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“I’m okay.”

“You were supposed to stay behind me.”

“He was getting away.”

“You attacked an armed man with a lamp cord and a chair.”

“It worked.”

Ben stares at me.

Then he pulls me against him.

His heart pounds beneath my cheek.

“That doesn’t mean you ever do it again.”

I wrap my arms around his waist. “I can’t promise that.”

“I knew you were going to say that.”

Storm breaks free from Nathan the moment Keating appears in the doorway.

“Did you find Ward?”

“Yes.”

A Coast Guard officer comes in behind him, supporting Ward.

Blood darkens the sleeve of Ward’s shirt.

Storm’s face crumples.

“Oh my God.”

She reaches him before anyone can stop her.

“I’m fine,” Ward says.

“You’re bleeding.”

“The bullet grazed me.”

“That is not fine.”

“It’s better than being shot.”

“You were shot!”

“Technically grazed.”

Storm looks ready to hit him and kiss him at the same time.

She settles for wrapping both arms around him.

Ward winces, but he holds her.

“What happened to the second intruder?” Ben asks.