Jamie's stomach churned. She drew her arms tighter around Ross. His small fingers clung to her with silent fear.
Ross raised his face up to look at her. "What does he mean, orphaned?"
Jamie leaned down to Ross's height. "Don't listen to anything he says," she whispered. "Stay quiet until your father gets here."
“Please get here soon, Aidan,” she murmured to herself. She looked over at the sandbar. Waves had started to brush up against the exposed sand. The wind had picked up, blowing in multiple directions. A sickening odor assaulted her making her nauseous. Ross covered his nose and coughed.
"What is that smell?" She covered her nose, nearly gagging.
"That is 300 pounds of prime, Kobe beef, soaked in water. Wasted, I'm afraid, on the sharks. Not enough to satiate their appetites. Just enough to serve as the appetizer."
Jamie peered over the side of the boat at the surrounding ocean. Two dorsal fins sliced through the water. A chill settled over her.
Conrad stood up from his chair languidly and stood at the side of the boat as the sharks thrashed against each other, fighting over the meat. "So primitive," he said, flicking his cigar butt into the ocean. He turned sharply to face them. "Reminds me of your new boyfriend."
Jamie heard the low hum of a distant boat motor. She clutched Ross tightly to her body and looked out to sea. A blur of a boat sped directly toward them.
Aidan.
˜
She felt Conrad's sudden grip on her arm as he ripped Ross from her arms. She fought, scratching at his face, his arms. Ross scuttled away and crouched beneath the captain's chair.
Conrad restrained her with a strangling grip around her wrists. "You filthy witch!"
Jamie glared at him. A fleeting feeling of satisfaction flickered through her as she viewed the scratch marks she left on his face. The sound of an approaching boat whirled through the air. Jamie looked up to see Aidan approaching in a Coastguard boat. Alone.
Ross peaked his head up for a second. "Daddy!"
Aidan cut the engine and glided head on toward Cruiser. He quickly tied it to the cruiser, effectively preventing Conrad from making a quick escape.
Conrad grabbed her and dragged her to the back of the cruiser. Ross crawled out from under the captain's chair and bolted toward the bow. Conrad grabbed him before he made it and dragged him in front of him like a shield, holding Jamie behind him.
Aidan boarded Conrad's boat, clearing the railing easily in one fell swoop, a dangerous expression on his face.
"If it isn't my old nemesis, Aidan Brice," Conrad said snidely.
Aidan fought to control his rage as he gripped the side rails and climbed toward them. Blood pumped through his veins, his adrenaline surged as he watched Conrad with his arms roughly around his son. Tonight, someone was going to die.
The two people he loved most in the world were in the hands of a sadistic psycho. There was nothing in this world that could keep him calm. The glint of a gun shone in the fading light. Aidan's blood turned to ice.
"I'm feeling generous tonight," Conrad said cheerfully. "I'll let you choose.” He glanced at Jamie and then at Ross with an affable smile. "Which one stays for dinner and which one..." he nodded to the surrounding water. "Which one becomes dinner?" He shook his head with mock sympathy. "Decisions, decisions."
Aidan watched Malcolm with quiet rage. With the down wind, he'd smelled the rotting meat before he'd even boarded the cruiser. He glanced covertly at the water surrounding the boat and spotted at least three dorsal fins. This guy was one sick excuse of a human being.
"Patience isn't my thing," Conrad said. "Either you decide in the next thirty-seconds or I'll shoot one of them before throwing them over board."
"You're pathetic, Malcolm. Picking on women and children? Why don't you and I settle this like men?" Aidan asked with deceptive calm.
"I don't think civilized gentlemen partake in backstreet brawling," he sneered.
"No? Would you prefer a duel?"
A brittle smile broke out across Conrad's face for a moment. "Choose Brice! Now!" He cocked his gun and raised it in the air.
