Until We Meet Again

by Renee Collins

  Nothing.

  A trio approaches me, goading me to join their game of hide-and-seek. I push past them without as much as a word. I have to find Fay. She was right. My uncle is the dangerous one.

  And then, like a steam engine right into my chest, a thought strikes me. Is my uncle the one I should have been suspecting all this time? Is my uncle the one who kills me?

  All at once, the music and laughter of the party fade. The colors and lights blend together around me. Across the lawn and into the shadows, the sight of Fay running, her red dress like a smear of blood. Ned is little more than an arm’s length away.

  In slow motion, Fay tosses a terrified look over her shoulder. Her eyes connect with mine. And then, she turns to the bushes. To the path.

  Like two ghosts, she and Ned vanish into the dark beauty of the beach.

  The beach.

  A thudding heartbeat. A shallow breath. Everything else is blotted out by darkness.

  But I know what I have to do. And for the first time in days, I’m not afraid. In fact, after so much turmoil, I marvel at the elegance of it all. Fate found a way to get me on that beach. And I accept it. Because I must. Because I won’t let fate have anyone else. And if I don’t stop Ned, Fay will die as well.

  Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and walk a final time to the sea.

  Chapter 34

  Lawrence

  The odd calm I felt approaching the beach is shattered the moment I break through the bushy path.

  Fay is lying on the sand. Ned’s kneeling over her, smashing his fists into her with animallike fury. Fay screams and holds up her arms to try to block him, but it’s no use. With his strength, he’ll break her delicate body in minutes.

  A roar tears from my lungs. I fly at Ned, ramming into him with all my weight. It’s enough for me to make him stumble back.

  “Dammit, boy,” he shouts. “You stay out of this!”

  He lunges forward, shoving me to the ground. I turn back to Fay, who’s lying motionless on the sand, and I spring back to my feet.

  “Leave her alone, Ned.” I slam into him again. It’s like pushing my shoulder into a stone wall. “She’s done nothing!”

  “She’s ruined everything.”

  “No! I’m the one who ruined your plan. I’m the one who broke her heart and sent her away.”

  Ned staggers away from Fay. His face is flushed. He stares at me, breathing hard. I bend over, trying to catch my breath as well.

  “I found someone else. Someone I love. I’ve never loved Fay. Not like that. Your plan never would have worked, Ned.”

  He shakes his head. “You’re wrong.”

  “I’m telling you, I never would have married Fay, let alone worked for the mob.”

  Ned’s gaze stays on me, unbroken. “So you would have left me to the wolves then, Lonnie? After everything I’ve done for you? After everything I’ve given you? I’ve treated you like a son, dammit. I’ve loved you.”

  His words reveal his desperation. A pang of regret grips me.

  “I’m sorry, Ned. I want to help you. And I will. But not like this.”

  “Well, it’s too late!” Ned voice rises in pitch and fervor. “The mob is ready to pounce. Don’t you get that? Once they catch word that the Cooper deal fell through, I’m a dead man.”

  “Maybe if we go to the police—”

  “The police? Are you mad? They’re just as bad as the Cartellis. And they want blood, just the same. My blood.”

  I take a tentative step toward him. “There has to be another way.”

  “There isn’t! This was the only way, Lon. The only way!” He’s yelling now, his voice coarse and raw.

  “I’m sorry.”

  His left eye twitches. “You’re not sorry. Don’t lie to me, boy.”

  “Ned…”

  “No.” His shoulders heave. “This is all your fault. You want to see me choke. Admit it!”

  “I love you, Ned. You have to believe me.”

  “Liar.”

  Like the crack of a whip, his arm flies forward. His fist connects with my jaw in an explosion of pain. I fall to the sand. The moon overhead blurs and doubles. Then Ned’s face blots it out like an eclipse.

  He lifts his fist again, but I roll out of the way and scurry to my feet. He’s stronger than me. I know that. But I’m faster. When Ned lunges again, I dart out of the way. He whirls around and gets the tail of my shirt in his fingers. He drags me toward him.

