Chapter 66

CHAPTER

SIXTY-SIX

Right before the needle touched her skin, something—or someone—flew through the air and collided into Adrienne.

Maddie scooted back on her hands and feet, desperate to get away. Once at a safe distance, she pushed herself to an upright position.

Then she blinked, trying to comprehend what was happening.

Someone had grabbed Adrienne. Had her arms pinned at her sides. Even as she struggled against this person, he held her tight, controlling her.

"Brody . . ." Maddie whispered.

What was he doing here? Had he followed them?

However he'd found them, he'd gotten here just in the nick of time.

Adrienne thrashed as she tried to get away. But Brody was too strong.

He locked Adrienne's arms at her sides and lifted her off her feet. "Calm down. You're not going anywhere."

"I'm a victim here!" she shouted. "You need to be restraining her." Adrienne threw a glance at Maddie.

"We all know that's not true," Brody said. "So drop the act."

Adrienne let out another half grunt/half cry as she tried to find one last burst of energy.

It didn't work.

Brody had successfully subdued her.

Maddie let out a breath, desperately wanting to believe that the danger was truly over.

Brody glanced at her. "Are you okay?"

"I—I'm fine," she murmured.

She snapped back to reality. What was she doing just standing here? Shock had frozen her in place.

"But Josh . . ." She darted to the edge of the cliff and looked down. She prayed that she might see him hanging on for dear life.

But she saw nothing.

It was dark. Maybe there was something that she couldn't see.

She couldn't be sure.

"How did you know?" She glanced at Brody.

Adrienne still struggled against him, but she was no match for his strength.

Footsteps hurried toward them as well as flashlights.

Maddie turned to see the police had surrounded them.

An officer took Adrienne from Brody, and she yelled out her made-up story. "They tried to kill me. I'm so glad you got here when you did."

"Save your lies for someone else," Detective Kalani called.

Maddie turned toward him, never so happy to see the man.

"Josh . . . he went off the cliff."

"I've already alerted the Coast Guard, as well as search and rescue. They should be here anytime now."

"I've looked over the cliff. I couldn't see him." Panic laced her voice.

"These cliffs . . . they're dangerous."

"I know . . . I know." Maddie's voice cracked as she said the words.

The reality of everything that had happened crashed on her.

She'd come so close to death.

Even though she didn't want to marry Josh, she didn't want to see his life end this way.

Just as her knees started to buckle, arms reached around her.

Brody.

But he wasn't subduing her as he had Adrienne.

No, he held her up.

This time, she didn't resist.

Maddie buried her head in his chest as her muscles went totally limp.

Two hours later, Maddie and Brody were still on the cliffs.

Someone had put a blanket around them. Paramedics had checked her out. Police had arrested Adrienne.

And the search party was still out there trying to find Josh.

How could he just be gone like that?

She'd heard someone say something about a strong undercurrent tonight.

Had the ocean pulled him out to sea that quickly?

When everyone left them alone for a minute, Maddie turned to Brody. "How did you know?"

"I thought something might be up, so I tried to follow Adrienne. But I lost her. I kept wandering around, and I finally found you guys."

Gratitude filled her. "I'm so glad you came when you did. If you hadn't shown up, it would be an entirely different situation right now."

"I'm glad I got here when I did."

She pressed her eyes closed as she realized all the things she needed to say to him—the apologies she needed to make. "What you told me about Adrienne was the truth. I'm so sorry I questioned you. Adrienne told me the two of you were still together and made it sound like you were a player."

"It was a lot to take in," he murmured. "Adrienne . . . she has some issues. It's why we broke up. She was sweet when I met her the first time. But as we got to know each other, something about her didn't seem right. It seemed off, you know?"

"Like what?"

"She would just go ballistic over seemingly minor things. When one of her friends got the apartment that Adrienne had also been trying to get, I caught Adrienne trying to sabotage her friend by charging up her credit cards so she'd have bad credit. That's when I knew we were done."

She soaked in everything he said. "So why did you come here with her?"

He let out a long breath. "A year ago, my sister was killed by her husband. It was right before Adrienne and I met. It tore me up knowing what had happened to her. Knowing I hadn't been able to stop it."

He paused and Maddie gave him a minute to collect his thoughts. Moisture glimmered in his gaze.

He licked his lips and continued. "Adrienne mentioned to me that she'd been married before and that her ex-husband had been a bad man. So when she called me and told me he was threatening her, I didn't want to leave her on her own, not if I could do something to protect her. I agreed to come on this trip with her, but I set some very firm boundaries because I didn't want her to think too much of it."

That sounded exactly like Brody.

She squeezed his hand. "You came here to watch out for her."

"But I should have known better. She wanted to get back together. I didn't know that until a few days into the trip. I think she was still determined to find a way to get back with me. Coming was a mistake . . . except I got to meet you."

Her heart lurched into her throat.

She was grateful they'd met also.

But this didn't seem like the time to tell him that, not when there were so many other things to talk about.

"Brody . . . she mentioned something about killing her ex."

"What?" His eyes widened.

Maddie nodded. "She said she'd killed four people. Jared. Logan. Danny. And Josh's father. Who also happened to be her own father."

He ran a hand over his face. "I knew she was off-balance, but I didn't realize she was that off-balance. I can't believe that."

"At least she's been arrested. I have a feeling she'll be going away for a long while."

"I have a feeling she will be too." Detective Kalani appeared. "I'm glad you're safe, Ms. Waters."

"I'm glad I am to." She turned toward him, but still held on to Brody's hand. "It was iffy there for a while."

"Our island is usually peaceful. I hope you'll give it another chance."

She considered his words a minute. "I'd like to give it another chance sometime. Just not at a Sunny Days retreat."

She and Brody exchanged a look. They still had a lot to talk about. Maddie had more questions for him.

But there would be time for questions later.

For now, she needed to process everything that had happened.

And maybe there would be an update on Josh soon.