Friday. Ulak Island, Bering Sea.

Wyatt watched the horizon.

He hadn’t slept. He couldn’t. There was too much at stake. His family could not die because of a few incompetent idiots.

The first bit of light tinged the horizon gray.

It was time.

Today he was hunting Vara. He’d capture her if he could or kill her. They both knew she was no hacker. She was a thieving bitch and his family would not die for her.

FRIDAY. TANAGA ISLAND, Bering Sea.

Alec hefted his gear and stepped off the plane and onto the tarmac. The old, run down facility had once been a Navy emergency landing field back in the 40s, now it was being overrun by the island. Tree roots broke up the pavement. Weeds and grass encroached on the buildings. Their landing left a lot to be desired, but they were here.

Paxton and Brett filed off the plane after him.

“Think our guy’s waiting for us?” Paxton asked.

“Brett said he knew a guy.” Alec shrugged. “He’s proven useful so far.”

Alec’s phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen.

Zain.

If Alec answered that he’d be told to wait for the rest of the team. They were two hours behind them with more men and equipment, including drones so they could see what they were up against.

But Vara was in enemy hands. Who knew how long she’d last?

Two hours might be the difference between bringing her back in a body bag or alive.

“Let’s go.” Brett breezed past them, shrugging into his pack.

“So we’re ignoring our boss calling us then?” Paxton ambled alongside Alec.

“Yes,” Alec replied.

“Well, good to know we’re going to get fired.”

“You don’t fire the guy who sacrifices his truck to barricade the bad guys,” Alec said, recalling the sound of crunching metal all too well. None of them had expected that, but they’d saved the target that day.

“I didn’t actually think they’d crash into it.” Paxton shook his head. He’d lost the ancient truck to a stand-off with some truly bad people. But it had worked out in Paxton’s favor. He had a shiny new ride as a thank you from the company for his sacrifice.

A pier extended into the water almost a hundred yards and a small boat sat moored to the dock, two men lounging on deck waiting for them.

“We have any kind of plan other than show up, get eyes on the place and see what happens?” Paxton asked another variation of the same question he’d asked a dozen times since Portland.

“Nope. When Zain and the others are in range, we’ll get instructions.” Alec tapped his ear.

Paxton was the one who’d insisted they make a stop at the house on their way to Portland for gear. If it wasn’t for him being so hard headed about it, Alec would only have his vest and the nine mil he’d been packing for the op.

The trio boarded the little boat. Brett spoke with the crew while Alec and Paxton kept to themselves. In a matter of moments the captain had them pushing off.

Brett waved them to the stern where a row of bench seating provided a little wind break. Brett and Paxton sat while Alec remained standing, too jittery to be that still.

Brett focused on Alec as he spoke. “We’re circling the south side of Tanaga Island, then we’ll aim for the channel between Kanaga and Ulak. He’ll drop us on the north-eastern corner. That should put us close to their facility. The island isn’t more than ten square miles, probably less, so we have to assume they’ll see everything.”

“And all we’re doing is getting eyes on the place, right? We aren’t going in to rescue our damsel yet, right?” Paxton asked.

Alec wasn’t agreeing to anything.

“That’s the plan.” Brett stared at Alec.

They lapsed into silence. There wasn’t anything else to say. They’d gone over what they knew and now the only thing to do was put eyes on the place and find Vara.

Thirty-three hours. He was beginning to lose count. Anything over twenty-four and her chances of coming back alive were reduced.

He should have insisted on more security from the FBI.

He should have been more involved in the op.

But Vara had wanted to proceed at the direction of the FBI and he’d hung back, supporting her. Playing the role of team. All along he’d wanted to secure her himself.

Alec had failed her even while doing what she’d asked him to do.

“We should be doing this at night.” Paxton squinted at the swiftly approaching shore.

“Can’t wait that long,” Alec said.

“Yeah, well, whatever.” Paxton grasped the side rail.

The boat engines cut, and it drifted closer.

“Get the raft in the water,” Brett ordered.

Alec hefted the yellow raft and with Paxton’s help got it over the side of the fishing boat.

