Shit.
“Ivy?” he calls out, and I know I have a matter of minutes to get to the boat before it takes off.
I look down at Cerberus, who is following closely behind me.
“Gaan,” I prompt him in Dutch. “Go. Get him.” I hope he’ll take the bait and stall Cyrus. I need the dog not to follow me anymore.
It will give away my position. When Cerberus does what I tell him, I breathe a sigh of relief, and then when Cyrus is distracted, I make my dash for the open door. I run as fast as my feet can go.
Fuck.
All hope is dashed away as Cyrus steps into my path; his eyes wild with rage. He still looks at me with a heated stare. The type of stare that in another time in another life would light me on fire. My skin sizzles, but I tamp it down.
He might be good-looking. But I am not that girl.
I am no foregone conclusion.
What I am is a fighter, and I will not let him leave me again.
A new plan takes root. A good one. Stepping up to him, I lift my hand and then I trail my hands down my chest, all while seductively stepping toward him.
Even I can admit this probably won’t work, but I have to try.
I reach my hand out and touch his chest.
His eyes widen. I’ve taken him off guard.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” His deep timbre manages to frighten me even more than his deadly stare. He’s angry, and that is more dangerous than any come-ons from the other day.
If the malice he portrays is any indication, I have to change the game. I don’t have time to waste quaking in fear.
I squash it down and act quickly. Stepping into him, I throw him off and bring my knee firmly into his groin as hard as I can manage.
It does the trick. He bends over, groaning in pain, and I don’t stop to think about it. I pump my arms as fast as I can and don’t look back.
When I reach the end of the beach, I dive headfirst into the cold water.
I welcome the icy chill.
It’s my savior.
My escape.
I channel all the years of swimming I have under my belt and swim as though my life depended on it—which it does.
It’s all going well . . . until it isn’t.
A strong current pulls me under, dragging me across the jagged rocks below.
Years at the beach in the summer have taught me how to handle such a situation.
I kick my arms and legs to swim directly into the current and let it take me. I try not to panic as I’m quickly running out of air. My hand skims past something hard, and without another thought, I reach out and grab ahold. I yank hard and am able to pull myself up.
When my head crests the water, I gulp in a lungful of air greedily as I cling to the large branch for dear life.
Every ounce of energy I have is depleted along with any hope of escaping. There is no way I’ll make it to that boat now.
I’m going to die.
No. I can’t go this way. I have to fight. I need to swim. My legs are cut up, and if I let go of this branch, I’ll drown.
“Help me,” I cry out to whoever is on the boat, but it’s in vain. I’m too far away, and my voice is too weak to be heard.
Tears well in my eyes as I realize that the only option I have is to try to make it back to shore.
But I can’t.
For one, I don’t have the strength to fight that current again, and for another, Cyrus will be there waiting for me on the shore.
What if he makes me pay for my attempt to escape, and for what I’ve done to him?
The dread becomes even worse when I see Cyrus race for the shore.
He’s coming for me, and I can’t escape his wrath. My fear turns to shock as minutes later I realize he isn’t coming for me. He’s carrying Cerberus in his arms toward the shore.
“Oh, no. Cerberus, you didn’t,” I say, guilt-ridden. The dog had followed me into the water, and I can’t tell if he’s been hurt or not.
Based on the way Cyrus cradles him into his chest, it doesn’t look good. I have to get back to the shore and help.
It’s all my fault.
Now that getting off this island isn’t an option, I need to make sure Cerberus will be okay.
When Cyrus lowers the dog to the ground, he stands on his feet, his poor tail sagging limply before he lays down on the beach.
I cry out at the sight. I’m an idiot.
Why did I ever think I could escape?
A part of me withers and dies as the realization hits me.