Jamie looked at Aidan. The anguish on his face was too much for her. She couldn't put him in this position, couldn't allow him to feel any more guilt for whatever Conrad had done, and was about to do. Conrad had loosened his grip on her; he was overly confidant due to the gun he held. She wrenched herself from his grip and pushed Ross away from Conrad.
Then, she plunged overboard.
Jamie shrieked as the shock of the cold water drenched her. She fought her way to the surface, fear pouring through her. She took in huge gulps of air, searching for the dorsal fins she'd seen from the boat. Luckily, they'd drifted a little with the tide and the sharks were several yards away. Not far enough for comfort by any means.
She turned toward the sandbar and tried to swim but her wet jeans dragged her down. She kicked off her shoes and slid her jeans off, letting them sink to the bottom. She looked over her shoulder and could see two shark fins moving toward her. She swam faster, praying under her breath. The sandbar was a few feet ahead.
She felt under her for the bottom. Not quite shallow enough to walk. She looked back to see the dorsal fins closing in on her. She swam faster, ignoring the cramp in her leg,her bruised hip and the waves that pounded her body. Her foot scraped the sandpaper like skin of one of the sharks. Her heart nearly gave out. She pushed on, kicking with all her might. Finally, she felt the sandy bottom beneath her. She dropped her legs and rushed against the waves that crushed against her. A wave knocked her down but she got up and trudged forward, keeping her eye on the disappearing sandbar.
When she reached the dry sand, she collapsed on her knees, out of breath. Within seconds she felt a slap of water against her ankles. She looked up. The tide was rising quickly. In less than fifteen minutes the sandbar would be under water. She glanced out over the darkening sea. Two dorsal fins still lingered along the shore, mere feet from where she sat.
She drew her legs up to her chest, shivering in the cool, sea air. The sun was setting. Soon there would be nothing but black water surrounding her. And a couple of hungry sharks.
She looked wistfully at Conrad's cruiser. In the distance. The two men she cared about most in this world were on that boat fighting for their lives. "Please survive," she whispered.
Chapter Seventeen
Aidan moved quickly, jumping on deck and grabbing for the gun from Conrad. Ross was behind him, screaming for his father. He had a hold of Conrad's wrist but Conrad still had the gun firmly in his grip. Aidan kicked the back of his knees. Conrad dropped immediately. Aidan jumped on top of him, never letting go of the hand that held the gun.
"Get into Travis's boat," he yelled at Ross. "Answer the radio. Push the button on the receiver."
Ross moved quickly at his father's command, but there was no mistaking the terror in his expression. Aidan's rage went up a notch.
"You think you can murder my wife and kidnap my son and get away with it? Not tonight," Aidan said through gritted teeth.
Conrad laughed. "I've got money and power. I can get away with anything."
"Oh yeah?" Aidan asked. He elbowed Conrad in the nose with all his strength. A loud cracking sound was immediately followed by a blood curdling scream. The gun slipped into his hand and Aidan thrust his foot across Conrad's neck.
"You broke my nose, you animal!" Conrad cried.
"Next it will be your neck if you don't stop sniveling. Get up!" Aidan said, pointing the gun at Conrad's chest. "If you so much as breathe the wrong way, there's going to be a whole lot of lead flying into your body. I don't have any reason to let you live."
Conrad stood up, with his hands holding his nose. Blood ran down his face and his whining could be heard over the wind.
"Now get in the captain's chair before I change my mind."
Aidan tied Conrad to the captain's chair with the docking rope. Once he was satisfied the sobbing psycho was tightly secured, he hoppe
d aboard the Coastguard boat. Ross lunged into his arms and Aidan hugged him tightly, a million emotions flowing through him.
"You okay, buddy?" he asked.
"I'm okay. Travis called. He's coming."
He kissed his son's cheek and hugged him again and again. "You were very brave," he said.
"Jamie told me not to cry. She said that you would come for us."
Aidan let his son go and moved to untie the boat from the cruiser. "Now, we need to find her. Grab that flashlight, son.” He turned on the boat's lights.