They moved with haste, transferring their gear to the boat then dropping the toy motor into the water and pointing the raft at the shore. They hunched low, the little craft skipping over the choppy waves. Behind them the fishing boat fired its engines and turned, headed back to Tanaga for the rest of the team.

Adrenaline began to pound. Alec felt it in his temples.

He used a pair of binoculars to watch the tree line for any sign of movement. A land mass this size it would be easy to have cameras everywhere.

The bottom of the boat scraped and their forward momentum stalled.

“I’ve got movement down the shore,” Alec said. “ATVs and at least two hostiles.”

“Fuck,” Paxton muttered.

“Let’s go.” Alec dropped the binoculars to dangle around his neck and jumped out of the boat.

Paxton was already out.

Together they hefted the inflatable up out of the water and ran, Brett bringing up the rear.

They made it to the trees before the ATV got close.

Alec dropped the boat and snatched up the remaining gear.

“Move,” he barked.

They couldn’t get caught. The boat was an acceptable loss.

The three of them broke into a single file run with Alec in front and Paxton bringing up the rear. With their approach to the island seen, they had to get as far from this landing point as possible, dig in and wait for the others.

Hang on, babe. I’m coming for you.

“WE NEED TO BE smart about this.” Wyatt stood up against the wall. It was as close to the map of the island as Kolya would allow him to be. He should be back out there, not in here talking. “Vara’s out there, dug in somewhere, with four guns and we don’t know how many bullets. Just throwing men out there to look at her is going to get them killed and give her more supplies. How long until she hits someone who has a phone she can unlock?”

They’d stopped telling Wyatt to be quiet and were outright ignoring him now, continuing their conversations he couldn’t understand.

This was bullshit.

The woman was resourceful and dangerous when her back was up against a wall. She’d gotten him and the team out of a few tight spots over the years he hadn’t thought they’d survive. He’d always said she was the one person he didn’t want to go toe-to-toe with, and here he was with everything on the line

Wyatt would be dead if it weren’t for Vara. But he’d almost died because of her, too.

She’d screwed him over this whole time. All this bullshit about being a team, it was a cover. She’d used him and when it was in her best interest to run, she’d thrown him to the wolves. Turnabout was fair play.

He’d survive this despite the body count.

The radio crackled and everyone in the room went still.

Wyatt needed to know what was being said.

He circled the room to where Ivan stood.

“What’s going on?” Wyatt whispered.

“A boat was sighted off the coast,” Ivan replied.

“God damn it. I need to be out there. I can find her.” Wyatt stared at the side of Ivan’s head. They’d worked together. They didn’t trust each other, but Ivan had to know that Wyatt was serious now.

“How?” Ivan turned his head.

“Vara’s smart. She’s going to stick to areas where she can hide. She’ll find our guys, pick them off and resupply from their bodies. If she connects with whoever is in that boat we’ll never get her.” And Wyatt’s family would more than likely end up dead because of him.

“Three men hauling a raft onshore. They’re geared up.” Ivan turned his head and said something then pushed off the wall.

Kolya replied, Ivan said a single word then Kolya finally looked at Wyatt.

“Find her. Bring her to me. Preferably alive.”

“Dead acceptable?” Wyatt had to now.

“If I can’t have what’s in her head, no one else can either.

“Okay. I’ll get the girl.” Wyatt nodded.

Ivan turned and Wyatt followed the other man.

“Where do you think she is?” Ivan asked.

“Either she’s waiting for this team, or she doesn’t know they’re coming. I’m guessing she’ll be surprised by her own people. We need to get between her and them. Your boys fire on the boat?”

“Yes.”

“Then we need to go after your men. She’ll want to thin our numbers any opportunity she gets. With any luck we can trap her between them and us, take them all out at once.”

I’m coming for you, Vara.

THE SOUND OF A gunshot echoed off the rocks. Some birds took flight, crying out their displeasure.

Vara went to a knee, keeping her head low and strained to listen.

Whoever fired that wasn’t close, but it was hard to tell distance with all the rocks distorting the sound.

Were Kolya’s men looking for her?

