Deep End
Page 17
Rick was now standing within a few inches of Cassidy. She was paralyzed with fear. Rick raised his hand and ran his thumb across her scar. “You were perfect before you made me do this to you.”
Cassidy closed her eyes. Not wanting to look into his. He was either about to rape or kill her and all she could do was pray and thank God for keeping Grady safe.
Rick grabbed Cassidy’s shirt and ripped it open. “More of my artwork.”
Cassidy started to shake. Then suddenly it was like Grady was inside her head screaming to her that she is a survivor. She reached for one of the massage stones and smacked Rick on the side of the head with it. Rick was briefly stunned which gave Cassidy enough time to run.
As Cassidy took off running, she remembered that Grady had a panic button installed at the pool in case of emergency. She managed to hit the button before Rick grabbed her. “Still afraid of the water, Cassi?” The look of horror on Cassidy’s face answered that question. “Yet, you’re screwing a swimmer.”
“The police are going to be here any minute.”
“No, you see I took care of the police and your security guard before I came inside.”
“I just hit the panic button.”
“Yeah, I cut the phone wires and had your cell disconnected earlier today. I didn’t want anyone to interrupt our long-awaited reunion.”
Rick grabbed the back of Cassidy’s head, pulled her close and kissed her. She bit his lip hard enough to cause it to bleed. He pulled back and spit his blood at her. Cassidy tried to shove him away, but he pushed her against the wall and pressed his body up against hers. “I’m going to try that again and this time you better show me some love, or this knife is going to get bloody.”
Jess came to. Pain was coursing through her body. She decided that her ankle was broken so she slowly rolled onto her knees and began crawling up the stairs to help Cassidy or at the very least get to her phone to call for help.
Rick had Cassidy’s hands above her head while he kissed her. Cassidy pulled her lips away. Maybe she could use her psychiatric skills on him. “Why are you so obsessed with me?”
“I love you. I’ve always loved you, Cassi.”
“If you loved me you wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Is that your doctor side talking?”
“It could be. I can help you.”
“I don’t need help. I need you, Cassi. You’re all I need.”
“After you have me then what? You’re happy until you get jealous and then…”
“STOP! I’ve changed.”
“Really, because you’re holding me against my will and God only knows what you did to Jess.”
“She tried to keep me from you just like those men outside.”
“Do you really still care about me, Ricky?”
“You haven’t called me Ricky in such a long time.”
Cassidy smiled knowing that she could still get to him. “Ricky, you’re hurting my arms.”
Rick looked up at Cassidy’s arms which he was still holding above her head. “If I let them down do you promise to behave.”
Cassidy nodded and he released her arms. As much as it repulsed her to do so she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Ricky.” Her only hope was to buy herself some time until Jess managed to get help…if she was still alive.
A door slammed and then there was a thud. Rick grabbed Cassidy and pulled her against him while he held the knife to her throat. “Are you expecting anyone?”
“It must be Jess coming down the back steps.”
“That was a door.”
“Who would come here this late it has to be her?”
Rick tightened his grip on Cassidy. “Don’t lie to me!”
“I’m not lying.” Cassidy hoped it was the police, but she honestly had no idea.
Rick stood with the knife resting against Cassidy’s throat. “You better not be lying, or I’ll slit your throat.”
The pool door opened but before Rick or Cassidy could see who was there, the room went dark. Rick called out. “Who’s there?”
“Jess?” Cassidy started to shake. “Answer me.”
“If you don’t answer I’ll slit her throat!”
Cassidy knew she had to get away from Rick and his knife wielding hand before whomever was there did something to cause Rick to slit her throat. Cassidy swung her fist backward striking Rick in his balls. He released his grip and Cassidy broke free.
“Get back here!” Rick grabbed for Cassidy.
Cassidy thought she’d finally gotten away when she was shoved and landed in the deep end of the pool.
Rick tried to find his way to the door to turn on the lights. He didn’t get very far before he felt the cold, hard barrel of a gun pressed up against his cheek. “Move and I’ll blow your head off!”
Rick swung and his knife hit the man. The gun went off and Rick dropped to the floor.
“HELP ME!”
“I’m coming!”
“Grady?”
“It’s me, Baby, keep your head up and breathe. I’m coming for you.” Grady dove into the pool.
Cassidy tried to move her arms and kick her legs, but she kept sinking. She was swallowing water and couldn’t breathe. Cassidy gasped. “I love you, Grady.” Thoughts of Grady consumed her as she slipped beneath the water’s surface.
