Just then static cut into the head piece they wore. It was Vinny. “I’m in position. Lure the fucker out.”
In the very next instant, there were several large banging noises at the rear of the cabin. Nikko found a large branch and was beating it on the outside of the house. They heard scuffling coming from where they were through the door.
“He’s moving. Target is moving,” BJ radioed.
Andreas wanted to hit the trigger, but they needed to hear that shot. Know that Sal was hit. Five seconds later it came, and Andy hit the charge. Two small explosions could be heard then all hell was breaking loose. Tony went in first. “Miss Stone, we are here to help.” Andreas ran in behind him. He saw her frightened eyes go round, and then land on him. “You came,” she cried in hysterics. He nodded through his own tears. Jobe pushed past them.
He screamed. “Perp is moving.”
Andreas glanced up to see Spiro moving. He was wounded. Blood seeping from his shoulder. He watched in horror as Spiro picked up the oil lamp from the counter and threw it in their direction. Flames leapt from the carpet it landed on, and because of the oil it quickly began to spread. The old cabin was filling with smoke fast.
Blaze, Gio, and the two PD, who had entered at the same time were blocked by the flames. Still standing, Spiro laughed evilly as he pulled out his gun and fired wildly through the flames. By instinct some of the men hit the ground for cover pulling out their own weapons. Jobe didn’t fall though, he just stepped back, and aimed. It was getting harder and harder to see through the smoke and flames. He was beginning to cough. He saw Sal look down at his chest. And then he backed up several steps. He was hit. Sal’s head shot up and his eyes connected with Andreas. His back hit the wall, and he began to slide down on the other side of the wall of flames slowly. But Sal wasn’t finished yet. He lifted his gun and shot wildly in his direction. Jobe stepped into the line of fire. The bullet hit him. His body jerked. He had used it like a human shield. He really was a wall because he didn’t even fall. He just lifted his own piece and fired back as Andy and Gabe worked furiously on the ropes. “We gonna have to take the cellar back,” he gazed through the smoke at Andreas who nodded his agreement.
When the last of the rope was cut, Tony’s directive was given. “Everyone, fall back. Fall back.”
Andreas scooped up Cat, cradling her to him. “My shoes,” she called out coughing remembering her ring hidden inside.
Andreas grabbed them up off the floor, and then clutched her more tightly. It had never felt this good to hold her. As he began to climb down the steps, he looked back just once. He saw Spiro, on the floor. Dead by Jobe’s bullet, and now engulfed in flames.
* * *
Cat sat in the heated car, Andreas’ jacket wrapped around her, her precious ring around her finger loose or not. The cabin had collapsed completely an hour ago, and the fire department arrived shortly after that. They allowed the rest of the cabin to burn making sure the flames didn’t jump to the trees. But the snow fall this evening had been wet, and helped to put the fire out. When there was just a pile of smoking embers, they turned on the hoses drenching what was left.
Andreas was outside answering questions when the local authorities arrived. Each of his brothers had come to check on Cat. Hug her, and say they were very glad she was safe. Andreas, after putting her in the car hours ago, had not returned. She’d refused medical help. She just wanted to hold him, but for now, she watched her hero, and the men named Tony and Jobe work the scene, talk to the local sheriff, and help the fire department by being extra eyes.
Finally, she saw the sheriff tuck his notepad away, and shake Andreas’ hand.
Only then did he turn to her. Her window was open. Their eyes locked. Across the distance, he mouthed the words, “I love you.”
“I love you too, Andreas. I love you.” The tilt of his head indicated he was headed back to the ruins of the cabin. She nodded in return understanding what he needed.
The fire was almost completely out, and Andreas followed the fire chief in. He was flanked by two other fire department personnel and each carried a shovel. They carefully stepped their way over the still smoking debris. When they reached the spot where Andy had last seen Spiro, he pointed, and the two firemen began to dig. It didn’t take long. Ten minutes later, the fireman dropped their shovels, and with protective gloves on removed a sodden but badly burned support beam.
Andreas examined the body before him, confirming the identity of the serial killer who had haunted his life. He was burned beyond any physical recognition, but his size, and the gun he had been wielding lay at his fingertips. Andreas needed to see it. See the body where he had seen him burning. It was the only way he could rest assured that the monster had not escaped again. And now he was sure. Spiro/Sal, whatever the fuck name he used, was dead. And, now he could live.
