I watch in horror as two paramedics start CPR, trying to resuscitate him. No! Rob squeezes me tight, trying to comfort me. I slap my hands to my mouth…don’t die on my Bob, please…
I close my eyes and start a mantra. Don’t die on me Bob, please don't die on me...
“Coral!” Rob squeaks. I open my eyes and see Bob’s chest start to move up and down on its own again, I sag with relief, then watch as they carefully move him onto a stretcher. I walk forward, take his hand in mine and squeeze it tight. I know Rob is behind me, walking with us.
“Are you family?” The female paramedic asks.
“Practically, he doesn’t have anyone else,” I say choking back tears.
She nods once. “You can ride with him,” she tells me.
“Hang in there Bob ok?” With the oxygen mask across his face, he blinks once at me and tries to smile, he’s such a fighter, I dread to think what would have happened had he not been that way.
I lean down and kiss his cheek, keeping up with the paramedics as they roll him along the concourse. Bob tries to pull off the oxygen mask several times, but the paramedics keep stopping him, he looks pissed off. Reaching the ambulance they get him inside, and I follow. I feel so angry and mad at myself, I should have protected Bob, I should have demanded he stay with Gladys.
A few stray tears fall down my cheeks, when I think of what could off happened, it’s too horrifying to think about. I lean down and kiss his cheek again.
“I'm so sorry Bob,” I choke.
Bob point to his mask. I know he wants to tell me something, so I carefully lift the mask. “I’ll be fine,” he says wincing again. “But he won’t,” he whispers.
“Who?” I question.
“Tristan…” he croaks. “She’s gone there looking for you…” he whispers.
It takes a few seconds to register what he’s saying…’she’s gone there looking for you…Holy Fuck, Tristan! I think Bob can see the horror spreading across my face. “Go,” he says trying to move me. “Go…” My head whips round to Rob who’s stood outside the open doors.
“Rob, can you go with him? And can I borrow your car?” I ask. There’s somewhere I need to be!
“Yeah…but, what’s going on Coral?” he says stepping inside the ambulance.
“No time!” I frantically say, holding my hand out for his keys.
Rob shakes his head at me. “Don’t do anything stupid,” he says, reluctantly handing me his keys.
“I have to go do this,” I tell him then I look down at Bob. “Hang in there Bob,” I say kissing his forehead.
“Be careful,” Rob says. I nod once at him, step outside and watch as the paramedics get ready to shut the doors.
“Rob,” I shout. “Call Gladys, she needs to know,” I add.
Rob nods once, looking very worried and squeezes Bob’s hand.
I watch in horror as the doors to the ambulance close before me. I hear the sirens come on, and watch as it drives out of the car park in the direction of the hospital.
My blood instantly boils within me. Clenching my fists, I start running back to the studio. I have one thing and one thing only on my mind – Tristan!
Pushing past all the people that are being asked to go home by the police, I run into the living-room – How the hell am I meant to find them in this mess?
“Miss you can't be in here.” A male voice tells me.
“I live here,” I snap at him, still searching for what I need.
“Miss Stevens?” He questions.
“Yes,” I shout – Found them!
“We need to ask you a few ques’ – I barge past him, out the studio, past all the onlookers and run as fast as I can towards the car park.
Reaching Rob’s BMW 4, I press the fob and the car unlocks, throwing myself inside I push my foot on the brake and press the start button, the engine revs to life. Slamming my foot down on the gas, I fishtail out of the car park, tyres squealing as they find grip. I almost collide with another car, but they slam on their brakes as I go speeding past them…. I have to get to Tristan, no matter what – Brandon Flowers Crossfire is blaring on the radio – Weird that I’ve noticed it, I hadn’t even realised the radio was playing on the way down here.
Racing up Marina Way, I have to use the handbrake to turn right into Roedean Road, then I slam on the brakes as I take the right onto Cliff Approach, then I turn left, tires squeeling onto The Cliff, I almost lose control – Shit! I slam on the brake and then back on the gas as the car powers down the road towards Tristan’s pad.
