Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Anger boiled up in Roman’s veins as he regarded Chief Rutland. They stood on the sidewalk at the corner of the condo unit where Aster was ensconced inside.
“Please,” he practically begged. “There’s no reason for her to be here.”
Rutland shook his head. “She invited my men in, allowed them to search the property. Why would she do that if she had something to hide?”
“I don’t know!” Nothing about this made sense to him.
“Let my guys do their job,” Rutland said firmly. “We found Ms. Sterling’s phone in the Dumpster next to the ice cream parlor, and we’ve got feet on the ground questioning everyone in the neighborhood. We’re doing what we can.”
Turning on a heel, Roman stormed away from the small rental house, raking his hands through his hair.
The bitch knew something—she had to. Fury engulfed him, threatening to take over, and he forced himself to think clearly.
Aster was here—but why? What would prompt her to come all the way to the beach unless she somehow meant Irina harm?
He stopped in the middle of the road and glanced back at the condo complex, his mind spinning with possibilities.
He didn’t know what had been used to knock him out—he hadn’t wasted the time to go searching for the weapon.
Regardless, any woman was capable of a well-placed hit to the back of the head. But could she overpower Irina?
He seriously doubted it, especially with the recent self-defense moves they’d been working on.
Aster was a small woman, just slightly taller than Irina.
There had been obvious signs of struggle, but he couldn’t imagine Irina willingly getting into a vehicle with her. There had to be someone else involved.
He laced his hands together on the top of his head and tipped his face up to the moon, then closed his eyes. The island was closed. Aster was here, which was a good indication that Irina was still here somewhere. But where?
His ears perked up at a soft sound that carried on the light breeze. Little more than a squeak, it jolted him into action. A splash followed, sending chills down his spine. It was louder than the waves crashing gently against the shore and seemed to come from farther out. It also sounded large.
He started walking, unsure exactly of where he was going until he broke through the palm trees and stepped onto the soft sand. There was no light to speak of whatsoever, and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust. His gaze swept the vista in front of him, and it finally sank in. The pier.
In the moonlight, his eyes picked up a lone figure striding quickly back down the dock in his direction. The memory of the broken light bulbs flashed before his eyes, and he was running before he even thought about what he was doing.
“Rutland!” he screamed over his shoulder. “Get down here!”
The man on the pier snapped his head toward him.
In the moonlight, he could only make out the pale white of his face as Roman charged toward him.
He broke into a run, and Roman tackled him as soon as he reached the end of the pier.
Pinning him to the ground, Roman stared down at him.
A cold, calculating look filled the man’s eyes—and Roman knew.
Slamming his fist into the man’s face, he growled at him. “What’d you do to her?”
The man’s face twisted into a sneer as his eyebrow split open and thick, dark blood oozed out. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
“Don’t lie to me!” Roman landed another hard punch to his nose, and blood spurted over his lips and chin. “Where is she?”
He turned his head and spat out a mouthful of blood. “ screw you.”
Roman shook him hard, and the back of his head hit the worn wood of the pier with a solid thunk. “I swear to God, if you don’t tell me where she is—”
A slow smile spread over the man’s mouth, exposing his blood-stained teeth, looking nearly black in the darkness. “Bitch is gone.”
The splash Roman had heard suddenly registered, and ice settled in his veins. Smashing his fist into the man’s face one more time, he rolled off him and sprinted to the end of the pier. His lungs heaved from exertion, and he threw himself against the railing, scanning frantically for her.
“Irina!”
A few feet from the piling of the pier, a few bubbles surfaced and rippled across the water.
Without thinking, he launched himself up onto the railing and dove into the water.
Salt burned his eyes as he twisted his head left and right, looking for her in the dark, murky depths.
Suddenly, a flash of white below him drew his attention.
He dove downward, stretching for the tangle of fabric far below him.
His lungs began to ache as he cut through the water.
Finally, his fingers touched the billowing white fabric that rose around her like a cloud.
He grabbed up Irina’s body in his arms and pushed against the sea floor, shooting them toward the surface.
He gasped in a breath as soon as they broke free of the water, but Irina remained limp in his arms. Her head lolled backward, and he noticed the duct tape hanging loosely from a corner of her mouth.
“No!” Using his legs to tread water, he pounded her roughly on the back, hoping it would jolt her lungs into action. “Come on, trouble. Don’t give up on me now.”
Positioning them so her head was above water, he kicked forcefully toward the shore. “Help!”
Several policemen waded into the water and pulled Irina’s lifeless body from his arms. Just a few feet away, he rested on his hands and knees, eyes burning as he watched them perform chest compressions.
The sound of running feet approached, and a medic slid into place next to her, taking over.
What felt like hours passed as he watched them pump air into her lungs with no reward.