Grady swam around frantically searching for Cassidy. Once he found her, he brought her to the side, rolled her onto the pool deck and climbed out. “Cassidy, can you hear me?” Grady couldn’t find a pulse and she wasn’t breathing. “Oh God, Cass, you can’t leave me.” Grady started performing CPR.
Suddenly the lights came on and police were everywhere. “Call a medic!”
One of the medics knelt next to Cassidy. “I’ll take over.”
“You’re bleeding, Mr. O’Malley.” One of the medics started wrapping Grady’s arm but all he could do was watch as they tried to bring Cassidy back.
“We got her; she’s breathing!”
“THANK GOD!” Grady reached for Cassidy’s hand. “Cassidy, can you hear me? Open your eyes, Baby.”
Cassidy’s eyes blinked a few times before they opened. “Grady, it…really is you?”
“I thought I lost you.” Grady wiped the tears from his face.
Cassidy reached her hand up to Grady’s wounded arm. “You’re hurt.”
“I’m ok.”
“We need to get you both to the hospital.” They lifted Cassidy onto a gurney.
“I can walk.” Grady followed behind Cassidy.
Jess was outside waiting beside the ambulance. She had refused medical treatment until she saw Cassidy. “Cass!” Jess hopped over to Cassidy.
Cassidy looked at her bruised friend and tears began rolling down her cheeks. “Oh Jess, I’m so sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. This is Rick’s doing, not yours.”
Jess looked up at Grady. “Are you ok?”
“We almost lost her.”
Jess grabbed Grady and hugged him. “But we didn’t. You saved her.”
Grady opened his eyes and Cassidy was staring at him. “What happened?”
“You were so worried about me that by the time they got us to the hospital you collapsed.”
“Am I ok?”
Cassidy nodded. “You lost a lot of blood.”
“I don’t care as long as I didn’t lose you.”
Cassidy squeezed Grady’s hand. “Grady, why did you come home?”
“You’re awake.”
Grady looked away from Cassidy. “I guess you must have some questions for me, Detective?”
“I’ll need a statement, but it can wait until you’re feeling better.”
“He stabbed me, and I shot him.”
“Ok, then. I will add that to my report.”
“Mr. O’Malley, just out of curiosity why were you in the dark? The power was on when we arrived.”
“I saw Cassidy on the surveillance camera, so I knew where she was on the pool deck. I learned how
to navigate quite well when I was blind. I hoped the darkness would give me an unfair advantage.”
“It certainly did.”
“Detective, should Grady contact a lawyer?”
“No. Based on your past experience and the day’s events we’ve ruled it as self-defense.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m just sorry that we couldn’t have done more to prevent this.”
“I’m sorry that he hurt your officers.”
“They’ll be ok and so will the security guard that was stationed outside your home. It seems that he gave them all an elephant sized dose of sedatives.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Detective.”
“Yes.”
“Is he dead?”
“He is.”
Cassidy gasped. “I have to check on Jess. I’ll be right back.”
“I’m fine. The doctor cleared me for travel.”
“What are you going to do by yourself?”
“Shop or eat or shop and eat.”
“You’re crazy.”
“I know. That’s how I put up with you.” Jess giggled.
“I miss you.”
“I miss you too, West.”
“When you see Grady can you ask him to give me a call.”
“I will.”
“I have to get to the pool.”
“I’ll call you later.”
“Take care of yourself.”
“Goodbye.”
“Hey!”
“I was just talking to Weston.”
“Are you still going to go meet him?”
“Unless you need me?”
“I’m fine.”
“Cass, you technically died today.”
Cassidy exhaled. “Rick’s dead.”
Jess extended her hand to Cassidy. “Hey, I thought you’d be happy.”
“I did too.”
“Talk to me.”
“I’m numb. I don’t know how to explain it.”
“I do. You’re too good a person and the thought of anyone dying upsets you.”
“Maybe.”
“Look, you may have had some good times but Cass, he tried to kill you twice and he hurt so many people.”
“I know but, in the end, he wasn’t pure evil he just wanted to be loved.”
“He was a sick individual, Cass, what he did to you wasn’t love.”
“You’re right. I need to let it go.”
“No, you need to let him go.”
“You’re right. I’m finally free.”
Grady was sitting up when Cassidy came back in. “Hey, Beautiful.”
“Hi.”
“How’s Jess?”
“She’s ok. They want her to stay overnight for observation.”
“How’s her best friend doing?”
Cassidy smiled. “She’s ok, thanks to her boyfriend.”