With the gates still open, I swing a left into them skidding so badly I almost smash into the gate post. When the car straightens up, I slam my foot down on the gas again and launch towards the house. I see Tristan’s car in the driveway and the front door wide open – Fuck!
Screeching to a halt, I pull on the handbrake and push the stop button. Opening the door and slamming it behind me, I run the couple of steps to the front door. Tristan, please be ok!
Stilling myself for a moment, I take my Eskrima sticks out of the cloth bag and take a deep breath – You can do this Coral!
I close my eyes for a moment and picture Tristan smiling at me – A strange calm washes over me, I don't feel angry or scared, I feel calm and focused and totally in control. Stepping out of my trainers because I know they will squeak across the flooring, I carefully step inside.
All the lights are out. As I take silent steps into the hallway, I see the alarm cover is down and there’s a green light flashing on it, I remember Tristan telling me it triggers the alarm for the police. I wonder for a moment if I should call out to him, but something tells me I need to be silent, invisible.
My eyes search the living room, I can't see him in there or the part of the kitchen I can see from the hallway, and there’s no sign of a struggle. Turning around I tip toe silently towards his office. I open the door as quietly as I can, I half expect to see him in here, but as I step into the room I see he’s not, but I'm instantly immobilised when I see what’s up on the walls – Oh My God! – The photos from Hastings are all blown up and hanging on the walls.
On the back wall there’s a collage of four, to my right another four, to my left are the two I liked the most. They have been blown up and changed to black and white. I can tell from where Tristan sits at his desk; they would surround him. Swallowing hard, I turn on my heel and walk back out.
I feel lost for a moment. This house is so big I could spend forever trying to find Tristan.
Deciding my next step is to check downstairs I silently pad as quickly as I can down the stairs, I run along the hallway and stop as I reach the cinema room. The door is open, so I lean in as quickly as I can and pull back taking a mental picture of the room as I do. Damn he isn’t in there!
Running to the gym, I stop before I reach the glass wall and do the same as I did with the cinema room – Damn it! – Not in here either.
Dashing back down the hallway I silently run up the stairs two at a time, I turn to my right and head towards the kitchen. I check the library, and the large dining room, just as I’m running back out, I start to hear music playing, I stand still so I can try and work out where it’s coming from.
I tentatively walk towards the stairs leading to the bedrooms, I hear Florence and the Machine playing, I’ve never heard Tristan play that before. I put my foot on the first step and listen again, I know the track – Shake It Out – I try to listen for any strange noises, any kind of danger, when I don't, I run up the first flight of stairs as silently as I can, I’m so glad these stairs don't creak and give me away!
Reaching the first landing, I open each bedroom door as quietly as I can and glance inside. I have a horrible feeling I know where Tristan is…and Susannah.
I walk over to the last flight of stairs and stop for a moment… Ok, this is it!
Feeling sure of what I'm about to do, I run up the stairs, then I slowly walk across the short landing to the doorway so I can catch my breath. I hear the music getting
louder, but my heart is overtaking that, thumping loudly against my chest, blood pounding in my ears.
Reaching the door, I place my hand on the doorknob and slowly turn it, then slowly push it open. Keeping an Eskrima stick in each hand just in-case Susannah is there, I step forward into the room. Oh God! No…Tristan…
Tristan is lying on the bed. His head is cut and bleeding, his mouth is covered with duct-tape, his arms tied behind him, and he’s out cold – Tristan!
I run over to him and crawl along the bed, when I reach him I try to lift him up, but he’s too heavy for me. Leaning down I try to see where all the blood’s coming from, but there’s too much of it, I quickly untie his arms and pull the tape from his mouth.
“Tristan, wake up baby, please wake up,” I whisper into his ear. Silent tears start to fall against my cheeks; seeing him like this is like my own personal hell. “Tristan,” I whisper kissing his head. “Please wake up.” I tap his face a couple of times, hoping that might do the trick.