He turned and began to walk to the car where Cat was safely ensconced. She was his life. His love. His future.
Chapter 37
A New Day
The New Year’s Day wedding had gone off without a hitch. The service had been held at Andreas’s home. Neither he nor Cat had wanted to wait. They wanted to begin their lives together. They wanted to live.
It had been family only. Gio stood as best man, Lisa, the matron-of-honor, and Cat had planned to give herself away not having any family of her own. She smiled tearfully, however, when both Nikko and Blaze stepped forward when she reached the bottom of the stairs. They flanked her and she gave them her hands as they escorted her the rest of the way to Andreas.
They walked her between the small aisles of three rows. There were just eighteen chairs, filled with family, Angela and her husband, and Tony Alvarez and his wife, Sherrie, who had come for the wedding. She nodded to him, and his beautiful wife and then was handed off to Andreas by his brothers. They each kissed her cheek in parting.
“You have family now, Cat.”
“You have us,” Blaze added to his brother’s comment. She wiped the tears that slipped down her face and then turned to the stunningly handsome smiling man before her.
“I’ll take her from here,” Andreas choked huskily. His voice thick from pent up emotion. She was stunning in a short Vera Wang ivory dress. It was simple, her style. Only a thin decorative seed pearl scooped neckline adorned the dress.
Cat took his arm, and turned to face the Priest. Tears were in her eyes as he read the vows, and they each repeated them. It was quick, but every eye in the room sparkled for the couple who had both been through hell and back. They found each other through much pain, much suffering, and found their happiness in each other’s arms. It was fated. Everyone knew without a doubt that this love would withstand the test of time.
When the kiss happened after the vows, applause rang out in the room. The couple broke apart, but Andreas didn’t face the crowd and well-wishers yet. He gazed into the silver grey eyes of the woman who made him whole, and told her just how much he loved her. “Cat, my love. Before all here, I want you to know that from this day forward, you are my world. I meant my vows. I’ll keep you safe, I’ll cherish you, and I’ll love you for all time. I love you.”
Cat swallowed the lump in her throat as he wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. “You have shown me love in every look, every touch. You have made me believe in the impossible. Your family has welcomed me, and for that I am so grateful. You are in my soul, and my heart, and for so long I thought I didn’t have those anymore. Andreas, I love you and you are a gift I will cherish always.”
Her words floored him as usual. He gave her his famous crooked smile that never failed to warm her. And he kissed her again, and again, and again.
* * *
After a brunch reception, Andreas and Cat made their departure for a quick honeymoon. When he’d asked her three days ago if she wanted to go somewhere, she’d nodded. “Home.” That was her reply. When he gave her a quizzical look, she clarified. “Amsterdam.” He saw tears shimmering and understood. He made all of the arran
gements.
* * *
The first night after arriving, they went straight to the hotel. He held his wife and showed her what forever would be like. They basked in their love for one another. On For the first three days she allowed him to wine and dine her, taking her to the palaces and castles she had seen from only the outside as a child. On the fourth day, she was ready and took charge. She showed him the Amsterdam she knew as a child. The canals, the alleys, and the red light district.
On their very last day, she took him to the apartment she remembered from her childhood. Where her grandparents had raised her. Andreas tipped the young couple who lived there now, so they could go in. He watched her as she looked into the three rooms, touching the walls, the old gas stove, the radiator, things he assumed had not changed. When she nodded that they were done, she asked to go to a nearby fishing village where she had fished with her grandfather, and taken boat rides.
When they got there, they bought sandwiches and sat on a bench near the beach and watched the world go by. Sighing after she was done eating, she laid her head on his chest. “Thank you for bringing me here, there are some things I needed to say goodbye to.”
“Believe me, darling. I understand. I may need to go back to New York. Do the same with my parents.” He reached for her hand and held it. Holding on and giving each other strength.
After a few minutes more Cat got up, and he followed her as they walked back towards the village and his rental car. But instead of turning right, she turned left. He walked by her side and just followed. Up ahead he saw it. A set of wrought iron gates, the words above etched with “Markermeer Cemetery.”
Soon enough they stood before several small markers. The names on them showed they were Cat’s aunt, mother, grandparents, and great grandparents.