“When I thought I lost you I died a million times.”
“Well you didn’t and now you’re stuck with me.”
“Sounds like the best thing that ever happened to me.” Grady smiled.
“Grady, you never got to answer me before. Why did you come back home?”
“I can’t explain it.”
“Explain what?”
“I had this feeling. It was like I somehow knew that you needed me.”
“Grady, you gave up the Olympics for a feeling?”
“Yes, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
“Won’t you get into trouble for leaving?”
“I may lose a sponsor or two.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Trust me, it’s their loss.” Grady winked.
“Is there any chance that you could make it back and compete?”
“No, and even if I could, once they saw my arm, they’d send me packing.”
Cassidy walked over and looked out the window so that Grady couldn’t see her tears. Her heart was breaking. Because of her the man she loved gave up his dream.
Grady gave Cassidy a few minutes to process everything that had happened but when she remained like a statue staring out the window, he decided what she needed was a hug.
Cassidy never heard Grady until he whispered in her ear. “I love you.” Then he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her on the top of her head.
“How can you still love me?”
“Hey, look at me.” Grady turned Cassidy around. “Don’t ever question my love for you. Cassidy, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
Cassidy looked up at Grady. “I cost you your dream.” Cassidy looked away and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
Grady dropped to his knee and grabbed Cassidy’s hand. “Dreams can change. I’m not saying that I’m going to give up swimming but there’s something that I want more than winning the gold. I want you, Cassidy. These last few months with you have been the best months of my life. I love you, Cassidy, and right now the only gold I want is in the form of a ring around your finger. Marry me?”
Cassidy gasped, then blinked. She tried to speak but she couldn’t find her voice. Grady O’Malley was on one knee asking her to marry him.
Grady could see the emotions running across Cassidy face. He began to get nervous that she was going to turn him down but then she inhaled and exhaled in a tiny whisper. “Yes!”
Grady sprung to his feet lifting Cassidy up into his arms on the way. “Damn, I never thought anything could feel better than winning gold but right now that pales in comparison.”
“I love you so much.”
Two months later…
“Race you!” Cassidy took off. She knew there was no chance of winning, but the chase was fun.
Grady dove into the water and was halfway across the pool before Cassidy took two strokes. He couldn’t help but smile as she swam into his arms. “Have I told you how proud I am of you?”
“Only every day since you’ve been giving me swim lessons.” Cassidy giggled.
Grady kissed Cassidy and untied her swimsuit. “I want you.”
“Come and get me.” Cassidy pushed off the wall to swim out of Grady’s reach, but she didn’t get far before he pulled her into his arms and pushed himself inside her.
“I love you, my little Swim Goddess.”
Cassidy laughed. “Swim Goddess!”
Grady kissed Cassidy’s neck. “Mmm hmm.”
“Then I guess that makes you my Swim God.”
Weston hung up his gold medals, took a step back and smiled.
“I’m so proud of you.” Jess wrapped her arms around Weston’s waist.
“I know I wouldn’t have won if Grady was there but…”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
“No, I guess not.”
“What is it they call you again?”
“Wild West.”
“How about you show me how wild you can be.” Jess winked.
Weston lifted Jess up and carried her over to the couch. “Rawrrr!”
“My wild savage.”
Grady wrapped Cassidy in a towel and then kissed her forehead. “You know, Cass, I’ll never know why I survived that crash, but I’d do it allover again because it brought you into my life.”
Cassidy held Grady’s hand. “You survived so that you could save me.”
“I think we were meant to save each other.”
“I love you, Grady.” Cassidy leaned up and kissed Grady.
Grady picked her up and held her tight. “I love you to the deep end and back, Cassidy Scott, and I can’t wait to fill our lives and this pool with a whole team of little swimmers.”
“Oh, really?” Cassidy smiled.
Grady nodded his head as he flashed Cassidy one of his panty dropping smiles. “Yes, really. In fact, I think we should start practicing.” Grady carried Cassidy over to the chaise lounge, gently placed her down and removed her towel. “Practice makes perfect you know.” Grady winked.
Cassidy wrapped her arms around Grady and kissed him. “Let the
practicing commence.”
THE END
The You Series
Intoxicated by You
Craving You
Crazy Over You
Taming You
Underground Affair Series
Ace of Spades
Jack of Hearts
Queen of Diamonds
King of Clubs
Undercover Love Series
Love & Lies
Secrets & Lies
Sex & Lies
Passion & Lies
Soulmates
Soulmates 2
Choosing Lance
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