex work. I promise, I won’t judge you.”
My muscles loosen in relief. The adrenaline shooting through me ebbs. I’m getting dizzy and weak. “Ollie, I need to sit down.”
“Let me get you off this boat.” He picks me up and carries me to the stern. Men from the Coast Guard boat yell into the dark water. They’re bringing someone into their boat.
I rest my head against Ollie’s chest. He’s still in his fundraiser suit. It smells like his spicy soap and the sea-salty freshness of his condo.
“Actually, I have to put you down," he says. "We’re only tethered by one line. I’ll need help getting you off safely.” He lowers me to a white tufted bench and sits beside me.
“Will you come back to my place tonight? I don’t think I can let you out of my sight.
” He searches my face. “Truth is, I never want to let you out of my sight.”
I rest my hand on his cheek. The anticipation of kissing him floods me with tenderness and desire. “How long will you have me?”
“At the condo?”
“Yeah, at the condo.” I take a deep breath because I don’t do this. I don’t put myself out there. I don’t admit to neediness and a desire to depend on someone. But what if I do? “Also, outside the condo. All over Sunbreak Harbor. In my hometown. In yours.”
He breaks into the most fantastic grin. “Oh, Sienna. I’ll have you everywhere. There’s nothing I want more than to share my life with you and share in yours.”
I feel tears spring to my eyes.
“Is there something you two want to tell me?” Darcy calls from the pier.
“We’re in love,” I say, looking only at Ollie.
“We’re going to try spending our lives together," he says. "See what that’s like.”
“Well… okay, then. I’m going to get someone to help secure the boat. Then we’ll get you two off.”
“Thanks, Darcy,” Ollie calls out.
I can’t wait another second. I rise to my knees and throw my arms around his neck. We kiss in a deep, passionate, outrageous kiss that feels like a celebration of us finding each other and becoming the people we’re meant to be.