  This time, I deliver a punch to his face. And while Ned reels, I dash away. He presses the spot where I struck him. He rushes at me, arms out like a linebacker. I try to dodge to the left, but he anticipates my movement. His fingers clamp, viselike around my throat.

  Ned jerks me up. His face bent with blind rage, he smashes his fist into my cheek. Across my jaw. Over the crown of my head. Each blow blazes against my skin. I hear my own voice gasp in pain, but I feel oddly as if I’m watching him beat me from a distant, high place.

  Ned pauses to catch his breath. Then, clenching his teeth together, he delivers the blow that sends me to my back.

  My head hits the water with a splash. The upper half of my body crashes into the shallow wave break. The cold shocks me. Gasping, I flail up, but Ned’s already on top of me. His massive hands close around my neck. In his eyes, I see nothing of the man I’ve known my whole life. The man I called “uncle.” He’s far away. Perhaps gone forever.

  With a grunt, Ned pushes me beneath the black water. Instantly, darkness engulfs me. I claw at his hands with all of my strength, but I know it’s no use. I’m weakened, and he’s twice as strong as me. My body writhes and flails, but he’s straddling my waist, pinning me beneath the waves.

  My lungs burn for breath. My eyes burn with salt water. The wounds Ned’s fists opened on my skin burn and bleed into the sea. My chest thrums and seems to tear apart from the inside out, yearning to breathe. Gripping Ned’s hands, I struggle to make out anything in the rippling black water above me. But there’s nothing. Everything fades into darkness.

  It’s over.

  I shut my eyes. I don’t want it to end this way. I’ll gather my final tendril of life and pour it into thoughts of Cassandra. Perhaps, wherever she is at this moment, she’ll feel it and know how much I love her. I’ll leave this world thinking only of how I love her.

  Good-bye, Cassandra.

  Chapter 35

  Cassandra

  I’ve never loved any sight more than that of the backyard. Basked in pale moonlight, it’s magical. I’m flying, soaring over the grass, past the gardens, toward the beach. The smell of the ocean in the distance is the substance that pulses through my veins.

  I’m coming. I’m coming, Lawrence.

  I push past the branches in a daze. I explode onto the beach.

  And immediately shrink back a step. There are people here. Strangers. A woman sleeping on the sand and a big man down by the shore. Recognition flickers through me. I know him. I’ve seen him before.

  Lawrence’s uncle. Ned.

  There’s a splash. Another person. A body being held under the water. I recognize the twitching legs.

  Lawrence. It’s Lawrence.

  “Lawrence!”

  I barely recognize the anguished pitch my voice takes as I fly toward the water. Ned’s dark features are twisted, unrecognizable with rage. By the time he sees me, my head is connecting with his chest.

  The impact probably hurts me ten times more than it does him. But it’s enough. He teeters backward, thrown off balance. His arms swirl in the air.

  Lawrence bursts from the water. He gags and coughs. His limbs flail, grasping for life.

  But he is alive. Blessedly, beautifully alive.

  I’m still screaming. “Lawrence!”

  He blindly flings himself forward and collapses on the sand. He presses
his face to the ground, gasping for air with his entire body. Deliriously happy, I reach for him.

  The shadow falls over him before I realize what’s happening. Ned. Lunging toward me. His hands close around my shirt. He lifts me like I’m a rag doll. One shove and I’m on my back on the sand, the wind knocked out of me.

  I blink in shock. But when his face comes into view again, I scramble back to my feet. Trembling like a caged rabbit. I hold up my arms, anticipating the next blow.

  But Ned only stares at me. His brow lowers. “You.”

  I have no words. My heart thrums within me, threatening to explode out of my chest.

  “You must be the one he fell in love with,” Ned says slowly, the realization coming to him. “I should have known. I should have listened to my instincts that day on the beach.”

  “I won’t let you hurt him.”

  Ned laughs. “This night keeps getting more and more aggravating.”

  I back up slowly, my eyes darting frantically around the beach for something to fight him with. A stick, a rock—anything.

