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’shere?”
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.”
