An Act of Obsession (Acts of Honor Book 3) (27 page)

Daniel shoots up on a horrid gasp, the air in his lungs restricted by my tight hold. His hands move to my knees in an effort to pry them loose and that’s when I thrust my palm up, connecting with the base of his nose. Blood sprays, the tiny bones shattering. When he howls in pain, I release my legs and flip to my stomach.

“Kolan!” I scream, praying he can hear me before he’s too far away. I kick myself out from beneath Daniel, my foot connecting with his face, adding to the injury I’ve already inflicted.

Just as I make it to my feet, my ankle is snagged. “You fucking bitch!” With a swift pull I’m jerked back down, landing on my belly with a painful thud.

“Kolan!” His name breaches my lips once more as I feel Daniel crawl up my back.

There’s a sharp sting to my scalp as he grabs a fistful of my hair and yanks my head back, bringing his mouth to my ear. “He cannot save you. No one can. By the time anyone finds us, we’ll be at the bottom of the ocean, fulfilling our destiny.”

Oh god.

“It’s time, Sophie. Time for us to be together forever. Just like we were always meant to be.”

“Never,” I grind out. “I will never be yours.”

Pain explodes through my head when my face collides with the ceramic tile. Warm blood trickles down my forehead as black spots dance in my vision. A moan of agony escapes me as I’m flipped to my back, his sinister face blurring before my eyes.

“You’ve always been mine.”

I’m completely helpless when he gathers me in his arms, my body as limp as a rag doll. Darkness hovers, threatening to pull me down into its black abyss as he carries me out of the house.

Kolan

M
y lungs are on fire by the time I make it back to my section of the beach, a fear I’ve never known raging deep inside my chest. It only escalates when I see the back door wide open.

“Sophie!” I jump onto the patio, my swift feet faltering as I enter my house. “Jesus!” Panic constricts my throat from the amount of blood staining my floor, her cell phone lying only feet away.

“Motherfucker!” In a fit of rage I flip over my kitchen table, the glass top shattering into a million pieces. “I’m going to fucking kill you.”

My rage echoes through the empty house as I grab the flashlight from the kitchen drawer. Hitting the panic button on my alarm, I bolt back outside and head in the opposite direction I came from, her name tearing from my throat.

She has to be close. I wasn’t gone that long.

Long enough.

I shove aside my guilt and concentrate on finding her, my flashlight moving wildly over the dark beach.

The distant sound of a motor trying to turn over catches my attention. Stopping in my tracks, I listen more carefully and try to calm the blood pounding in my ears.

After a few seconds, I hear it again.

Urgency propels me forward, the sound becoming more distinct the closer I get. I cast the light toward one of the docks in the distance and spot movement.

“Sophie!” I dig deeper, my quick feet destroying the sand beneath them.

“Shit!” I hear the heated curse just as I reach the dock and see the boat floating away while he continues to try and ignite the motor.

Vengeance boils in my blood, spinning into a black spool of rage, burning me from the inside out. I tear down the wooden plank and hurdle through the air to land in the aluminum fishing boat. It teeters on its edge, rocking wildly beneath us as I find balance.

“Stay back! Don’t come any closer.” He stands behind Sophie with an arm banded across her chest, the moonlight reflecting off the silver blade he has pointed toward her throat.

Violence pumps ruthlessly through my veins at the sight of her bound and gagged, tears mixing with the blood staining her face.

“I must admit you’re quick,” he says, his breathing more winded than mine. “I was hoping to be gone by now, but it was a struggle to get this rope around her. My sweet Sophie has turned into quite the fighter. You’ve taught her well. She even broke my nose.”

Pride fills my chest, mixing with the deep-seated anger I have locked inside. “Good. It leaves less for me to destroy, because I’m going to do a hell of a lot worse to you than what she did.” My voice is calm, contradicting the rage pounding through me.

He chuckles, the maniacal sound floating through the salty air. “Sorry, I’m going to have to take a rain check. My love and I have big plans. We have a destiny to fill.”

“You’re not taking her anywhere.”

“Yes, I am,” he snaps, his blue eyes holding an edge of darkness. “You have no say. She’s mine and she will die as mine.”

“She’s not yours. She never has been.”