Vara had expected them to search the island once the sun rose. She’d crawled out of her nest a little before dawn to get a better understanding of the island, what the ground was like, if she had any options.

From what she could tell, the island was shaped kind of like a comma, big and fat on one side with a tail that tapered to the south. The north and western shores were cliffs of rock. Tall trees too stubborn to succumb to the harsh winters covered most of the surface. She’d only seen birds, no land mammals, nothing to hunt.

The bad news for her was that there was no way off the island save for the plane. Not even an old boat. She was stuck. Which meant her only choice for survival was evening the numbers. And Wyatt would know that. If she survived today, she’d have to begin setting traps, creating pitfalls for the men hunting her. Survival wouldn’t be pretty and it sure as hell wouldn’t be comfortable, but with any luck Alec was looking for her. She had to hold on to that.

Another shot rang out.

They were shooting at something.

Or someone.

Was Alec here?

Vara turned toward the source of the sound and crept forward.

The shots could be a trap to lure her in.

Wyatt was smart.

But she had to know what they were up to. She had to know why they were shooting.

Vara kept low and swept inland. She didn’t want to get driven out to the beach or over a cliff. If she had to run, she wanted to take to the trees and the brush where she stood a better chance of surviving.

The sound of heavy breathing reached her first.

She took cover by some shrubs, hunching low. With mud covering her skin and a few short limbs tied to her arms and legs, she’d blend in better, but it wasn’t a foolproof system. She needed to surprise her targets and disappear.

A man trudged into view. He was staring to his right, toward the shore and through the trees, a gun in hand.

Tracking something. Someone.

She lifted her weapon, stared down the sights, blew out a breath and squeezed the trigger.

The man went down in one shot.

She darted away from the body and back toward where he’d come from. If there were others out there, she could flank them. Take them all by surprise. Once they were down, she’d scavenge what she could.

A voice called out, the Russian staccato and deep.

Vara hit a knee and sucked in a breath.

There.

A second figure stood with his back to a tree and a radio at his mouth.

A radio.

That could be useful. Her Russian was toddler like, but any information she could get might help her survive.

Who was he tracking?

And was she playing into their trap?

Vara glanced behind her, searching the forest, but nothing moved.

The man called out a name.

One in the hand was better than two in the bush.

She raised her gun again, hitting her target with a single shot. He went down hard and stayed there.

This time she stayed where she was, watching for movement, straining to hear even the smallest out-of-place sound.

Nothing.

She needed that radio.

Vara clenched the front of her too large coat so it wouldn’t bounce and jostle as she ran then sprinted forward.

A tree—no, a person—moved not ten yards from her.

She skidded to a stop, gun up, heart pounding.

The man stared down his sights at her. His face was painted in greens and black. His molted clothing helped him blend in better than hers.

The business end of the rifle dropped toward the ground.

Did she shoot?

“Vara?” Alec’s voice was rough, deep, but it was him.

“Alec?” She lowered her gun. “Oh my God. Alec!”

She’d hoped, but she hadn’t truly expected him. Not yet.

Her arms shook and her knees wanted to buckle.

He was there. His grin spread and he took a step toward her.

But the relief, the happiness, only lasted a moment.

His eyes widened.

The skin between her shoulder blades prickled.

She moved on instinct at the same moment Alec shouted.

“Get down!” Alec yelled.

But it was too late.

She heard the gunshot. It was too close. White hot fire ripped through her happy moment.

Pain burned her side, her lungs stopped working and this time her knees really did fail her.

ALEC DOVE FORWARD AND fired at the glint of metal behind the rocks.

Vara’s knees hit the ground, and she pitched forward, but caught herself on her left hand. Her right still clutched a gun.

“Go,” she gasped.

Her feet worked, sliding for a moment before her too large boots got traction.

God damn she was amazing.

Two shots fired over his head, his guys covering for them.

“Go,” she said again.

He hooked his arm under hers and turned.

Brett and Paxton stood behind the cover of the trees, watching for a threat. Where the fuck had they been when the shooter hit Vara?

A bullet blew a chunk out of a tree a few feet from Alec.

“Get that shooter,” he said.