Finally, his eyes open drearily. Tristan, look at me,” I say sharply, his eyes search for me, but he looks like he can't focus properly, then suddenly his eyes widen with fear as he grips his head in pain.
“Run,” he growls.
“Is she here?” I whisper.
“Get out Coral… she has a gun!”
“What?” I gasp. Fuck! Where the hell did she get a fucking gun from?
“Get out Coral,” Tristan says again, gripping his head and groaning in pain.
“No. I’m not leaving you Tristan, come on,” I say. I stagger as I try to help Tristan off the bed and onto his feet. He instantly falls to the floor, taking me with him. “Tristan,” I cry out. “What did she do to you?” I choke.
He tries to push me away from him again. “Go, run...get out,” he moans, holding his head again. I feel absolute rage flood through me. I want to find her. I want to kill her.
“Coral...move, go,” he says then he cries out in pain and holds his head.
I start to cry. “I'm not leaving you,” I croak. I help him to his feet again but he stumbles three times onto the bed. I lift his arm over my shoulder, and with all my might, I lift him up to his feet, blood starts gushing from his head, pooling onto his shoulder, then dripping down his torso – Fuck, Tristan!
I hear police sirens close by, and just as I'm about to take a step forward I see Susannah appear from behind the door. Shit! She was there the whole time!
I see the gun in her hand, I think it’s a small revolver; we stop and stare at one another. I decide my best bet is to try and talk her down, get her to see sense, I have to do something.
“Susannah,” I whisper, swallowing hard.
“He’s mine,” she says robotically and lifts the gun up so it’s pointing at me. Oh fuck! I hear voices shouting from down below, it gives me a tiny glint of hope.
“Coral…don't move.” Tristan’s voice startles me.
I turn and look up at him. He seems more lucid as he glares at Susannah. She smiles weakly at him then she looks at me, her lips pull back over her teeth and she starts to growl at me, which quickly turns into an erratic scream. She holds her head in her hands and starts to shake her head, then she starts banging the gun against her forehead, mumbling to herself, then suddenly she stops and looks up at me, raising the gun in her trembling hand she points it right at me – Holy fuck, I think I'm about to die?
“Susannah…Don’t!” Tristan shouts.
She moves a fraction and aims at Tristan, tears pool in her eyes and start to stream down her cheeks, just as her finger starts to pull back against the trigger.
“No!” I swing myself around and dive in front of Tristan, just as I hear the deafening noise of a gun going off, and something…something painful pierce my shoulder.
“Coral!” Tristan gasps and falls to the floor with me in his arms.
Several footsteps run into the room, I hear Susannah scream in rage as she’s taken down, and another shot goes off, my ears are ringing so badly. I feel a strange sensation start to trickle down my back. I'm aware of several things happening at once, an ambulance being called, lots of male voices shouting, Tristan looking frantic. I realise I can't really feel my body anymore, everything feels numb. I look up at Tristan, his beautiful face looks so clear to me.
“No baby, no!” he shouts as I lie in his arms. “Hold on ok, hold on,” he pleads. I see his face change from fear to anger. “Why did you come back?” he shouts. “Why?”
I swallow once so I can tell him. “I came back...for you my love…” I reach up and place my hand on his heart. “Protect you…” Tristan starts to choke back angry tears.
“We need help…somebody!” he shouts, looking around the room.
I’m aware I'm being moved, but I keep my eyes focused on Tristan and smile up at him – I love him so much, and I saved him, I saved him from Susannah!
For some strange reason my hearing is drawn to the song that’s started playing, Never Let Me Go, I reach up and touch Tristan’s face.
“I like this song,” I say but it comes out garbled. I start to feel really cold, but I know I shouldn’t, we are having such a beautiful summer…
“Coral! Stay with me,” Tristan shouts, but I feel so tired…my eyes won’t stay open anymore.