“Yes, she is!” he screams back, his cool façade shredding. “She’s always been mine, and you’re going to pay for tainting her with your touch.”

I spread my arms wide, praying he takes the bait. It’s my only hope at the moment. “I’m ready, asshole. Give me your best shot.”

All I need is an opening. For him to move that knife, then I can steal my chance.

He hesitates like the coward he is.

My attention moves to Sophie, her terrified sobs penetrating the moment. “Sophie, baby, look at me.”

“Don’t you fucking do it.” He gathers a fistful of her hair, forcing her head down. “Don’t you look at him, bitch. You are mine!”

Her cry of pain shatters my control. “I swear to God, I’m going to fucking kill you. Let her go!”

“No! You are going to watch her die as mine and know we are spending eternity together.”

“It will never happen. As long as I’m still breathing, she will always be mine. She—belongs—to—me.”

“Never!” His roar tears through the night.

I wait for him to make his move, knowing it pushed him over the edge, but Sophie ends up striking first. She throws her head back, smashing it into his face.

At the sound of his enraged roar, I lunge for her but don’t make it in time. Horror seizes my chest as he knocks her over the edge. My fingers swipe the air between us, her muffled screams vanishing as she hits the water.

“Fuck!”

As my knees bend to jump in after her, he charges at me, his lanky body slamming into mine. I grab his wrist, stopping the knife inches from my face and trip over one of the seats, landing on my back.

“You’re going to die,” he snarls above me, the blade pointing down at my forehead. “You will never touch what’s mine again!”

Sending a blow to his temple that dazes him, I twist the knife in his hand then pierce it through the side of his skull, relishing in the feel of his fucking blood splattering across my face.

His eyes widen in alarm for the briefest second.

“She will never be yours, you sick fuck.” With a lift of my legs, I send him over the opposite side of the boat.

Without a moment of pause, I dive into the cold ocean, the freezing water a shock to the system, but it does nothing to penetrate the panic rushing through my veins.

I’m unable to see a goddamn thing, my hands reaching in every direction for her. I stay under for as long as I can manage, the depths of hell raging in my lungs.

I come up for air, taking in my direction from the boat then pull in another long breath, knowing it could very well be the last one I take.

I will not come back up without her.

My ears begin to ache from pressure the deeper down I swim. With every moment that passes my dread grows. Defeat stakes its claim as darkness begins to invade me.

Until my hand connects with something soft at the last second.

Grabbing hold, I bring it against me, a newfound hope surging through my blood when I feel her familiar curves. I fight my way back to the surface and clear the water on a rush.

“Soph, baby, can you hear me?” I ask through winded breath, tapping her cheek.

When there’s no response, I begin swimming back to shore, knowing there’s no way I’ll get her up on the dock myself right now. Exhaustion weighs down on me as I keep her limp body close, my tired muscles threatening to give up.

As soon as my feet touch ground, I cradle her in my arms and fight through the crashing waves. “Hang on, baby, we’re almost there,” I whisper into her hair.

Carefully, I lay her down on the sand and drop next to her to begin CPR. A few rotations pass and I get nothing—no response.

“Come on, Soph,” I grind out, relentless with my compressions.

She blurs before me, my eyes and throat burning like a motherfucker as I breathe every bit of air from my lungs into hers.

Seconds later, water spews from her mouth. Sweet fucking relief explodes through my chest as I turn her to her side. “There you go. Good girl,” I breathe, rubbing her back as she coughs and sputters, her lungs heaving for air.

My heart pounds a steady beat of fear and guilt. Thoughts of what almost happened running wildly through my mind. Sirens sound in the distance as I gather her shivering body in my arms.

“I’m sorry, I tried,” she croaks through chattering teeth.

“Shh. Don’t talk.” I burrow my face in her wet hair, feeling something hot leak from the corner of my eye. “Everything’s going to be okay. You did good, baby. I’m proud of you.”

I hold her until the paramedics show up, my chest becoming hollow once again when she’s taken from my arms.

Sophie

T
wo days later, I sit on the edge of my hospital bed with my feet dangling while I wait for Kolan to come back and take me home. Other than the small knot on my head and my face looking a little worse for wear, I’m feeling better.

