Page 66 of Rafe’s Future

A muscle flexed as she clenched her jaw with a hard swallow.

“I know you’re a fighter who will do what’s necessary to survive.”

A bitter smile touched her lips. “Funny. I used to think the same thing about you. But now, you’re what? Choosing to become some sort of martyr?”

“This isn’t about me.”

“Of course, it’s about you. You’re the one standing on a damn bomb.”

That’s not what I meant.

“Lena—”

“I’m not leaving you, Rafe. So get that idea out of that stubborn head of yours right now.”

His heart squeezed at the unapologetic certainty in her voice.

“You have to leave, Angelina.” He softened his tone, hoping the tenderness would reach where his previous commands couldn’t.

Instead of hearing the urgent message he was trying to convey, Lena’s determined stare fell to his foot.

“We can try to disarm it.” She looked back up at him with hope.

God, he loved that she didn’t like to give up easily, even when she knew better than to believe her own words.

“You know how pressure-plates work.”

“This one might be different.” Her head swung around toward the front door. “I can go around back and see if I can find a way into the crawl space, and then⁠—”

“There isn’t time for that, Lena.” Rafe shook his head slowly. “Even if you find it, there could be a failsafe rigged to trigger the second it’s touched.”

“There’s always time.”

“Not for us, there isn’t!” The echoing words escaped before Rafe could stop them.

Lena went perfectly still. In that moment, Rafe wanted nothing more than to cross the space between them. He wanted to pull her into his arms and finally admit what he’d kept buried for far too long. Instead, he remained trapped with only a few feet of floor separating them both from certain death.

“You don’t get to decide that all by yourself.” She swiped angrily at a fallen tear.

His voice thickened with painful emotion. “Lena, please.”

The plea cost more than any order he’d ever given. Aside from a few private moments with God, Rafe didn’t beg anyone for anything. Not ever. But he would beg this woman to live.

Several long seconds passed, and then⁠—

“All right.”

Did she just say⁠—

“All right?” Rafe parroted, not fully trusting her answer.

“You win.” Lena nodded. “I’ll go.”

Relief hit him so hard his knees nearly buckled, but he somehow managed to remain still.

“It’s going to be okay.”

A single tear she ignored left a silver streak shimmering down her cheek. “Rafe, I . . .”