Aidan's eyes searched the surrounding water, but the sun had set and it was too dark to see anything. His insides sank. A wave of pain washed over him. She'd sacrificed herself for Ross. For him.
She had to be alive.
He moved the boat slowly through the dark water. They rocked violently in the rough surf as the waves crashed brutally against the hull. The tide had come in and it was difficult to tell where the sandbar was anymore. He turned on the computer screen to see if he could find her. It was difficult with the seas so rough. Nothing stayed in one place.
"Jamie!" he called over the treacherous winds. "Jamie!"
Ross's small voice joined him and they both called, repeatedly for her. No response. Aidan took the flashlight and moved it slowly along the water, back and forth. He thought he saw movement.
Jamie stood in knee deep water. He didn't miss the dorsal fins circling her about five feet away. There was no time.
He sliced through the ragged waves in seconds, coming as close to her as possible. "Ross, hold the helm steady!" he said.
He rushed to the side of the boat and lifted Jamie out of the water with one hand.
She was shivering, her skin was clammy and cold. He grabbed some Coastguard blankets and wrapped them around her nearly naked body. He carried her to a seat near the helm and Ross snuggled up next to her, his small arms circled her waist. Aidan felt a lump in his throat.
He bent down and kissed Jamie on the forehead. The night had been too much for her, the terror, the sharks, the battering of the sea. She was going into shock. She looked up at him and her stare was blank. Then the smallest curve of a smile played on her lips. It was gone so quickly he wondered if he’d imagined it.
"Thank you," she whispered.
She rested her head against the seat and hugging Ross to her chest, she closed her eyes.
Ross and Jamie were fast asleep, when the Coastguard arrived to take Conrad to jail.
~
The night that followed Ross's kidnapping was chaos. Reporters were camped out along the dock when they arrived, police cars and ambulances swarmed the parking lot, and the local towns people were out in spades. Aidan was just glad that his son and Jamie were alive and safe. Nothing else mattered.
Travis nearly tore Aidan's head off for taking the Coastguard boat, but managed to cover up for him. No one in law enforcement wanted to press charges anyway. Everyone loved Ross and the kidnapping of a child in Seabrook was something that united the whole town. Aidan wondered if he imagined the gossip he'd thought had gone on about Lauren for all these years.
Jamie spent nearly two weeks in the hospital, during which Aidan nearly lost his mind. She'd developed hypothermia from the cold winds and waters, and afterwards developed pneumonia. It had been touch and go at one point but he'd stayed by her bedside, sneaking Ross in to see her when he could. He couldn't bear to lose her, after everything they'd been through together. After what she had done for Ross. She had saved Ross. She had saved him too.
Yet, he did lose her.
When she finally left the hospital, she said her farewells. She was going back to Palm Beach, she'd said, where she belonged. Seabrook wasn't the place for her. She was so sorry for all Ross had been through, simply because she'd dated a crazy man. She'd left Thorn as a parting present to Ross.
Aidan wanted to be with Jamie, more than anything in the world, but he realized, sometimes you can’t go back.
Sometimes, you have to let go.
Chapter Eighteen
Jamie stood at the edge of the lagoon, Villa Milagros looming behind her.
Before she even heard the footsteps, Jamie knew he was there. She turned to see Aidan, his grey eyes shining in the brilliant sun streams. He walked up to her. His expression was unreadable.
“I just wanted to see her one last time,” A lame explanation after all that had transpired. She didn’t trust herself to say more. There were no words to describe her feelings of sadness, remorse, despair. There were no words at all.
He nodded, understanding her, and his smile was small but sincere. “It’s all right,” he finally said. He stood next to her overlooking the ocean.
“How’s Ross?” She expected an angry reply, but she had come all this way. She had to know that he was okay.
“He’s doing fine. He bounced back quick. Kids do. Thanks for asking. He’s missed you, you know.”
They both stood silent for a moment, watching the waves crash softly against the dock. “I’m sorry about it. I wanted you to know that,” she finally said.
