Page 109 of Stranded

“Don’t touch her!”

“Leave her out of this!”

He laughs as his fingers dig into her. “I bet you’re a real firecracker in bed, hmm?” he asks, his mouth moving towards her ear. I clench my fists as my fingers dig into my palms. Over my dead body would he touch her any further. I couldn’t think of anything worse than a man who murders, rapes and molests people.

I find a branch and pick it up, figuring it’s better than nothing as I stomp forward. As I step onto the sand, his head turns in my direction and the woman makes a jerking movement, then he screams, his arm loosening and she spins to face him, taking a step back as he clutches at a knife sticking out of his thigh.

Did she just stab him?

Before he can aim his gun at her, her arm flies through the air, smacking him across the face, blood flying from his mouth. I can sense a scuffle happening between the others, but I can’t take my eyes off this wild woman as I quickly move closer, ready to help.

He hasn’t even turned his head back to her, when she hits him again, a scream escaping her lips, and it’s only then that I realize she’s holding a rock in her hand. Losing his balance, he drops to his knees, his gun falling to the sand. She strikes him again from the opposite direction.

Blood covers his face. It’s brutal, and savage, but she doesn’t stop. He falls backward as she screams again, a raw, furious sound. She jumps onto his chest, straddling him. She uses both hands to hold the rock high and swing it down violently against his skull.

His body shakes for a second before it stills, but she strikes him again. And as she goes to do it once more, I drop my branch and grab the rock while it’s above her head.

“Easy there, Killer. It’s over.” She lets me pull the rock from her hands and I drop it in the sand, glancing over and seeing the other man lying dead, clearly having been shot by West. I somehow missed the sound of the gunshot in all the excitement.

I look down at the back of the woman’s head, gently placing my hands on her arms. “Let’s get you off of him, okay?”

“Zee!” King yells, and her head snaps over to him, a whimper leaving her lips as she scrambles up and lunges for him, wrapping her little body around him as he hugs her tightly.

Who is this little mystery woman who swung in and saved the day?

“Reece?” I look up at Bower’s wide eyes. “Fuck, you’re here. You’re actually fucking here!”

His shock melts into a wide grin as he strides toward me and pulls me into the biggest hug of my life. I hug him tightly, patting his back, unable to believe that I’m touching him right now.

“I can’t believe I finally found you,” I tell him.

“We knew you would,” West says as Bower pulls back. I give him a quick hug and a slap on the back as I smile at him.

“I’m really happy to see all three of you. Are you injured at all?” I ask, finally trying to take in their current states. Apart from some overgrown hair, and a lot of dirty and worn clothing, they all seem to be in one piece.

“We’re fine, thanks to Zee here,” King says with a smile as he glances down at the woman still hugging him tightly.

“Zee?” I ask, glancing down at her back.

“Sweetheart, do you want to meet Reece? He came for us, just like we said he would.”

She pulls her hands between them, clearly wiping her tears away as she takes a few seconds to compose herself.

“Reece?” Bower whispers from my side. “Go easy on her. She’s been through a lot and she’s special to us.”

“Special?” I ask in curiosity as I watch her turn in Kingsley’s arms to face me.

The second those piercing green eyes meet mine, it feels like the air is ripped from my lungs.

A ghost stands in front of me. That’s the only explanation my brain can grasp in this moment.

I take a hesitant step toward her, my heart hammering against my ribs. My eyes search her face, desperate for it to be real but terrified of what it might mean if it is. I quickly note all the familiar features; those big green eyes, the pouty lips, the delicate curve of her cheekbones.

It’s her… it’s… “Darla?” I manage to croak out, my voice trembling in shock.

She gasps, her wide eyes suddenly searching my face for recognition as she takes a step towards me.

I reach up and cup her cheek as she whispers, “Mo-Mo?”

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