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“Just hold her,” the woman says. “She’s calm with you. That’s what matters. Do you know how long she was down?”

“Not long. I saw the van go under when I got here. I hit Jason with the truck as I stopped and dove in,” I say. “I got her out, and she started coughing up water in just a few minutes. It felt like forever, though.”

“You did good. Boyfriend?” she asks as she checks Cassidy’s pulse.

“Yeah,” I say.

“Can you hear me?” The woman asks Cassidy.

“Mhmm,” Cassidy coughs.

“Can you tell me your name, sweetheart?”

“Cassidy Greene,” she says. Her voice is hoarse and scratchy, but strong.

“Do you remember what happened?” The paramedic asks. As Carrie kneels down to listen. She pats me on the shoulder, and I know it’s finally over.

“He stopped driving and came back to untie my ankles. I was tied to this table thing that was bolted to the floor,” she says. “He… raped me. He kept saying he forgave me. When he was done, he shifted the van and just… jumped out. I tried so hard to get free, but the water came up too fast. I really tried.”

“Well, your boyfriend here got back to shore and saved your life,” the paramedic says. “You look good, but I think it would be a good idea for you to come get checked out.”

“Yeah,” she coughs. After a second, she snaps her head to me. “Liza. Is she…”

“She was in surgery and alive when I left,” I say. “Julian started CPR, and Calder helped control the bleeding until the paramedics took over. They got her heartbeat back when they got her in the ambulance.”

“Oh good,” she sighs. I stand with her in my arms and lay her on the gurney. “Where is he? Did he get away?”

“Oh, that guy?” the paramedic asks, gesturing to the white sheet lying on the ground in front of the truck. “He was dead when we arrived.”

“My bad,” I say. “I misjudged where I was stopping.”

“Darn,” the paramedic says with a shrug.

“Looked to me like he jumped in front of you,” Carrie says. “It’s a good thing I was a witness to it for reports.”

“Oh yeah, he did. What a shame,” I say, making Cassidy laugh and lay back on the gurney.

“Should have backed up and run him over again,” Jasper says as he leans down and kisses Cassidy. The others take their turn kissing her, and the paramedic just smiles.

“Where are Kimmy and Gina?” Cassidy asks.

“At the hospital, in case she gets out and can have visitors,” Jasper says. “We didn’t want her waking up alone.”

“Can I go where she went?” Cassidy asks the paramedic.

“Atrium Health Mercy,” Julian says. The paramedic looks at him and tilts her head. “Sorry, blood is old. Not mine.”

“Gotcha,” she says. “Okay, boyfriend, you can ride with her. Everyone else will have to follow.”

“We will meet you there,” Calder says, hugging me. “You did good, man.”

“Thanks,” I sigh.

When we get into the ambulance, she calls in that we are coming before sitting down with a tablet. “Okay, Cassidy. Are you on any medications?”

“Uh, bupropion and trazodone,” she says.

“Any chance you are pregnant?” she asks as she taps on the screen.