He shook his head. “It wasn’t your fault, Jamie. I never blamed you for what happened. If you hadn't thrown yourself overboard, Ross could be dead right now,” he said. “You saved his life. And nearly gave up yours in the process.”
She looked at him, into the grey eyes that had haunted her every waking moment for the last few months.
”You’re a good man,” she said quietly.
He grasped her hand. “Come with me” he said. He led her to the end of the dock. He released her hand and took a small urn out of the bag he’d been holding. He turned towards her.
“I’m here to say goodbye,” he said. "To Lauren. To my past.” He tipped the urn slowly into the wind. A stream of ashes caught in the breeze and in seconds had melded into the ocean.
He raised his arm and cast the urn into the rolling waves. He grabbed her hand and silently led her to the grassy banks that sat opposite the lagoon. He turned to her. Ever so slowly, he lifted his hand and stroked it against her cheek.
“I’ve missed you,” he said.
“After everything that happened?”
He nodded. “Do you know what Villa Milagros means?”
She blinked back tears. Of course, she knew. Her mother had named their beloved home.
“It’s Spanish for house of miracles,” she said.
His smile was warm. “Do you believe in miracles?”
She somehow managed to find her voice. “I don’t know.”
He laughed softly. “Well, I do.”
He dug in his pocket, pulled out a piece of paper, and gave it to her. She read it and took a step back from him.
“But this can’t be” she whispered. “How could my name be on the deed of Villa Milagros?”
He stepped close to her and leaned over, brushing her ear with his lips. “Believe in miracles now?” he asked.
She pulled away from him and simply stared at him, not believing him. She gave him back the paper and waited for an explanation. None came. She tried to find her voice.
“Villa Milagros belongs to Ross and… to me?” she finally asked.
"I figured he'd need help decorating," Aidan said.
He took her hand and knelt down on one knee before her. “I love you, Jamie. Please, marry me? You will make two very lonely guys the happiest people on earth.”
Tears streamed down her face and her legs were ready to give way. Her voice was a mere whisper. “I love you, Aidan Brice. Yes, I will marry you.”
Aidan laughed as he rose and kissed her, pulling her completely off the ground in a twirling embrace. Ross and Thorn came tumbling out of the house and ran towards them.
Ross broke between them and jumped up into Jamie’s arms. “I’m glad you’re back,” he cried as he flung his tiny arms around her neck.
Jamie gazed at Aidan beaming with joy as he watched his son happily ensconced in her arms. Ross looked over at his father and raised his small hand u
p to him, catching Aidan’s high-five with glee.
Jamie knew she was home.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susannah Gautier loves to live in worlds beyond reality. She writes both Adult and Young Adult novels in the genres of Romantic Suspense, Paranormal and Dystopian-Cyber Punk. She loves sizzling bad boys, on the edge of your seat suspense and sexy, supernatural alphas.
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Website - http://susannahgautier.com
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Note from the Author:
I hope you enjoyed reading NO REGRETS as much as I enjoyed writing it. I would appreciate it very much if you would leave a review of NO REGRETS where ever you purchased the book or on Goodreads, if you are a member. Thank you so much.
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Susannah Gautier
EXCERPT FROM UNDERCOVER PLEASURES
Book One - THE BLACK DRAGON ELITE Series
Ariel’s fury was rising fast. “I don't take orders from anyone, especially strange men who break into my office and assault me!”
"Assault? I think not," he murmured as he moved closer to her, invading her private space. “My name is Colin. Now we aren’t strangers.”
She fought the urge to flinch as he drew uncomfortably near. A lethal smile broke from his lips, and she could see the cool, detached bleakness in his eyes. He was not what you would call a handsome man. His features were too rugged, his expression too feral. He was close enough she could see a thin scar that ran below his cheekbone to his mouth, but this merely enhanced his masculinity. Intensity radiated from every pore in his body, which she found both seductive and chilling. For a split second, she was speechless.
No Regrets Page 21