“Come on, baby. Fight for me!” Tears mingled with the water running down his cheeks, and his heart twisted in his chest. The searing pain of the wound on the back of his head was nothing compared to the sight of Irina lying there, pale and still, as if the life had leached from her body.
“Oh, God, please…” His voice cracked on the words. “Please be okay.”
Suddenly, with a horrific gagging sound, Irina spit up a mouthful of water. The medic turned her on her side as she coughed and sputtered, ridding her lungs of the vile fluid.
Spurred by hope, Roman scrambled closer and placed a hand on the medic’s shoulder, his gaze fixed on Irina.
The woman studied him for a long moment.
She must have read the urgency in his eyes because she settled Irina on her back, then, apparently satisfied that she was well enough for the moment, scooted out of his way.
He practically threw himself over Irina and pulled her against him. She was so weak she couldn’t move or speak, but he didn’t care. He ran his hands over every inch he could touch, from her perfect, gorgeous face, down her back and hips. “Thank God…”
He buried his head against her chest, his lips moving over her cold, wet skin. “You scared the life out of me, sweetheart. I was so worried about you.”
A shiver racked her body, and she coughed several more times. He tipped his head up to look at her, and a pair of bright blue eyes met his. Her hand lifted, curling into the sodden fabric of his shirt and held on for dear life.
“I don’t know what I’d have done if…” His voice broke as he trailed off. “Thank God you’re okay.”
“Sir…” Off to the side, the medic’s voice slowly penetrated the blood rushing through his ears. “I need to check you both over.”
He wrapped his fingers around Irina’s where they grasped his shirt and nodded, his eyes still locked on hers. “Her first. Make sure she’s okay.”
He gave her hand a little squeeze to let her know he wasn’t going anywhere, then released her so the woman could finish her work.
Everything had happened so quickly, and he finally took a moment to look around.
His eyes were drawn to the pier, looking for the man he’d knocked out on the way to find Irina, but he was gone.
He swept his gaze over the dim beach before it fell on Chief Rutland.
He stood off to the side, watching as two patrolmen slapped a pair of handcuffs on a man.
Roman couldn’t make out his features in the moonlight, but he was positive it was the same guy from the pier.
They hauled him to his feet, then escorted him up the beach, presumably to take him into custody.
Rutland’s gaze swung to Roman, and he staggered to his feet. Rutland held out a hand as Roman approached. “Well done. We couldn’t have done it without your help.”
Roman bit back the angry retort that sprang to his lips as he shook Rutland’s hand.
Had they listened to him and questioned Aster, maybe this wouldn’t have happened.
Or maybe, he thought as his anger slipped away, it would have been too late.
If they’d gone in to talk with Aster, he never would have heard the noises on the beach that led him to her.
They certainly would have been pulling up a body instead of his wife, who was finally safe.
“Thank you for your help.” He dropped his hand to his side, then tipped his head in the direction of the condo where Aster was staying. “What’s happening with Aster?”
Rutland rested his hands on his duty belt. “My men are bringing her in as we speak.”
After everything Irina had been through, Roman was going to make sure she never had to worry about her safety again. “What about the guy? Did he admit to anything?”
“Not yet.” Chief Rutland shook his head. “His story is that Aster was the mastermind.”
“The jerk threw her in the ocean and left her to drown.” The thought still had the power to make Roman’s blood run both hot and cold.
“I know, I know.” Rutland held up his hands in supplication. “And we’ll get both your statements so we can do our best to put both of them away.”
Roman scowled. That wasn’t good enough, but he knew Rutland was doing everything he could. Despite his feelings on the matter, he was bound by the law. “I want a restraining order against both of them—same goes for Irina.”
He threw a look at the woman in question, who the EMS were currently loading onto a stretcher, then turned back to Rutland. “Where’s the closest hospital?”
“Right over the bridge in Bradenton.” He tipped his chin at Roman. “Make sure they check that wound.”
Roman gave a noncommittal nod as he dug his phone out of his back pocket, grimacing as he hit the home button. After his swim in the ocean, he didn’t expect it to work. Miraculously, the waterproof cover he used actually seemed to have protected it because the screen lit up immediately.
He glanced at Rutland. “I’ll touch base with Knox and let him know what happened.”
“No need.” Rutland waved him off. “I’ll take care of it, make sure you guys are good to get home as soon as you’re released.”
“Thanks.”
Every muscle in Roman’s body protested as he made his way up the beach behind the medics. Once they’d loaded Irina in the back of the ambulance, the medic who’d cared for Irina nodded to him, and he shot her an appreciative smile as he hopped in.
Irina’s eyes met his, squinting against the brightly lit interior of the truck. He took her hand in his as he leaned in close to her ear. “Good thing I’m gonna be around from now on. Someone’s gotta keep you out of trouble.”
A tiny smile lifted the corners of her mouth at his gentle tease, and he brushed his lips over her temple. “I’ll never let anyone take you from me. You’re mine, Irina Incardona.”