I’ve lived to see another day, and I will continue to because Daniel is finally gone for good.

He’s dead.

Cooper came by yesterday afternoon to tell us Daniel’s body was recovered. I knew he was dead, but I wouldn’t feel safe until his body was discovered. He also filled us in on the evidence that was found in the house Daniel and his grandmother were renting. It seems Daniel found me by a photo that was floating around on the Internet of Kolan and me the night we were walking Charleston. A picture I had no idea was taken. The article had read,
Kolan Slade’s Next Victim
.

Some stupid gossip magazine ran it, which made me furious on Kolan’s behalf. Daniel had it pinned to a board with all the other pictures he had of me, ones he’d taken himself.

In the end it all turned out to be a blessing in disguise. How Daniel found me doesn’t matter. What matters is he did and he’s been stopped—for good.

There was also proof that Daniel was the one who vandalized the gym and Kolan’s truck, which didn’t come as a surprise. As disturbing as some of the news was from Cooper yesterday, there was also good, too. Evidence was found that they believe could lead them to the whereabouts of Lana Caldwell. They found a map in the grandmother’s chest to a forest located only a few miles from where she had lived in San Francisco. With it was a necklace that was identified as Lana’s. As horrible as it is to say, I hope they do find her body so the family can finally have peace. I can’t imagine how hard it’s been for them not knowing what’s happened to her…

The thought makes me think about my own family and the hell they’ve been through not knowing where I am, but I try not to dwell on it.

I’ll make it right.

What matters now is I don’t have to live in fear and look over my shoulder any longer. Daniel can’t hurt me or anyone else ever again, and it’s all thanks to Kolan.

My warrior.

Kolan chooses that moment to walk into the room, the quick whoosh of the door opening is equivalent to what my heart feels every time I lay eyes on him. It doesn’t matter that I just saw him only minutes ago. The man always manages to take my breath away just by being in the same room as me.

“Hey, baby,” he greets me, closing the door behind him.

“Hi.” I smile, ignoring the ache in my cheek.

Dropping down in front of me, he takes my hand between his warm ones and presses a kiss to my palm. “You feeling okay?” he asks.

“Mmm. Yes. Even better now that you’re here.”

He flashes me that lopsided grin of his but it doesn’t reach his eyes. He’s been like this ever since Cooper left yesterday. I know he feels responsible for the picture, but he shouldn’t. He shouldn’t feel any guilt when it comes to me. He saved my life…in more ways than one.

“Are we ready to go?” I ask with a smile. “I want to go home and feel your arms around me for the rest of the day.”

We haven’t spoken about me going back to my own house. I know I will eventually, but I’m hoping to spend a few more days with him before I do.

His head lowers, gaze dropping to my lap as he gives me a solemn nod. “Yeah, Soph. Everything is in place. I just…I want another minute with you.”

I frown at the sound of his gruff voice. “Hey, look at me.” The moment his tormented eyes meet mine, devastation grips my chest. My hand moves to his jaw. “Kolan, what’s wrong?”

He shakes his head. “Nothing.” Leaning in, he buries his face in my neck, his lips soothing over my puckered skin. “You know you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, right?”

My worry eases and heart warms, his words like a balm to my frazzled nerves. “Well, I don’t like to assume but…” I trail off with a giggle.

He doesn’t smile like I hoped he would. Instead, he seals his mouth over mine, silently conveying what he’s trying to say. My arms encircle his neck as I drown myself in this feeling—in him.

With a groan he lifts me from the bed, my feet dangling inches above the ground. Our lips don’t sever until we’re both in need of air. My eyes remain closed, wanting to bask in this moment forever. When I open them, I find him watching me, his expression soft.

“You have the whole world in the palm of your hand now, Soph, and you deserve every piece of it.”

Another frown pulls at my face as I try to gauge his mood. “Are you sure everything is okay?”

“I have a surprise for you.”

That brings a smile to my face. “What have you done now, Kolan Slade?”

He leans in, pressing his lips to my forehead one last time before placing me back on my feet. “Come on. I’ll show you.”

Intrigued, I take his warm hand and follow him out of the hospital room, my eyes never leaving him as I attempt to figure out what’s going on.