“There’s two of them,” Paxton replied. “You two go. I’ll hold them off.”

Alec didn’t second guess Paxton’s order. The guy was a former sniper. If any of them were going to hit a target that didn’t want to be seen, it was him.

“I’m fine. We need to run.” Vara’s breath wheezed out of her lungs. She nudged Alec away from her. “We’re making one large target.”

She was right, but he didn’t have to like it.

“Where are we going?” Brett asked. “This was not how this was supposed to go down.”

“North then east,” Vara said. “Follow me.

“But that’s a dead end.”

The water was east.

“We go west and we’ll run into the air strip. That’s a hundred yards of open ground. They’ll see us. We go east.” Vara didn’t give Brett another chance to argue. She jogged ahead, her footsteps near silent.

Three shots rang out behind them, Paxton doing his best to keep the two men distracted.

The trees thinned out until they were running and sliding across a rise of rock. Alec didn’t like this. They needed somewhere less open, out of sight, where they could hide.

Vara’s pace flagged. The side of her coat was bloody. He spied an entry and exit hole. The bullet wasn’t in her, but she was likely bleeding worse than she thought. Adrenaline would push her until she dropped or bled out.

She was more agile, creeping ahead of them on the rocky terrain rising up and up and up.

They couldn’t keep running.

“Brett?” Alec waited half a second for the other man to catch up. “Can we get back to the boat?”

“It’s back there.” Brett thumbed over his shoulder.

“We can’t run like this. There’s going to be more of them.”

“Agreed. Anything from your guys?” Brett kept his gaze moving, searching the trees.

“Nothing yet.” Alec hadn’t heard a peep over the radio.

“Guys, turn back.” Vara scrambled around a large outcrop of rock. She pointed further inland across an open area. “Go that way.”

Alec wished she’d stick with him. “We can’t—”

A bullet hit the rocks not a foot from Vara, sending shards of stone every which way.

Alec dove for her and Brett whirled, firing back the way they’d come. Alec dragged Vara around the rock. A deep gash cut her forehead, blood dripping down.

“It’s a dead end.” She planted her hands on his chest.

Sure enough, a steep rise of rock a dozen yards away cut off their path. The only way up and over that was with climbing equipment they didn’t have. The ground they were standing on sloped down to the beach in a steep descent that might just break a person’s neck. A few stubborn trees clung on, but there was nowhere to go or hide. Unless they wanted to brave the frigid waters of the ocean.

“We gotta go.” Brett backed toward them.

More shots hit the ground, sending clumps of earth sailing.

“There’s nowhere to go,” Alec snarled back.

Brett whirled, staring at their predicament. “Fuck.”

“They’re going to be on us in minutes,” Vara said.

“What happened to Paxton?” Brett asked.

Alec couldn’t think about that.

“They’ll come for me.” Vara jerked her zipper down and backed away. Her white undershirt was stained with blood and dirt. It stood out from her dark clothing and mud streaked skin. “Hide there. I’ll let them come to me, you take the shot. Understand?”

“No.” Alec wasn’t going to allow her to draw the fire.

“Trust me,” she said. The bits of skin he could see was far too pale for his liking.

This was where saying he’d support her in the field meant doing it.

“Alec.” She pushed at his chest.

Even though everything in him said to put his body between her and danger—he didn’t. This was him trusting her. He backed up, pressing against the wall of rock.

Vara edged to the other side of the channel. When runoff melted this had to be some kind of seasonal river. Right now it was bone dry. She stuck her toe under a root then lowered herself to the ground in a prone position.

Brett went to a knee, his gun pointed up the rise, ready to fire.

Whoever was out there would see Vara first. They’d have the chance to shoot and kill her. Alec hoped they wanted her alive. Their plan rested on that.

Rocks crunched under heavy feet. Too loud to be Paxton.

Where was he? What the hell happened?

Vara pushed up and groaned. He knew it was an act, but it didn’t stop him from reacting to the sound of her pain. His stomach clenched, and he wanted to go to her.

“She’s here,” a man called out.

“Wait,” another voice answered. “Don’t—”

The man edged into view.