He stood behind her as she let out a tremulous breath. “Grandpapa, I have rolled, I have gathered no moss. Like stone I have survived and persevered, and weathered. But I am a Marino now. And I am happy to put the past behind me.”
Her felt her take several more calming breaths to keep from crying. He held her shoulders which were straight and proud. He loved this remarkable woman.
“Grandmama, thank you. Thank you for making me strong. And thank you for always telling me to never lose hope. You withstood, and by sharing your stories, I knew I could as well. I wasn’t in Auschwitz, or the Soviet Army, but I was in hell too. Your stories and strength gave me the fight to live, and love. You found your home and comfort here.” Her hands reached to Andreas, and she held the hands on her shoulder. He heard her sniffle but her posture remained strong. “And I have found it with this man. And you were right, Grandmamma, he came. My prince did come. It is not just a dream.” And with that Cat Marino turned into her husband’s arm, while he provided her the comfort only he could give. And, hHe kissed his beauty.
Epilogue
One Year Later . . . A New Beginning
“Push, now,” the doctor coaxed.
Andreas held onto Cat’s hand as she blew through her pain. He with her. He felt light headed, with dread and fear, but excitement too. His baby was being born. They didn’t know the sex, had both decided to let life, and fate reveal that to them in its own way.
Cat relaxed, head thrown back on the pillow. She was still breathing hard. But she was smiling at him. “You are doing great, baby. Just great.”
“Yes, she is,” the doctor repeated. “The head is here, and just one more ought to do it. Are you ready?” hHe asked Cat and when she indicated she was, and resumed her position, he gave her the call to push once again.
Her hand gripped his like a vice. Her small fingers causing no pain despite the strength he could feel behind them, but Andreas felt it, the pain she was enduring to bring their child into this world. A new life in their lives that would further join them together until the end of time.
“The baby is coming,” the doctor called out from his position at the foot of the bed. And just like that, it was over, as Andreas watched the miracle of his daughter come into the world.
“It’s a girl,” he whispered in awe of the precious baby. Tears streaked down his face. She was small. So tiny. She looked like her cousin Maria, Blaze and Bella’s daughter. But she looked like Cat too. He looked in Cat’s glowing silver grey eyes and kissed her quickly. “You gave me a daughter. Thank you.”
“We have a daughter,” came her happy cry. It was joined by the cries of the child. The tears were flowing as Andreas released her long enough to go cut the cord. The doctor had cleaned the child, and a nurse was waiting with a blanket to bundle her up.
Andreas made the cut perfectly where the doctor had indicated. The nurse swaddled the child quickly cleaning her off a bit more. “She’s perfect,” the nurse said having done her quick assessment. The baby’s color was already pinkening up.
She handed the baby over to the proud father whose hands shook as he carried his little girl gently over to her mother, and placed the squalling infant on her mother’s chest.
With tears in her eyes, Cat gazed down at the daughter she shared with Andreas. Their lives were connected in this one tiny being. “Her name is Suzanne Rose.” Cat whispered, but Andreas heard. Cat had told him months ago she had picked out a name for either gender and that he wouldn’t be allowed a say. She wouldn’t tell him what the names were, wanting it to be a surprise, no matter how much he had tried to coax it out of her.
And he had tried to in many pleasurable ways. But she hadn’t budged. He had just called the baby, ‘baby x’, when he had talked to her swollen abdomen these past months.
The fact that she chose to name the baby after his mom and her grandmother touched him more than words could say. He pressed a kiss to her cheek, and then to the baby’s forehead. “Hi Suzy,” he whispered to the infant who had settled down and appeared to be sleeping already. His sleeping beauty.
“What if it was a boy?” he asked teasingly, trying to insert his finger into the tiny baby’s clenched fist.
“You’ll have to wait and find out,” she teased back, knowing that she wanted to give this man a son someday.
That would be a surprise worth waiting for, he thought. Andreas laughed and kissed her again. And again. And again, before he left to go tell his family. All of them were waiting. Together. To hear the news. That Andreas had a daughter, and that mom and child were both healthy. And they were.
A new Marino was here. Suzanne Rose Marino was here.
A very proud husband, and a very happy father walked into the waiting room. And everyone stood up.
The
End
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The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros.: Box Set Page 95