James was right behind him, firing with his good arm while his injured shoulder was pressed against the bulkhead for support. Another guard fell.
And then Reed was there, pushing past his brothers, his eyes finding Elena with an intensity that made her soul ache.
“Elena!”
“Reed!” She tried to run toward him, but her bound wrists threw off her balance. She stumbled, and Reed caught her, his arms wrapping around her like he would never let go.
“I’ve got you,” he breathed against her hair. “I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
“Webb—” Elena started.
“Walker!” Reed shouted without releasing her.
But Webb was already gone, slipping out through the cockpit while they’d been focused on the guards. Through the shattered cockpit window, Elena saw him running across the tarmac toward a helicopter that was spooling up on the far side of the airfield.
“He’s getting away,” she said.
Reed’s jaw tightened. For a moment, she thought he would go after Webb—could see the conflict playing out behind his eyes.
Then he looked down at her, and something in his expression softened.
“Let him run,” Reed said quietly. “I’m not leaving you again.”
“But—”
“Terrel’s tracking the helicopter,” Walker reported, appearing at Reed’s shoulder. “We’ll find him. But right now, we need to move. More of Webb’s people will be coming.”
Reed nodded and pulled a knife from his belt, cutting the zip ties that bound Elena’s wrists. The relief of having her arms free was almost overwhelming. She flexed her fingers, wincing as blood rushed back into her hands.
“Can you walk?” Reed asked.
“Yes.” Elena took a step to prove it, and her knees buckled.
Reed caught her before she could fall, sweeping her up into his arms like she weighed nothing. “I’ve got you,” he said again, and this time the words sounded like a promise.
They moved quickly through the wrecked jet and out onto the tarmac, where Terrel was waiting with the SUV. James and Walker provided cover as Reed carried Elena to the vehicle, setting her gently in the back seat before climbing in beside her.
“Go,” Reed ordered, and Terrel hit the gas.
As they sped away from the airfield, Elena turned to look at Reed—really look at him for the first time since he’d burst through that door. He was wearing tactical gear, his face streaked with sweat and grime, and a cut on his cheek seeped blood.
He was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.
“You came for me,” she whispered.
“Of course I did.” Reed’s hand found hers, his fingers intertwining with her own. “I told you—I won’t lose you again. Not ever.”
Tears spilled down Elena’s cheeks, but she smiled through them. “I sent the virus. While Webb wasn’t looking, I used his phone to email it directly to WATCHDOG’s network.”
Reed stared at her for a moment, then let out a laugh that was half disbelief, half admiration. “You destroyed WATCHDOG while you were kidnapped and zip-tied in the back of his jet?”
“I had some time to think in that van,” Elena said. “Figured out how to bypass the kill switch.”
“That’s my girl.” Reed pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead, her temple, her cheek. “That’s my brilliant, incredible, terrifying girl.”
Elena laughed through her tears and tilted her face up to meet his lips. The kiss was brief—they were in a moving vehicle with his brothers as an audience—but it carried everything she needed to know. He loved her. He’d come for her. They would be okay.
“Webb got away,” she said when they broke apart.
