Page 65 of Protecting Salvation

“We’re getting Reaper in position to take a shot and then we can get her out, but we don’t know where the triggers are for the bomb or if he even has it on a trigger. We can’t see anything on him but we need to be sure or we all die today.”

Much as he wanted to say fucking do it, he knew this couldn’t be rushed and even if this was his area of expertise, he was in no shape to plan.

He had to trust his team.

Reaper’s voice came over the comms. “I have the shot.”

Bein and Snow were in position on the other side to try and see if he had a trigger.

“Trigger?”

“Negative.”

“Take the shot.”

Hurricane watched the screen with his heart in his mouth. If they got this wrong they all died, and while he didn’t mind dying to try and save Peyton his friends had families. A pop sounded and Trevor was down. He waited a split second as Peyton screamed and then he was running, crashing through the thorns and grass to get to her, his arms torn and bleeding and he felt none of it.

He made it through to the open yard where a broken tractor sat rusting and other farm machinery lay forgotten. But his eyes were on the half-open barn door. He made it through, his eyes scanning the dimmed interior and there she was sitting in the middle looking terrified, beautiful, and like his whole future.

“Warren?”

His name was a sob of surprise and he hated that she’d ever doubt he’d come for her. “I’m here, baby.”

He stepped over wires and leads like some oversized ballerina and crouched at her feet, his hands on her face as he looked at her. “I love you. I fucking love you so damn much and I’m so sorry for being such a huge, incredible asshole to you today.”

He could feel his team around him working to clear her and disarm the bomb, but his focus was on the woman in front of him.

“I’m sorry I left.”

“No.” He shook his head. “No, you had every right. I was awful to you and you didn’t deserve it. I love you, Peyton, and I could kick my own ass for treating you with anything other than the reverence you deserve.”

He was holding on through sheer force of will now. His head felt like it was exploding, and his vision was almost nothing but shadows, but he held on because he wasn’t going to let her down. He’d be with her until the end. Until they dragged him away and she was safe.

“Warren, are you okay?”

Even now she was worried about him. “Yeah, sugar, I’m gonna be fine.” He wasn’t sure but he thought his words might be slurring.

“We’re clear.”

At the sound of those words, everything went black.