"Jake! I’m okay. It’s not my blood.”
He blew out a breath of relief, willing his racing heart to slow down. He wanted to ask whose blood it was, but there’d be time for that later.
He lowered his hands, but Olivia kept ahold of one of them, and Jake didn’t even consider pulling himself free from her grasp.
For a moment, they both just stood there, Olivia staring up at him with an expression of bewilderment. Then, she smiled.
Sweet Jesus. Olivia was standing in front of him, alive and...smiling. He was touching her, yet Jake was still struggling to believing it. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one.
“This is so surreal,” she whispered. “I can’t believe you’re really here.”
Her brows scrunched down, the smooth skin between them bunching up like it always did when she thought too hard about something. Fucking adorable.
“I...I don’t understand, though. They showed me the paper. They said everyone thinks I’m dead.”
“They do,” he answered softly, the pain from seeing the news that day still fresh. “I did.”
“Then, why are you here? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I just don’t understand. If you thought I died, then why...” Her voice trailed off, and she shook her head again.
Jake understood Olivia’s confusion, and she did deserve an explanation, but the threat to her was still too close to go into it all right now. He squeezed her hand.
“Sweetheart, I know you probably have a million questions”—he ran his other hand through his hair and rubbed the taught muscles on the back of his neck—“Lord knows I have plenty of my own. But we have to get you out of here, first. I promise you can ask me anything you want, later. Deal?”
She bit her lip, quickly canvassing the area around them. Seeing the fear come back into her eyes gutted him.
“Deal,” she agreed softly.
Jake gave her hand another squeeze before touching his earpiece. Without breaking eye contact, he updated the others.
“I have Olivia. Head back to the chopper. Our new priority is getting her home.”
“Hooah, boss!” Coop whispered loudly.
It was immediately followed by Trevor’s emotional response. “Thank God!” His voice thick, he teasingly added, “Tell her there’s going to be hell to pay for scaring the shit out of us like that.”
Jake couldn’t help but smile, both at Trevor’s words and the look on Olivia’s face.
Those gorgeous eyes grew wide. “There are others with you?”
With a single nod he answered, “My team.”
Olivia’s brows turned inward again and, damn, if he didn’t want to lean down and kiss those cute little wrinkles away.
“Your team?”
“Trevor says hi.”
Jake nearly laughed out loud when her brows shot up, again, and her mouth dropped open. “Trevor’s here?”
He gave her a playful wink. “Come on. I’ll fill you in on everything later.”
Picking up his mask, Jake shoved it in his pocket and took hold of her hand once more. He couldn't hide his smile. The second chance he’d prayed so hard for had just been granted. His very own, honest-to-God miracle.
With her hand in his, Jake began leading them back toward the spot where he’d been positioned initially. They made it about twenty yards when gunfire erupted all around them.
“Sonofabitch!” Gun drawn, Jake pushed Olivia down to the ground, his body hovering protectively over hers. To his team, he yelled, “SITREP!”
“Sorry, boss,” Derek answered first. “Looks like we’re gonna have to take the bastards out now after all. They’re comin’ out hot and heavy, and they’re severely pissed off. Pretty sure they know your girl is gone.”
“Eliminating as many of the bastards as I can,” Hill added. “The second I’m clear, I’ll light their asses up.”
Olivia shook beneath him, and Jake wanted nothing more than to storm that fucking camp and take out every single one of the assholes himself. Pushing back his fury, he responded to his team.
“Copy that. Matthews?”
“Taking fire, but holding them back,” Trevor answered swiftly.
“Mac? Coop? You still in position?”
“Negative, boss,” Coop answered for them both. “Already had boots on the ground when they came out shooting. Making our way to cover now.”
Just then, Jake heard a grunt of pain followed by Mac’s uncharacteristically panicked voice. “Coop! Shit! Coop’s down! I repeat, Sean’s been hit!”
Fuck. “How bad?” Jake asked, praying it was just a graze.
“Leg,” Coop’s voice came through the mic as a painful growl. “Through and through. I’ll live, but...goddamn it! I’m gonna need Mac’s help getting out of here.”
Jake’s heart raced with fear for his friend. If Coop said he’d be okay, Jake believed him. Still, knowing a member of his team was injured—especially on a personal mission like this one—was like a kick to his balls.
“Mac, get Coop to our bird!”
“Copy that, boss.”
“Trev, you got eyes on them?” Jake asked.
“Affirmative,” Trevor answered immediately. Then, addressing Coop he said, “I’ve got you and Mac covered, Coop. Now suck it up and haul your asses outta here!”
Jake handed out more orders. “D, Hill...listen up! I need you to keep these assholes on the defensive so I can get Olivia out of here. Hill?”
“Yeah, boss?”
“Once Mac and Coop are clear, hit the bastards with everything you got.”
“Roger that.”
Almost belatedly, Jake added, “And someone disable their fucking chopper!”
The gunfire continued. Trusting his team to follow orders, Jake wasted no time pulling Olivia to her feet. He didn’t miss the wince she tried to hide.
“You okay?” Stupid question, but he had to ask.
Completely bypassing it, Olivia looked up at him with worried eyes. “One of your guys is hurt?”
Damn. She would pick up on that. “Don’t worry. Coop’s tough.” Jake started moving again, but stopped when her small hand grabbed his forearm.
“Was he shot? Jake, you know I can help him.”
The expression on her face told him she was serious. Olivia was willing to do whatever she could to help Coop, even though she’d never met the guy. Even though she was still at risk. Just when he thought he couldn’t love her more...
“If we can just get to where he is”—she kept
