DASH

Was she dead?

The instant relief that had flooded me drained away just as fast.

I stumbled backward, breath catching in my throat as the lifeguards laid her limp body on the ground.

My first instinct was to shove through the growing crowd and run to her, but my legs refused to move. They felt rooted to the spot.

Whitney’s agonized scream tore through the night, tears streaming profusely down her cheeks. "My baby!"

I watched in horror as medics rushed in, taking over from the lifeguards. They worked frantically — chest compressions, breaths, checking for a pulse — doing everything they could to bring her back.

It was agonizing. Whitney kept sobbing.

Steven stood rigid, jaw clenched so tight it looked painful as he stared down at his lifeless daughter.

The boys formed a tight circle around the family, trying to keep the crowd back. But one person’s eyes stayed locked on me.

Kol.

The cold, murderous fury in his gaze made my skin crawl. He looked like he’d kill me where I stood and not lose a second of sleep over it. Still, I didn’t look away.

We stared each other down for what felt like forever, until one of the paramedics spoke. I finally broke eye contact.

"We’re taking her to the hospital," he said, helping load her onto a stretcher.

"Only family, please," a petite woman with ebony skin and curly brown hair added, stepping in front of the boys when they tried to follow.

"She’s our mate!" Lance snapped. "We have every right to go with her and know if she’s okay."

"Look, I know you’re mated and I understand how you’re feeling right now," the woman said calmly, ignoring Lance’s glare, "but the parents are coming with us. You can head to the hospital whenever you want, but not in the ambulance."

The woman turned away from them. Lance and Eric snarled, hands clenched tight at their sides as they watched her leave.

"Fucking hell," Elliott seethed.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Kol stalking toward me. I had enough time to move, to put distance between us. I knew exactly what he was coming to do.

I didn’t.

I wasn’t some wimpy kid who’d hide just because he’d threatened to kill me.

"She’s dead," he said, voice flat and cold.

"You don’t know that for sure," I answered.

"You saw her."

"The paramedics didn’t declare anything," I shot back.

"I promised I’d kill you," Kol said, his voice dropping dangerously low. "And I’m going to."

"Dare you," I challenged, an unamused smile tugging at my lips. "You think I’ll just stand here and let you?"

Kol’s rage rolled off him in waves. I could feel the heat of it, the bitter fury he wasn’t even trying to contain. He took one heavy, intimidating step closer, his expression hardening into something lethal.

"You dare me?" he growled.

I nodded. "You can’t do shit to me, Archer. You’re not Elyse and—"

Kol let out a guttural growl. His fist flew toward my face. I stood frozen, watching it come.

Inches from impact, Lance and Elliott intercepted. They grabbed his arm from both sides and yanked him backward.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Kol roared.

"Let the police handle it," Elliott hissed. "You want to get arrested too?!"

"No!" Kol snapped, struggling against them. "I’m going to kill this son of a bitch!"

I smiled. That only seemed to piss him off more.

"Let me go!" Kol struggled violently in their grip, yanking and cursing, but Lance and Elliott held him tight.

I huffed, unable to resist provoking him further. "So when’s the killing happening, Archer?" I extended a brow, voice mocking.

"Shut up!" Eric snapped from behind Lance. "Your ass is sleeping in prison tonight — maybe forever. Maybe then that arrogant mouth and stupid brain of yours will finally think about what you’ve done."

Right then, Detective Brandon and Mary stepped forward with another officer. The man was holding a pair of silver cuffs that glinted under the car’s lights.

Prison. Forever?

The panic set in now.

"You can’t take me," I said, taking a step back.

"Scared now?" Eric snarled.

"You can’t arrest me without evidence!" I exclaimed.

I bumped backward into another officer I hadn’t noticed behind me. Strong hands immediately grabbed my arms, wrenching them behind my back. Cool metal snapped around my wrists.

I winced as the cuffs burned against my skin, digging in. "You’re violating my rights!"

Lance and Elliott finally released Kol. "A criminal talking about rights," he sneered. "Unbelievable."

"Move," the officer behind me growled, shoving me forward hard enough that I stumbled.

"Elyse isn’t even dead! You have no right to arrest me!"

My words fell on deaf ears. They shoved me into the back of the waiting police car. Two officers slid in on either side of me, flanking me like I might try to jump out.

"If I were you, I’d stop talking," Detective Brandon said coldly from the front. "Anything you say can and will be used against you in court."

"At least let me speak to my father," I scowled at him.

"He’ll be contacted," he replied.

I swallowed hard, forcing the lump in my throat down. It wasn’t a great response, but it would have to do.

My father would probably be thrilled to finally get rid of the pest in his life — the one who had killed the woman he loved. The pest who couldn’t even manage to get rid of himself because he was too afraid of what people would say.

I was his only heir. He tolerated me. But the excitement of getting me out of his way wouldn’t compare to if he thought I had finally dropped dead.

The only reason he’d even bother answering a call about me was to protect his precious political image. No stains allowed.

I watched Kol, Lance, Eric, and Elliott standing there as the car pulled away. None of them made a move.

Especially Lance.

"So much for being friends," I muttered under my breath.

I looked away and slouched deeper into the seat, letting out a long, heavy breath.

Elyse...

Be safe.