Page 145 of Vacation Friends

Someone had grabbed Adrienne. Had her arms pinned at her sides. Even as she struggled against this person, he held her tight, controlling her.

“Brody . . .” Maddie whispered.

What was he doing here? Had he followed them?

However he’d found them, he’d gotten here just in the nick of time.

Adrienne thrashed as she tried to get away. But Brody was too strong.

He locked Adrienne’s arms at her sides and lifted her off her feet. “Calm down. You’re not going anywhere.”

“I’m a victim here!” she shouted. “You need to be restraining her.” Adrienne threw a glance at Maddie.

“We all know that’s not true,” Brody said. “So drop the act.”

Adrienne let out another half grunt/half cry as she tried to find one last burst of energy.

It didn’t work.

Brody had successfully subdued her.

Maddie let out a breath, desperately wanting to believe that the danger was truly over.

Brody glanced at her. “Are you okay?”

“I—I’m fine,” she murmured.

She snapped back to reality. What was she doing just standing here? Shock had frozen her in place.

“But Josh . . .” She darted to the edge of the cliff and looked down. She prayed that she might see him hanging on for dear life.

But she saw nothing.

It was dark. Maybe there was something that she couldn’t see.

She couldn’t be sure.

“How did you know?” She glanced at Brody.

Adrienne still struggled against him, but she was no match for his strength.

Footsteps hurried toward them as well as flashlights.

Maddie turned to see the police had surrounded them.

An officer took Adrienne from Brody, and she yelled out her made-up story. “They tried to kill me. I’m so glad you got here when you did.”

“Save your lies for someone else,” Detective Kalani called.

Maddie turned toward him, never so happy to see the man.

“Josh . . . he went off the cliff.”

“I’ve already alerted the Coast Guard, as well as search and rescue. They should be here anytime now.”

“I’ve looked over the cliff. I couldn’t see him.” Panic laced her voice.

“These cliffs . . . they’re dangerous.”

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