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As Annalissa rushed into the room with the shrieking fire alarm ringing in her ears, she stumbled over her high heels. What the hell? The small back door was open, allowing the night air to blow into the room from the outside balcony. She teetered forward, grasping a stack of chairs to regain her balance as she looked down at…

Sharon was bending over the open harp case, the base of Easnadh lying to the side, with her hand up inside the body of the instrument. She looked up in surprise, her face a mixture of guilt and…rage.

“You? You?” sputtered Annalissa, unable to believe who was searching her harp.

“You bitch, you found it. You found my stash and took it. Where is it? Where is it?” Sharon screeched, loud enough to be heard over the alarm.

Annalissa rushed forward, bending to grab Easnadh, and screamed, “We have to get out. The building’s on fire.”

Before she had a good grasp, her arm was jerked around and she missed seeing Sharon’s flying hand as she was slapped hard across the face. Her cheek stung, but before she could react, she looked down to see what was in Sharon’s other hand. A gun. Pointed right at her.

“You stupid bitch. Who do you think started the fire in the first-floor bathroom? Paper towels and my handy lighter was all it took to make the high-brow crowd run for the exits. And you should have too. I should have known you’d come back for your precious harp.”

“Sharon,” she said, trying to still her pounding heart. “It’s gone. I gave it to the police. They’re on to you now. They’ll know it was you. You can’t get away.”

Just then the door slammed open with a bang as Gordon rushed forward, screaming, “Have you got it?” He came to a halt as he saw Sharon holding a gun on Annalissa. “What the hell are you doing? You were supposed to get the shit and get out unnoticed.”

Annalissa felt her head spinning, adrenaline rushing through her veins. “Gordon?”

His eyes, round with fear, looked at her incredulously.

Sharon smirked as she held the gun steady, still aimed toward Annalissa, and as she jerked her head toward Gordon, said, “Seems like he got a little greedy with the stuff going up his nose and agreed to let me know your flight schedules. And the flight schedules of others. I had a good thing going until you cocked it up. Now get over there,” she barked while jerking her head toward the back door .

“No, no, you don’t have to do this.”

“Your security stud will probably come through that door any second. You get out there or I blast him the instant he makes it here.”

“Fuck, Sharon. This is not what I signed up for,” Gordon whined. “You can’t shoot her.”

“You moron,” Sharon barked. “You don’t tell me what to do. I’ve been running this shit for a while now and got a name for myself with some people that can make my movie dreams come true. Now shut the hell up or you can get over there with her.”

Annalissa, unable to think rationally, moved toward the balcony, but stopped as she looked down at Easnadh. Bending to grasp her harp, she clutched it protectively, but the motion unnerved Sharon, who fired her pistol. The shot hit the column of the harp, splintering the wood. Shards flew out, deeply embedding into Annalissa’s chest and neck. The pain caused her to stagger backward out onto the small balcony, the rail hitting her back as blood flowed over the broken instrument. Easnadh clattered to the floor as she was unable to hold it any longer. Looking down in numb surprise, she saw a large piece of sharp wood sticking out of her upper arm, blood flowing down.

The cool night air washed over her and she could hear the river two stories below now that the inside alarm was less piercing. She turned her hazy gaze to the specter in front of her. Sharon, her face a mask of rage, moved toward her with the gun raised again.

“I was stuck making others look glamorous. That money, that money was going to get me noticed. It was my ticket out. And you had to ruin it all.” She grabbed Annalissa’s arm with her fingers digging into the flesh.

Just then the door crashed open and Vinny appeared as an avenging angel. Sharon turned in a panic, but Annalissa moved quickly to shove the gun down.

Vinny’s pistol appeared but with Annalissa right behind Sharon he did not have a clear shot. “Get down,” he ordered. Gordon screamed and dropped immediately to the ground.

Annalissa tried to drop, but Sharon’s grasping claws held fast. The two women’s arm’s flailed for a second before Sharon’s rage gave her the strength to shove Annalissa backward. As Annalissa fell over the railing, Sharon’s fingers gave away and Vinny took his shot.

He aimed for her gun arm, hitting her in the shoulder. Howling in pain, she dropped to the floor just as Gabe came rushing into the room, his pistol ready as well.

“Annalissa!” Vinny shouted as he jumped over Sharon, then stumbled on his way to the balcony. Looking down, he stared at the broken harp, Annalissa’s blood splattered over the splintered wood. Turning, he rushed toward the balcony, peering down into the inky water. Jerking off his tux jacket and kicking off his shoes, he vaulted over the railing after her.