“Open your eyes,” Tristan shouts, so I do. He leans down and whispers in my ear. “Stay with me...stay with me baby, you have to fight.”
I try, I try so hard, but I can feel myself drifting off.
”Open your eyes,” he shouts again. I fight against the sleepiness and do as he asks.
“Don’t you dare close your eyes,” he shouts, I smile weakly at him but I feel myself slipping, I feel the clouds coming over and the darkness taking me away...
“No…Coral no!” I hear my voice tell him I love him, but no words come out. “Don’t you dare leave me,” he shouts. “Keep fighting, stay with me!” I feel his hand crushing mine.
“I love you,” I hear him choke and his words are my undoing. I feel my heart thump twice then stop, the black clouds roll over me and I drift away...
End of Part Two…
Yay! You’ve finished Fallen.
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Find out what happens next to Coral and Tristan in the very exciting finale…Forever.
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CORAL - Forever
Will their love pull them closer together, or ultimately tear them apart?
When Coral Stevens met Tristan Freeman, she never thought it would lead her to challenge every aspect of her life, including her own mortality. Coral knows she is a handful, yet despite her bad temper, her irrational thoughts and her need to control, Tristan has stuck with her. He has become her best friend, her passionate lover, her bright light in the darkness, and with his help, she can finally lay the ghosts of her past to rest. Now, together, they must face some of their hardest challenges and prove to each other, no matter how hard it gets; they have become intrinsically woven into the web of each other’s lives, forever. Only now, with their deep love for one another, their passion, his wealth and their growing intimacy, fate it seems, will have the final say...
Excerpt From Forever…
IT FEELS LIKE I’VE BEEN FLOATING for a long time. I’m heading down towards my studio; it’s weird how it doesn’t feel like my feet are hitting the ground. As I reach the Marina, I start to notice that there aren’t any people about, just the houses, the boats. I stop for a moment and look out to sea, but I can't see anything except thick, dense fog. I turn and look down the concourse, the fog lifts for a moment, and in the distance, I see a figure standing outside my studio. I squint trying to work out who it is, but I’m too far away.
The moment I think that I zoom forwards and stop in front of my s
tudio, the unearthly figure is hard to look at, there’s a bright white light surrounding it; it’s almost blinding.
Suddenly the figure turns and stares at me, and I realise it’s a woman.
“Hello Coral,” she says, but her lips don't move.
I stare back at the woman. I think I recognise her, but I’m not sure.
“Mom?” I question and notice that my voice doesn’t sound like me.
“You have to go back Coral,” she tells me.
“Go back?” I question.
“You can’t come with me,” she says.
“Come with you? What do you mean?” I question. She floats towards me and presses her hand against my cheek.
“It was my time darling it’s not yours. Tristan needs you.”
I frown back at her. “But I want to go with you,” I tell her. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too darling, and I’m sorry. So, so sorry I didn’t make it work for us.” She opens her arms and I fall into them.
“Oh Mom!” I’m instantly flooded with a feeling of peace and absolute, unconditional love. “I don't want to go,” I whisper. “If I do I won't see you again, will I?” I look up at her.
“No baby girl, you won’t see me again, not like this. But I’ll always be with you, even if you can't see me, I’ll be there.”
“How do you know that?” I question.
“Because I’ve been watching you for a while now,” she says smiling softly at me.
“You have?”
“Yes, I have.” She takes my face in her hands. “Go now Coral, before it’s too late,” she says.
“No I like it here.” I don't feel any pain, or hate or sorrow – just love.
“Baby, it’s time. I love you Coral, please forgive me.” I try to hold onto her, but she takes a step back from me.
“No...Mom...” In the next instance she’s slammed her hands against me, one across my heart and the other under my rib – My god that hurt! She does it again – Fuck, that really hurt, what’s going on? Suddenly, my whole world shifts, and I feel like I’m being pulled through a vacuum.
CORAL - Fallen (A Romance Trilogy, Book 2) Page 46