“Not—” Vara’s voice was drowned out.

Brett fired. One shot. Clean through. The man dropped to the ground.

Vara scrambled up and dove toward them. Another shot answered, hitting the ground where she’d been. Alec caught her, pulling her to him.

“That wasn’t Wyatt. That was someone else.” Her breathing wheezed as she spoke.

“Vara, come out and I’ll let your friends live,” a man said. There was no accent.

“Is that him?” Alec whispered.

Vara nodded. She straightened and pitched her voice louder. “Wyatt, what have you done?”

“Surviving, just like you would in my shoes.”

“We can’t stay here. There have got to be more people coming,” Brett whispered.

“What do they have on you? Are they threatening your mom?” Vara licked her lips and stared up at Alec.

“You fucking know they are,” Wyatt replied. His voice had shifted. He was getting into a better position while they remained stuck in a space not big enough for the three of them.

“The FBI have people watching your mom, Wyatt. She’s fine.” Vara glanced at Brett.

That wasn’t something they knew for sure, but it sounded good. Their luck the CIA was involved. They’d let Wyatt’s family die.

“We have to go to the water,” Brett said.

“That water’s barely above freezing.” Alec shook his head. They’d discussed a water rescue and the dangers of it on their way here. “We go in there, our limbs will lock. We’ll get hypothermia and be unable to run. We don’t know how far we’d have to swim or wade to get to shore then to dry land.”

“Wyatt?” Vara called out.

“You’re best bet is with me, Price. Kolya wants you alive. I bring you in willingly, everyone lives,” Wyatt said.

Alec didn’t like the man’s voice. He sounded like a cocky bastard.

“If I give myself up, will you let the others go?” Vara stared up at Alec.

“No,” he whispered.

“I’ll do what I can,” Wyatt replied.

Which wouldn’t be much.

Vara had to know that.

He grasped Vara’s arm and shook his head.

“I know. He can’t promise that,” she whispered to Alec. “But he doesn’t know that I know that. We can trick him.”

“No.” Alec tightened his grip on her.

“We need to do something.” Brett’s cool was eroding.

He was right, but they were out of options Alec was willing to take. He wasn’t going to risk the love of his life.

SACRIFICE HAPPENS.

It was a cardinal truth that came with leading people.

Vara knew it, and so did Alec. But he was too blinded by emotion to accept that for them to survive she had to take a risk. And possibly sacrifice herself. Otherwise none of them were getting off this rock alive.

“I’m coming out, Wyatt. Hear me?” Vara called out.

Alec shook his head. Even with the paint she could see the rage lines around his mouth and nose.

“I have to,” she whispered.

“No,” he snarled, for her ears alone.

She pulled against his grasp. “Alec, trust me?”

“He’s going to kill you.” Alec’s hold remained fast.

“You won’t let him.”

“We have to do something,” Brett said again.

“Toss your guns first,” Wyatt yelled.

“Alec, we have to do this.” She pulled out the handgun she’d used earlier. It was one of the firearms she had strapped to her body.

“Fine.” Alec closed his eyes and released her.

She wanted to kiss him, to tell him it would be okay, but she didn’t dare test his resolve.

“Okay. I’m coming out.”

She picked her way up the incline. Her footsteps were unsteady and her knees didn’t quite want to hold her. Maybe she’d lost more blood than she’d realized.

That wasn’t good.

She saw the end of a rifle first, then Wyatt’s sandy colored head bent, staring at her through the scope. This close he wouldn’t miss. She took two more steps, her hands out, her handgun dangling from a finger.

“Your friends, too.” The wind tried to whip Wyatt’s voice away from her.

Shit.

Press for everything to get more than you wanted. That’s what she always did.

“That wasn’t the deal.” Vara swallowed.

“It is now.”

“Wyatt—”

He lifted his face away from the gun just enough to meet her gaze. So much fury burned in those eyes. “You don’t have a God damn choice, Vara.”

“There’s always a choice, Wyatt.” And she had to live with hers. With the blood on her hands.

“Yeah, well, you made yours when you hung us out to dry.”