The cold water jolted Annalissa as she plunged into its depths. She had managed to take a deep breath before hitting, but could not see in the dark water, quickly losing her sense of direction. She felt her body moving slightly upwards and quickly began to kick. The long dress clung to her legs, making her kicks awkward and slowing down her progress.

Her lungs began to burn just as panic set in. Vinny. Oh God, help me get back to him. She moved her arms as he had taught, feeling her body begin to rise. Her injured arm screamed in agony, but she refused to give in to the pain. With one last push, her head broke the surface. Gulping in great gasps of air, she tried to dog-paddle to keep her head above the water. Her dress was weighing her down like an anchor. I’ve got to get it off, she thought. The rushing current carried her body until she slammed into a concrete pillar supporting the balcony overhang of the Concert Hall. She felt around as she grasped it and discovered there was a wire fence connecting some of the pillars. Clinging to it, she hefted herself out of the water just a bit and tried to look around. The lights of the hall above reflected on the shimmering surface of the river as it rushed by. She clung to the wire with one hand and pushed her matted hair from her face. Looking out at the expanse of water, she saw nothing. She knew that Vinny would have seen her go over the edge and would come for her. If Sharon hadn’t killed him. Oh, Jesus. Her panic rose to a fevered pitch and she moved her free arm toward the side of her bodice to the hidden side zipper.

Her fingers shook with cold as she grasped at the zipper tab and moved it down, inch by inch. She glanced at her progress and saw the large fragment of wood still embedded in her arm, the sight nearly making her give up. She jerked on the zipper a few more times until she could feel the heavy, wet bodice sliding down to her waist.

Just then she heard a cry from far off. A cry that sounded like…her name. Her eyes searched the moving water but were unable to see anything. He’s out there. I know he is. I feel it. She tried to scream out in response but was unable to do little more than croak. Over and over she tried to call his name, but the cold water she had swallowed when she fell robbed her of her voice.

I’ve got to get to him. She began frantically trying to kick out of the dress that now hung about her waist. It was stuck on her hips and she took a deep steadying breath before struggling again. She managed to get her hand on the parted material but the zipper was lost in the wet folds of the skirt. God give me strength, she cried as she jerked as hard as she could on the offending garment. It must have ripped slightly because the rushing water began to slide the dress completely off her legs, leaving her in her bra and panties. A crazy thought ran through her head, I wish I had my old, red, flowered, one-piece swimsuit.

Still clinging to the wire fence, she managed to reach one foot and slide her shoe off. The other one was a struggle because of the injury to her arm, but she managed it kick it off as well.

Feeling her first sense of mobility since she plunged into the murky depths, she realized she was already exhausted. Looking to the left, the direction of river flow, she knew that was the closest way to get to the riverside where Vinny would hopefully be .

She heard his voice cry out her name once more and finally saw a head bobbing in the water. That’s him. I know that’s him. Determination flowed through her veins as she pushed off of the fence and began to swim toward him. She kicked just as though she were clinging to the side of the pool. She moved her arms in the circular motion that she had practiced. She tried to keep her head above the water, but it slowed her down. I got this. I can do this.

With a final prayer, she moved her head into the water, turning it back and forth to the side as he had taught her and swam toward the voice from the depths that called her name.

Gabe watched his brother dive over the railing and he immediately shouted over the radio, “Annalissa in the river. Back side. Two floors up. Vinny’s just gone in to get her. Suspect apprehended.”

Gabe knelt down next to Sharon, rage filling him at the devastation she had caused. As a medic he checked her, but noted that Vinny had managed to wing her—a flesh wound that caused pain but no serious injury. Good shot, bro, he thought. Then, with reflection, he wondered if perhaps Vinny had been aiming for her heart and missed.

Just then, the fire department came in along with the rescue squad and police. He looked up at Shane and nodded. “She’s the one. She and this piece of trash here,” he said, jerking his gaze down to the still cowering Gordon.

Shane reported that the rescue was already organized for a river search. Matt called out to two patrolmen who were with him to follow her to the hospital and take her into custody. Gabe looked down for a moment seeing what had startled his twin. On the floor, near the door to the balcony, was Easnadh. Broken. Bloody.