  A flicker of movement catches my eye. The woman on the beach is stirring. Whose side is she on? Ned’s or Lawrence’s? Is it worth the risk to try to get her to help me?

  “You’d better leave now,” Ned says. “Before I have to deal with you too.”

  “I’m taking Lawrence with me.”

  “You’ll leave right now and keep your damn mouth shut. That’s what you’re going to do.”

  In spite of my shaking knees, I stand straight. “I won’t let you hurt him.”

  “Suit yourself.”

  Before I can even take a step back, he’s lunged for me. I land hard on my side. My key ring cuts into me, sending shooting pain down my leg.

  “Mama taught me to never hit a girl,” Ned says, clamping his hand over my shoulder to hold me down. “But you see, she didn’t realize how often that’s necessary.”

  Panic radiates through me. My body’s trembling with fear. My leg throbs where the keys dig into my flesh.

  Wait.

  My key ring.

  In a split second, I have the swirling memory of the morning Lawrence and I spent on the beach. I see myself explaining each item on the key ring, laughing at his wonder. The elephant. The flashlight.

  The pepper spray.

  Bursting with adrenaline, I push onto my back, freeing up the pocket. Ned pins me down, but with my free hand, I have just enough momentum to rip my key ring from my shorts.

  The keys and knickknacks jingle loudly. The flashlight glows red. Ned straightens, staring at the key ring.

  “What in the—?”

  His surprise gives me enough time to snatch the pepper spray. I grab for the tab and rip it free. Squeezing my eyes shut, I press down. All I hear is the hiss of the canister emptying.

  Then a pained howl.

  My eyes fly open again. Ned has reeled back. He’s pawing at his face, shrieking. I scramble to my feet. I can’t believe it worked.

  Movement catches my attention again. The strange woman is bent over Lawrence, frantically trying to revive him. She’s on our side. That’s good. We don’t have much time. Ned will only be incapacitated for a few minutes tops.

  I race toward them. Not even noticing me in her panic, the woman cups Lawrence’s face in her hand.

  “Lon? Wake up! We have to go!”

  There’s something about the way she spoke his name. About the way she’s holding his face.

  She looks up with a start.

  It’s a girl my age, not a woman. She’s beautiful, with a short black bob and dark, sad eyes. All at once, I know who she is.

  “Fay.”

  She stares at me, speechless, and then she closes her eyes. “You’re Cassandra.”

  I fall to my knees at Lawrence’s other side. “Look,” I say urgently. “We both love Lawrence, and right now he’s in danger.” I set my hand over hers. “I’m sorry, Fay. I truly am.”

  “Don’t be.” She straightens. “What should I do?”

  “Run and get help. The party’s still going on?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then go get everyone you can find. Tell them Ned’s snapped. Tell them he’s trying to kill you. Say anything that will get a group of them here.”

  She nods in agreement and I watch her run back to the party, filled with a sudden rush of hope.

  “What did you do to me?” Ned roars. He splashes water on his face, but the salt probably only heightens the sting.

  Lawrence is completely out, but I can feel a heartbeat. He’s not dead. He’s not going to die. We’re going to beat this.

  I circle my arms around his chest, but he’s heavier than I expected. Gritting my teeth, I begin to drag him to the bushes. If I can just get to the bushes…

  “Girl!” Ned screams. “Where are you?”

  I pull Lawrence another half inch. Why is he so heavy?

  “I may not be able to see you, but that doesn’t mean I can’t snap your neck.”

  I have to stay strong. Come on, come on. Move, Lawrence.

  Ned staggers toward me. “Where are you, you filthy little slut?”

  I can’t let myself entertain what will happen if Ned gets his vision back before Fay returns. Keep pulling, Cass. Pull like your life depends on it.

  Lawrence’s eyelids flutter. Gasping for air, he jolts his head up and looks at me.

  “Cassandra!”

  Ned staggers in our direction. “Run, Lawrence!” I pull at his torso. He groans with pain as he rises to his hands and knees. We’re so close to the bushes.