“I’m sorry, Wyatt. I didn’t expect things to go bad. I always intended to get you guys out before I thought—”

“Bullshit. This whole time you were working for them.”

“Who?” Vara lowered her hands. “Who do you mean?”

“You know who I mean.”

“The government? Yeah, I carried messages for them—”

“You did more than that. You had us doing more than smuggling. And you never told us the real risks we were taking. You should have told us.”

“It was to keep you safe, Wyatt. The less you knew, the better.”

“And it got the new guys killed.”

“It did.” God, thinking about that still hurt. A tear slid down her cheek. Those were deaths she’d have to live with for the rest of her life. “They died, and that’s on me. I’m sorry you got caught up in this, Wyatt. A lot of stuff went wrong—”

“You didn’t look to upset about it laying on the beach in Florida. You’re a cold, heartless bitch and you used us. I’m not going to let you do the same to me, so you and your friends? You’re going to come with me. My family won’t be your next casualty.”

“Wyatt, your family is safe.” Her plan to distract Wyatt was failing. She had to do something else. It was up to her.

Alec was going to hate this next part. She prayed he’d forgive her. If they lived long enough.

“Get your guys up here,” Wyatt ordered.

Vara didn’t glance at Alec. She couldn’t.

She took a step forward and then another, closing the distance between her and Wyatt. He stood his ground, allowing her to get closer.

“Get up here or I’ll put a bullet in her,” Wyatt said.

“You won’t do that,” Alec yelled back. Her brave, sweet Alec.

“Why not?” Wyatt’s full attention was on her now.

“Because if you do, I’ll kill you.” Alec’s voice was a snarl, full of anger and the promise of violence.

“Drop the gun and turn around,” Wyatt said.

“Okay. This is me cooperating.” She bent and placed the Glock on the ground.

Wyatt grabbed a handful of her coat and yanked her to her feet, standing behind her.

The whine of a distant engine didn’t bode well for them. She’d seen the Jeeps and the ATVs. Something had to happen now. There wasn’t time. If Wyatt didn’t hurt her, the Russian mobsters would. If she wanted to get them of here alive, she had to make a move.

She turned her attention back to the slope.

Alec’s head was a bit of unmoving rock.

Did Wyatt see him?

A gun pressed to her back.

Now or never.

She stared at Alec, willing him to focus on her. His gaze bored into her head.

Good.

She opened her mouth and mouthed, “Three.”

They’d only get once chance.

“Drop your weapons,” Wyatt said.

“Two,” she mouthed.

On the beat of one she dropped, her dead weight sliding through Wyatt’s grasp. She hit the ground, all the air forced out of her lungs.

Someone fired.

“Oh my God.” Vara whirled toward Wyatt, ready to defend herself.

Her right-hand man lay on the ground, one hand pressed to his chest, lets bent at unnatural angles, his eyes staring at the sky without seeing it.

She threw herself at Wyatt, finding the wound by feel and covering it with her hands. “Wyatt? Wyatt, no. No.”

The engine sound grew closer from two directions.

“We’ve got to go,” Brett snapped.

“I can’t leave him.” She glanced up. They might not understand, but she’d been through so much with Wyatt. She didn’t blame him. He was a victim of circumstance. And he was her responsibility.

Alec crossed to Vara’s side and gripped her shoulder.

“They’re coming.” Brett went to the rock and pointed his gun at the tree line where they’d come from.

Tears filled Vara’s eyes as blood pumped between her fingers.

There was too much of it.

“Pax? Paxton!” Alec waved his arm.

An ATV with a blond driver roared toward him.

“Okay, we put her and Wyatt on there and we run like hell,” Alec said. “Let’s get back to the boat.”

“I can’t take my hands off.” She looked up at the men.

“Here. I’ve got him.” Brett Jones hooked his arms under Wyatt’s arms and dragged him onto the ATV.

Vara slid on behind Wyatt, her arms around him, trying to keep him steady.

“Where are we going?” Alec froze. He slapped his hand to his ear.

“What is it?” Vara’s heart pulsed in her throat.

“What? What was that?” Alec squinted and pressed his hand to his ear.

