Page 78 of SEAL of Valor

There are dozens of buttons and screens, countless things that could be what I’m looking for. And since I can’t afford to make a mistake, I step back, raise the rifle, and squeeze the trigger.

The weapon fires, and I empty the magazine into the panel. Sparks fly, the sound loud enough to wake anyone who might be sleeping. I have seconds before there will be no chance for me to escape.

A clicking sound follows the last round, so I toss the weapon to the ground and sprint toward the exit as flames shoot up from the damaged panel. Without breaking stride, I push my body to its max and race toward the edge of the boat.

Someone yells behind me.

A gun goes off, splintering the deck right by my feet.

I launch myself over the side of the boat…and into the icy waters.

The air is knocked from my lungs as the icy waters envelop me. Saltwater sears the wounds on my body like acid against my skin. Muscles screaming in protest, it’s all I can do to keep moving through the water when it would be so much easier to just give up and drown.

I should have blacked out on impact. But I didn’t, so I use yet another second chance to fight my way to Reese.

The cold water numbs my pain enough that the adrenaline pushes me forward. I pull myself through the water, not giving a single thought about the direction until I’m out of range of their weapons.

As soon as I’m sure that they won’t hit me, I surface, my lungs burning as I draw the cold air into my body. With only the moonlight to guide me, I scan the dark waters for Reese’s boat.

Where is she? Water laps at me, small waves pushing and pulling me. Spots dance in my vision, and I slip beneath the water. Saltwater burns my nose, and I kick my legs, fighting to get to the surface. As soon as I do, I hear her. A beacon calling me home.

“Weston!”

I start swimming off toward the right, cutting through the water and focusing only on reaching her. I have to reach her. My breathing is ragged, my muscles burning as I move toward her, but finally, I see the shadow of her boat, and I’m filled with a bone-deep relief.

There you are.

“Weston!” she screams, then reaches over the side.

I shake my head. “It’ll tip. Go to that side.” My words come out breathless, but she moves anyway, plastering herself to the opposite side of the boat.

With a deep breath, I grip the side and pull. It shifts slightly, tipping toward me enough that I can use it as leverage to guide my body onto the bottom. And then it straightens. The moment it does, Reese is there at my side, her trembling hands cradling my face.

“Don’t you ever do that to me again, Weston Hayes, you hear me?”

“I hope I never have to,” I reply, staring up at her. Features bathed in soft moonlight, she looks like a dream. An angel sent to save me. Tears stream down her cheeks, but she’s safe.

She’s here.

And because of that, I can live with whatever comes next.

“You’d better not. I won’t survive it.” Reese stares down at me a moment longer before she closes her eyes and slams her mouth onto mine. The kiss is soul-stirring. A reminder of days I thought were long gone. I grip her wrists as she continues to cradle my face, pulling her closer and devouring lips I wasn’t sure I’d ever taste again.

My Reese.

My love.

The woman who stole my heart when we were little more than kids.

She breaks the kiss, her breathing just as ragged as mine. “I need you, Weston.”

“You have no idea how badly I need you, Reese.”

“Then you’d better survive, because if you die, I’m going to be so angry with you.”

I laugh and close my eyes, letting myself fall back against the boat. “Yes, ma’am.”

Waves rock the boat, lapping against its side, but there is no more gunfire in the distance. We’re safe…for now.