  But not close enough.

  “There you are,” Ned barks. “I’m going to enjoy squeezing the life from your throat.”

  He grabs for me. I scream, and his hand closes around my wrist.

  “Ned!” Lawrence shouts, his voice strained as he reaches for us. But Ned’s massive hand circles my throat.

  I scratch at his fingers with my free hand, but he doesn’t even flinch. His upper lip curls with rage, and his vice grip tightens, squeezing off my windpipe.

  The bushes suddenly explode with people. A cluster of men bursts onto the beach, their faces bright with alarm.

  “Hey!” One of them bellows, seeing Ned and me. “Let her go!”

  “She wasn’t kidding,” another one yells. “He’s snapped!”

  The crowd doesn’t give Ned a chance to comply. They rush him, tackling him to the ground. I fall to my knees, gasping. More people from the party come out onto the beach, craning their necks to see. Fay emerges from the bushes. Her gaze goes to Lawrence, then to me. My heart’s still pounding and my breath heavy, but I nod. She nods back.

  There’s a commotion on the beach. The group of men drag Ned back toward the house. Others shout for the police to be called. People are talking loudly, explaining what happened to newcomers, expressing their shock and dismay at such a thing happening.

  Others rush to Lawrence and me.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Can you move?”

  “Can you see how many fingers I’m holding up?”

  Lawrence is sitting up, though he still seems disoriented. In spite of all the chaos around him, he keeps his eyes fixed on mine. I squeeze his hand.

  “You did it, Cassandra,” he whispers. “You saved me.”

  The realization sinks in. It’s over. It’s really over. Inexpressible relief mixes with the residual adrenaline and fear, and I can’t stop the tears spilling from my eyes.

  “We did it,” I say, gripping his hand. I need to feel the flesh and pulse of him. Proof that he’s alive. That he’s here. That we’re really together.

  “We need to get you a doctor,” a woman says, coming to Lawrence’s side. “You look pretty beaten up.”

  “I’ll be okay.”

 
A young man reaches for Lawrence’s shoulders. “I’ll help get you up. We got you, Lonnie.”

  But Lawrence holds out a hand. “No, Charles. Please…I want to stay here for a moment. I’ll come, but I need a minute. A minute alone with Cassandra.”

  The young man—Charles, I guess, is his name—glances at the woman, then at me. When no one moves, Fay comes over.

  “It’s all right,” she announces. “Lon just needs to get his strength back. He’s overwhelmed with all these people. Come on, everyone. Let’s give him some space.”

  The lingering crowd seems reluctant. Fay sets her hand on Charles’s shoulder. “Okay, everybody. Let’s go.”

  The people shuffle away, glancing back at us with curious looks. Fay ushers them along. Just before she reaches the path, she glances over her shoulder too. I feel a stab of guilt. She loved Lawrence, that much I can see.

  “Thank you,” I say.

  Fay manages a small smile, which fades as quickly as it came. And then she vanishes into the bushes.

  Lawrence’s hand comes to my cheek. His gaze is brimming with love. My heart bursts at the sight of it. I fall against his chest and his arms encircle me. Fresh tears fall from my eyes.

  “I love you, Lawrence.”

  “And I you, Cassandra.”

  He pulls my face to his. The feeling of our lips joined together has never filled me with more happiness.

  When we break apart, Lawrence strokes my hair. “I want to be with you for the rest of my life. It’s time, Cassandra.”

  “Right now?” I ask, my voice trembling.

  He nods. “When I go back to the house, I want you at my side.” He takes my hand. “Are you ready to come to nineteen twenty-five?”

  Chapter 36

  Cassandra

  Lawrence and I rise carefully to our feet, hand in hand.

  “You’re trembling,” he says softly.

  I can only nod. Lawrence smiles and kisses me. “Don’t be afraid.”

  Each step feels like scaling a mountain. Lawrence takes the first step onto the path.

  “Wait.”

  He looks back at me. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m not ready.”