He refused to look at Alex, knowing if he did, his focus would vanish. She was alive and had crawled out of the wreckage of her own volition. For now, that would have to be enough.
A few terrifying seconds later, Coulter realized heshouldhave been looking Alex’s way. If he had, he would have noticed the signs. He would’ve realized what she’d been planning, and he and the others would have been better prepared for what was about to come next.
In a moment that would haunt him for the rest of his days, several things happened at once.
Alex “lost her footing” and her legs folded beneath her. Vas had to shift his hold to keep her from going down. When he did, the gun’s barrel slid away from her head.
Coulter knew it was his only chance.
He pulled his trigger. Vas’ body jerked as Coulter’s bullet penetrated the man’s skull. Alex screamed and fell to her knees as her captor’s lifeless body crumpled into a heap in the grass behind her.
“Alexandria!” Coulter covered the remaining distance between them. When he got to her, he dropped to his knees and joined her on the ground. “Oh, God, baby.” He started to pull her close but stopped for fear she’d been injured in the crash. “Shit. Sorry. Are you hurt?”
There’s blood running down the side of her face and a bruise on her cheek. Of course, she’s hurt.
Her gorgeous eyes glistened with tears of relief. At first, he thought she was about to throw herself into his arms or give him a kiss. But that wasn’t what happened. Not at first, anyway.
Like always, the incredible woman took him completely off-guard.
“What took you so long?”
Alex shoved both her hands against his chest so hard Coulter started to fall back on his heels.
“I-I’m so sorry.” He came to a rest on his heels. “Alex, I swear, we got here as fast as we . . .OOF!”
Shedidthrow herself into his arms, then. Alex wrapped her arms around his neck so tight it was almost impossible to breathe.
“I thought I’d never see you again.” She buried her face as the well of tears in her eyes started to fall. “God, Colt.” Her breaths began to stutter. “I-I was . . . s-so . . . s-scared.”
“I know, baby.” He kissed her temple and squeezed his eyes shut. “I was, too.”
So fucking scared.
“Is she okay?” Garrett joined them.
“I-I’m okay,” Alex answered for herself.
Physically, aside from a few scrapes and bruises, she seemed to be telling the truth. Emotionally, time would tell.
“Of course, you’re okay.” Coulter peeled her arms from his neck so he could look into her eyes. “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever known.”
A fresh well of tears formed as her quivering lips curved upward into a watery smile. “I love you.”
Thank you, God.
Her image blurred behind his own onslaught of tears, and his chest swelled like never before. “Ah, Alex.” He carefully brushed some blood-tinged locks from her eye. “That’s a relief, because I love you, too.”
“Take me home, Coulter.” She leaned up and pressed her lips to his.
From where he still stood beside them, Garrett spoke up again. “Yeah, I’d say she’s good.”
With his eyes closed and his mouth savoring the sweetest taste he’d ever known, Coulter gave his brother and the rest of the team a thumbs up. The chuckles that followed were like music to his ears.
It was over. Alex was safe and Crawford and Vas were both dead.
“Come on, you two.” Garrett helped Alex up to her feet. “Let’s get the hell out of here before someone comes along and we have to explain this mess to the locals.”
Coulter pushed himself up with a groan. “I’ll call Agent Price on our way back to the jet. She has people who will handle the clean-up.”