Vinny’s plunge into the river’s current looked like any training he had endured with his years in the Special Forces, but his heart was far more impassioned than with any other mission. When he had seen Annalissa’s body fall over the railing with the broken harp covered in her blood lying at his feet…his heart stopped. It may have only been seconds before he had recovered enough to charge into action, but those few seconds would remain embedded in his memory forever.

With powerful kicks and strokes, he moved upward quickly, his head breaking the surface. He looked about wildly for any sign of her. She was wearing that goddamn dress. He knew it would weigh her down, possibly dragging her underneath the surface for too long.

He did not see her anywhere on the light reflected water. He treaded water easily as he removed his tuxedo trousers to allow for easier movement. Crying out for her, he swam in a circle for a moment to see if he could make out any sign of her. He knew the current of the river would have taken her south, so he swam in that direction keeping his eyes peeled for any unusual movement.

Not feeling the cold, he only felt fear. Choking fear that crept up his throat threatening to steal his breath. It did not matter how many times he called upon his training, nothing mattered except finding her. He kept stopping and treaded water, shouting her name, hoping she would answer back.

He looked at his watch. It had been almost ten minutes. How long can she stay alive in this? He thought about their swimming lessons. I should have spent more time on her lessons and less on trying to fuck her. Shouting her name again, he felt desperation as he had never felt it before.

A noise to his left captured his attention and he swung his gaze in that direction. Something was moving. Flailing. He shook his head, swinging water droplets from his face as he fought to see more clearly what was thrashing in the water. Suddenly the movement stopped and an object bobbed on the dark, swirling surface. And a voice cried out over the surface. “Vinny, Vinny. I’m here.”

Thank God, she found me. If it were possible for a man to literally drop to his knees while in the water, he would have. Instead, his breath caught in his throat making it impossible to call her name again. Jerking in response, he began swimming toward her, close enough now to see her small arms not strong enough to carry her across the current.

Strong, sure, powerful strokes of his arms had him propelling her way. Within a minute, he was upon her. Clasping his arms around her shaking body he pulled her in tightly, his body tense with the need to feel her. Hear her breath. Feel her heartbeat against his own pounding chest.

Her sobs were the only sound he heard, but knowing she was alive made it a sound to live for. “Baby, I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

He realized that she was barely clothed, glad she had been able to rid herself of the dress, but also aware that she was suffering from hypothermia.

She clung to him with one arm around his neck, the other dropped at her side.

“Where are you hurt?” he asked, unable to ascertain her injuries in the dark water. She lifted her head from his shoulder and said, “I…I’ve…got some wood..in…in my arm.” Her teeth were chattering so hard, he could barely hear her speak.

“Babe, I’ve got you. Relax and I’ll get you to safety.” With that, he pushed off with a powerful kick, holding her with his left arm wrapped securely around her and using his right arm to stroke through the water.

He came. He came for me. The cold was fading away as consciousness began to slip from her. As the water flowed by, her head held up out of the water by his strong grip began to nod.

The park next to the concert hall had a concrete wall that held the river at bay and on a warm summer day was usually filled with laughing children and their parents. Tonight, it was filled with firemen, policemen, and Tony’s group. Huge spotlights had just been turned toward the water, allowing the searchers to see the surface of the swirling waters more easily.

Gabe had made it to the wall, ready to jump in when needed. Tony walked up and had just clamped his hand on Gabe’s shoulder when Jobe shouted. “Visual. Man in water. Two o’clock.”

The group turned to his directions and saw Vinny swimming toward them, carrying Annalissa. He just made it to the wall when Gabe jumped in next to him. With both of them hefting her body out of the water, Jobe and Tony were able to lean down to grab hold of her.

She was barely dressed and her body had a bluish color. The men felt the ice cold touch of her skin. Jobe immediately wrapped her in a blanket and began rubbing her limbs to aid in circulation. BJ, Terrance, and Doug had appeared beside Tony and they all hoisted Gabe and Vinny out of the river as well. Tony threw blankets at both soaked men, knowing that Vinny would not even notice. He had already rushed over to Annalissa’s side where the rescue squad had placed her on the stretcher.

“Let me get to her, I’m a medic,” Vinny ordered.

“Sir, you need to stay back. In fact, you need to be checked out as well.”

“Fuck that, I’m staying with her,” he growled.

The EMT gave up arguing and turned his attention back to Annalissa. They prepared to move her to the ambulance and did not attempt to dissuade Vinny when he got in the back with her. He looked out of the ambulance before it took off, seeing Gabe, Tony, and Jobe standing together. Always together. Friends. Brothers.