Page 35 of Forbidden (Wicked Billionaires #1)

STORM

I make my way around the falcon, on the unstable and small swampy island. Now, behind the huge bird, I inhale, and pounce.

As the falcon screams, and flaps, it tries to peck and claw me. I close my eyes, and try to wrestle it, as it cries out and hisses wildly.

Above, the chopper is stationary, but the sound of the blades adds to the chaos.

As I try to hold the falcon still, it flaps its huge free wing, and its lethal talons strike out.

I attempt to contain it with the thick canvas, without losing an eye, fingers, my nose, or an ear.

I snake around the snapping head, and it’s beak is inches from my nose. The predator is savage, but finally as I yell loud, I wrap the canvas over its body and head. As I cradle it in one arm, I use the pliers, and cut fast.

After pulling the cut fishing line from its wounded wing, I leap back, and away from it.

The falcon stands and cries out angrily, before it tries to flap both of its wings. One is clearly powerful and wide, but the other is broken.

The Peregrine is unable to fly, and it’s now obvious it will die.

As I fight to breathe, I drop to my knees. My desperate eyes finally meet the falcon’s. I shake my head, and cuss loud into the sky.

Standing, I walk towards the falcon. “Don’t you dare move!”

As the Peregrine backs into the shallow icy water, I pause, then follow it in.

I wade into the waist deep sea, and the icy water sucks all the air from my lungs. I have trouble breathing, and I feel my legs start to numb.

My legs become hard to move, and the water filled boots are so F-ing heavy. As the mud sucks my boots down, it becomes almost impossible to move.

Carefully, I back step onto the small island, and I yank off the heavy boots.

Now, in Lorenzo’s winter socks, I drop into the waist deep water. As I drag the heavy canvas, I stare out the furious Peregrine.

The bird flaps, and hisses for its life. Neither of us will last long, that much is clear.

“Stay still!” I command, yelling and circling the hissing creature.

Finally, I out maneuver the falcon.

I leap on the terrified bird, and we both go under. As ice cold water enters my clothes, I cannot see what is happening.

Seconds later, we pop up, both gasping.

I wade back through the cold water, the hissing falcon wrapped up like a flapping killer rugby ball.

My feet are numb, my fingers are numb, and the icy water is making it impossible to breathe.

I make it back to the swampy island, but I have no energy to climb onto it, and out of the water. I pause, and I cannot go on.

There is no way I can make it back up onto the land. I have nothing left to give. I peer up, and I know Lorenzo is above.

He and his energy give me what I need. “Come on. Get up!” I grunt to myself.

I try to climb onto the island, but I stop halfway through. If I rest for just a minute, maybe I can make it.

I breathe in a few times, and I start to think about resting in the water and floating for a while. I need to catch my breath, I need to gather energy.

I suddenly snap out of it and yell, like a crazy woman.

Part of me is giving up.

Part of me is a danger to myself.

I scream, and fight my way up, onto the frozen mud. Finally, I roll onto my side. Using my last energy reserves, I kneel, and stagger.

As I look up, I see the chopper already dropping. Lorenzo is coming in ruthlessly fast, and he fans out, blasting us with near frozen winds.

I cover us both, and my wet hair is blown in all directions.

I know I am moving slowly, I want to sleep.

Sleep forever.

Sleep forever.

Sleep forever.

As I protect the falcon from the winds with my body, I close my eyes and fall to my knees. I mumble goodbye to Mom, and I thank God for my time with her. I then thank God for letting me meet the man I will love forever.

I cannot stand, I cannot move.

This is it.

I will miss Lorenzo, and what we could have become.

I feel a tear exit an eye. It slows on my cheek, and it freezes in the wind.

The ground suddenly shakes, and through tear-filled eyes, I see the chopper skid in the mud. It’s too late, and it’s too dangerous.

Leave me.

Leave me and go.

As I start to lay down on the frozen mud, I start to feel better. Letting go is starting to feel good.

Enough.

As I lay down, ready to sleep, I am yanked brutally backwards.

“Come on, get the hell in!”

I am thrown into the back of the chopper, and I cannot move. As I shiver, my teeth chatter out of control. My face is on the carpet, and I stare at it, now an inch away. It is fluffy and blue, and it is inviting.

My mind slows even more.

My chest doesn’t seem to work now, and my lungs have been crushed from the cold. The wet falcon is still wrapped in my arms, and neither of us move. I figure we’re both on death’s door, and at least I won’t slip away, alone.

A figure above us punches the wall, and the chopper’s side door closes. Hot air suddenly fills the cabin, but it’s too late.

It’s time to say goodbye.