“But why go after Jules and Damion?” Elle asked.
“Because she could. The night Lisa showed up at the camp, she had already shot and killed Joe,” Brett said. “He’d been dead for a few hours before she contacted Byron and his wife Edith to ask them if she and Joe could join them for dinner, knowing they were staying at the camp for the week. Then she made some excuse to them that Joe had grown sick. She most likely had plans to get to the rest of you.” Brett motioned towards the group.
“But I went into labor, and everyone was at the hospital,” Hannah said, holding James tighter.
“Exactly.” Brett nodded. “The only one left there that evening that she knew was Jules. But we’d stepped up security. I don’t know why she didn’t do anything that night before I got to her, maybe she had a change of heart? Maybe she got spooked?” He shrugged. “Whatever the reason, she left and went back home and filmed several more videos she never published. Shortly before finding you at the restaurant, she posted the video of her killing Joe. While posting it, she found the image of the two of you at the restaurant, which was less than two blocks from their home.”
“I should have never posted it.” Jules groaned.
“You couldn’t have known,” Brett said at the same time Damion and a few others chimed in.
“The woman was on a downward spiral. Sooner or later, she was going to do something drastic. River Camps was just an excuse,” Brett added. “Nikki is being charged for the purchase of the gun, since it was obtained illegally.”
“That’s it then?” Jules asked. “We’re left to pick up the pieces?” She looked down at Damion.
“Yeah. I’d like to be able to tell you that she got what she deserved, but in truth, what she deserved was to rot in a jail cell or in a mental institution for the rest of her life.” Brett sighed.
“Thanks,” Damion said with a sigh. Jules could see he was tired again and knew that he needed his rest. “Thank you everyone for being here for us.” She stood up and hugged everyone. Then she smiled down at baby James. “You don’t know it, but you saved your mama’s life. You saved a lot of lives by coming a week early.” She leaned down and kissed the baby’s forehead. A tear slipped down her nose and landed on the boy’s cheek. She used a fingertip to wipe it away. Then she stepped back over to hold Damion’s hand as she sat on the edge of the bed. “I think we’re going to get some rest now,” she said to the group. “Then, when we get out of here, after Damion is better, we’re going to plan our wedding,” Several people cheered. “Which will be held at River Camps. Then”—she looked down at Damion— “we’re going to take a very long honeymoon and sail to Hawaii.”
EPILOGUE
Jules leaned her head back and soaked up the sun shining down on her face. For as far as the eye could see, there was only water around them.
The massive white and blue sails were full of wind, pushing them further west. With each day on the water, she grew more and more comfortable.
By this time, she knew every inch of theWind Chaser. She knew what to do when the wind turned or died down. She knew what lines to pull to make the sails move where they needed to go.
She was a sailor.
She was a wife.
And in five months’ time, she would be a mother. She reached up and ran her hand over her small belly.
“Slacking off?” Damion asked her.
She glanced over at her handsome husband. He was standing behind the wheel, his legs spread wide like a true sailor. Billy, their mutt dog, lay at his feet. The thing was so loyal to Damion and loved the water like a fish.
Damion’s shirt was off, showcasing the new scars he carried that marked the horrors they had gone through in order to get where they were today.
“Just taking a moment to enjoy.” She smiled.
Damion smiled back and motioned ahead of them. “I thought you’d like to see that.”
She jerked her head up and around. There in the distance was land. Just a tiny dot of green on the horizon. Her family would be waiting for them there. They would remain there until they welcomed their daughter. Then they would turn around and make the journey back home with a newborn. How they would do it, she didn’t know, but she had no doubt it would be an adventure. Nor did she doubt her husband’s ability to protect his family at all costs.
Standing up, she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him.
“We made it,” she said with a sigh. “How does it feel?”
He smiled down at her and laughed. “The second best feeling in the world. Next to holding you.” He leaned down and kissed her.