Page 61 of Vanished in the Mist
As the Phantom fell to his knees, cupping himself and groaning in agony, Kaden blew two quick breaths into Shanna’s lungs. Still nothing. “Come on, sweetheart. Come on. Don’t leave me.” He started compressions again.
The Phantom struggled to his feet, glaring at Kaden. His mouth turned up in a feral grin as he slowly pulled out a long, wicked knife.
This was it. He’d probably end up sinking that knife into Kaden. But if he stopped compressions long enough to fight him off, Shanna didn’t stand a chance. He had to keep going as long as he could.
Where the hell was Dawson’s team?
As if in answer, the distant sound of a boat engine whined out across the lake.
Thank God. His boat disintegrating into a million pieces must have alerted them.
“I love you, Shanna,” he whispered, before blowing two more quick breaths.
The Phantom drew his knife above his head and let out the sound a rabid dog might make as he limped forward, still cupping himself with his other hand.
Kaden continued compressions, turning his back to protect Shanna from the coming blow.
The mist suddenly swirled around them, thick and impossible to see through.
The sound of the Phantom’s footsteps faltered as he seemed to struggle to search for his prey.
Kaden took advantage of the opportunity, grabbing Shanna in his arms and charging forward to the cover of the trees. He dropped down with her and immediately continued compressions.
And just as suddenly as the mist had come, it disappeared. Kaden glanced through the trees toward the shore.
The Phantom turned his way, spotting him. His face contorted with a victorious smile as he held the blade of his knife and raised it to throw it.
A hail of gunfire sounded from the lake. There, on the small police boat, to Kaden’s surprise, was Dawson himself. He held a rifle aimed at the Phantom.
The Phantom’s smile turned to dismay and shock as he looked down at the holes in his chest. He staggered toward the lake, then fell facedown into the water, disappearing beneath its murky surface into the depths below.
The sound of a cough had Kaden jerking his head toward Shanna and stopping the compressions. She blinked up at him, her beautiful blue eyes glassy, unfocused.
“Shanna? It’s Kaden. Can you hear me?”
Her eyes closed and her head lolled to the side, water trickling out of her mouth.
He swore and turned her, moving her arms to try to clear more water from her lungs. When he rolled her on her back, his panic gave way to relief when he saw that she was breathing. But her pulse was thready, far too weak. And all he could think about was how he’d revived Jessica and she still hadn’t survived.
“Don’t you dare die on me,” he ordered, his voice breaking. “I swear I’ll never forgive you.”
Her brow wrinkled as if she’d heard him. But her eyes stayed closed.
He lifted her in his arms, cradling her against his chest as he staggered to his feet. Then he was running toward the lake to where Dawson was now idling his boat dangerously close to the shoreline. A body bag on the deck told Kaden what he’d feared might happen. Dawson must have found Jack. But he’d been too late.
Dawson’s eyes widened. “Is she—”
“She’s alive,” Kaden said. “But she’s in bad shape. Get the chopper out here. Now.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Kaden stood in his suit outside the hospital behind the others at the makeshift memorial, a tiny plaque shoved into the dirt in front of a sapling that would eventually grow into a mighty oak tree. It was a simple gesture, but heartfelt. If nothing else, it helped everyone here feel as if they’d honored her memory.
He’d have traded it in a second to have been able to save her.
As the small crowd of doctors and nurses began to disperse, he glanced off to his left at some of those who remained. Her family was here, of course. Tanya, surprisingly, was here too, in a wheelchair, just beginning her long road to recovery. Her mother was clucking around her like a worried hen. Beside her, Cassidy Tate, sporting a tan from her recent cruise, fussed over Tanya just as much as her mother. Behind the wheelchair, Tanya’s father couldn’t stop smiling.
A wave caught Kaden’s attention. Chief Dawson stood at the outer fringe, away from the others, waving goodbye. Kaden returned the gesture and Dawson headed toward the parking lot.