“It’s the boss!” Paxton pumped his fist in the air.

“I read you. We are in need of evac. Now.” Alec threw a leg on the ATV behind her, his strong arms caging both her and their patient.

“Look!” Paxton pointed at the sky.

A helicopter.

And four more beyond that. Ropes dangled off them and figures sailed toward the ground.

Vara’s nightmare was almost over.

SATURDAY. ALASKA REGIONAL Hospital, Anchorage, Alaska.

Alec swiped the wet rag over his face. He glanced to his left, through the curtain to where Vara lay on a stretcher while a doctor stitched up her wound.

It was over.

Or at least their part was.

Wyatt might very well live.

Kolya Sokolov was in federal custody.

And Vara was alive. Alec’s heart was intact.

God, he never wanted to do this again.

“Esposito,” a harsh voice barked.

He winced and turned his attention toward Zain. It wasn’t normal to see him in the field. Their boss was more of a behind the scenes, tech wizard, but some jobs just needed the personal touch.

“How much trouble am I in?” Alec asked.

“A lot.” Zain’s cool gaze promised retribution. “I promised our CIA friends I’d have your ass for the shit you pulled. The FBI is pleased with the results and want to thank you for forcing their hand. We’ll split the difference and call it even.”

Alec blew out a breath. “Thanks, boss man.”

“Wheels up. You boys should be home by dinner time.” Zain slapped a hand on Alec’s shoulder. “I’ll have Merida coordinate sending something to your place.”

“I appreciate it.” Alec glanced back at Vara—or more accurately the bed where she’d been. His skin went tight and his gut knotted. “Excuse me.”

He crossed to the patient room and stuck his head through the curtain.

Vara sat in a chair, shirt in hand, her hair a mess and her arms still streaked with the day’s adventure.

“Hey. What are you doing?” He took a step then went to a knee.

“Trying to get out of here.” She shook her head. “I’m ready to go.”

“Wheels up soon. Here, give that to me.” He took her shirt and helped her slide it over her head. “You still coming home with me?”

“Where else would I go?” She blinked at him, her eyes a little unfocused, no doubt due to the pain medication they’d pumped into her.

“That’s what I like to hear.” He leaned in and kissed her lips, the last bit of tension easing.

She was safe, and she was his. The rest they’d figure out as they went. Together. As a team.

SATURDAY. ALEC’S HOUSE, Seattle, Washington.

Vara wasn’t going to move from the sofa for a week. The shot to her side had gone clean through, but the muscle damage was bad enough she couldn’t breathe without pain shooting up her back or chest.

“Here.” Alec knelt in front of her and held a glass with a straw.

“Really?” She glared at him, but he merely smiled at her. “I can hold a cup, you know?”

“Humor me, okay?”

She did as he asked and sucked down some water.

It was almost cute the way he’d been glued to her side. She wasn’t much for being fawned over, but after what they’d lived through, they both needed it. Besides, she was alive because of his pigheaded stubbornness.

Alec bent his head and kissed her lips, his touch gentle.

How long had the doctors said it would be before she was healed?

She was going to count down the days until they could be done with gentle.

From the front room Paxton yelled something at Silas.

She chuckled despite the stab of pain that came with laughing.

What a hell of a month.

Alec set the glass on the coffee table then sat near her. Not close enough to upset her balance, but when she held out her hand, he took it in his.

“Any word on Brett?” she asked.

“Nothing,” Alec grimaced.

His warmth seeped into her hand and up her arm.

“Merida emailed me a list of apartments between here and the office.” His tone was too casual.

“Oh?” Vara turned her head and smiled.

“You know, for when you’re tired of living with five smelly guys.”

“What about when you’re tired of me?” She glanced down.

“Babe, I’ve been waiting for you for years. I’m never going to get tired of you.” He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles.

“Promise?” When she looked at him, she saw the next chapter of her life. It was scary, unknown and different. And she wanted it.

“With all my heart,” he whispered.

“That’s all I’ve ever wanted.” She leaned toward him.

Alec closed the distance between them and kissed her. They weren’t the same people who’d fallen in love the first time, but this time they’d get it right.