Page 90 of One Hollywood Sunset

Sasha held the gun out to Nicholas and he took it. He disarmed it and held it above his head.

‘I’ve got the gun,’ he called.

With that said, the police began to swarm onto the bridge.

‘Why are they coming onto the bridge? Get back! Get back, all of you!’ Sasha yelled, her expression manic. She loosened her grip on Freya again, lowering her out and over the water.

‘Sasha, don’t be stupid. Let Freya go. I said we’ll talk about this.’

Freya let out a scream. She felt like she was hanging on.

‘You don’t love me, do you? You still love her. I can see it in your eyes. I can see the fear and the love and the pitiful emotion. You don’t care for me at all,’ Sasha said, her breathing erratic and her hands shaking.

‘That isn’t true. I do care.’

Nicholas put his hand out in an attempt to grab hold of Sasha but she stepped back away from him.

‘Not enough,’ she replied through gritted teeth.

She let go of Freya and sent her plunging from the bridge into the murky water below.

‘Oh my God! What have you done? Freya!’

He looked down into the river as he pulled off his shoes. Then, ducking under the railings, he dived down into the water.

‘Miss Kelly, you are under arrest. Tell her the details, Barney. And get some people down there or we’re going to be headline news for all the wrong reasons. I don’t want drownings on my watch,’ the female officer said, cuffing Sasha.

Nicholas bobbed up from the dive and searched around for Freya, hoping she’d surfaced. There was no sign of her. He dived down under the water again. It was so dull and dirty, the visibility was practically non-existent. He came up for breath and filled his lungs. He desperately wiped at his eyes to clear the dirt from them and looked over at the bank.

Clinging to the dirt at the edge of the river, with one hand, mud all over her face and the blindfold around her neck, was Freya. She was breathing heavily, she looked weak, but she was alive.

Police officers were just coming down the bank to assist them and Nicholas swam across the river to reach her.

‘Freya, oh God. Come on, let’s get you out of here,’ he said, putting his arms around her and bringing her closer to where their rescuers were starting to congregate.

‘My other hand… it’s still tied. I couldn’t get it loose. I…’ Freya said.

She was freezing. She felt like a human popsicle. Everything was numb.

‘It’s OK. You’re going to be OK. I promise, it’s all over now,’ Nicholas reassured. He grabbed hold of the bank and tried to help Freya from the water.

‘What about… the baby… do you think…’ Freya began.

A police officer helped Nicholas pull Freya up from the water.

‘The most important thing is you.’

‘I know how much you wanted this baby. I really wanted it too.’

Her head was muzzy and breathing was a struggle. She fought to remain conscious.

‘Everything’s going to be fine. I promise.’

‘Do you think it’s going to snow?’ she asked as the paramedic team hurried towards them.

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Crows filled her head. Crows, dirty water and people dressed in black. Their faces were hidden and they were leaping into the water, scores at a time.

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