Page 31 of Flint's Battle

“Screw that. I’m not going to give up that much. But right now, she needs it more than I do, and a bit of dizziness isn’t going to kill me. Her, on the other hand.”

“Damn. Just, tell me if there’s anything the docs need to know.”

“I’ll still be coherent. Though, while we’re at it, make sure someone checks you out, too. Your chest looks like a cheese grater.”

“The reef wasn’t very forgiving.”

“It never is.” Kian nodded, adjusting the flow a bit. “You okay otherwise? You were down a long-ass time.”

“Not as long as her.”

“Which isn’t saying much since I had to revive her. Any chance you swallowed some too but are too fucking stubborn to tell me?”

“I’m good. Really, just… focus on Emery. Keep her breathing. Finding her already…”

Kian nodded. “Not something you ever forget.”

Flint met Kian’s gaze. “Sounds like there’s a story there.”

“There is. But we can chat later.”

A burst of static sounded over Flint’s headset, followed by a click of a mic. “We’ll be arriving at Kona in three minutes. Twoif I can squeeze a bit more speed out of her.” Blake glanced back at them as she talked. “Trauma team’s waiting next to the grass pad. I’ll keep the chopper ready in case they want to transport her to Honolulu.”

Flint nodded. “Are you sure you’re up for that? You look ten shades of green.”

Blake swallowed hard before turning away. “Like I’d ever let a teammate down over a bit of puking. Endeavor to do more, Flint.”

Flint stared at her. Had she just quoted part of the Coast Guard’s creed? He glanced at Kian, cursing when he swore the guy already looked slightly paler. Not quite Emery’s deathly shade of white, but not flushed like before. And all in an effort to keep Emery from dying right there in front of Flint.

Again.

Flint closed his eyes, but the images followed him — Emery floating with the current, arms waving in the water, hair flowing around her still face. He swore she’d looked at him a split second before running out of air. He didn’t know if she’d actually seen him — knew he was there and coming for her — or if she’d passed out thinking he’d let her drown. That he hadn’t been searching — hadn’t cared enough to follow her down. And he knew, he’d never get those thoughts — that snapshot of her jerking as her lungs had filled with water — out of his mind. That it would haunt him until the day he died.

All the more reason to hunt down the fucker who’d shot her and uncover who was behind the weapons smuggling ring because Kian was right. It was too much of a coincidence to think this didn’t all tie back to those two men who’d gotten away last night. And Flint wasn’t stopping until he’d burned their entire operation to the ground, consequences be damned. They’d made it personal. Taken the first strike. Now, he’d bring the fight to them.

CHAPTER 10

“I don’t knowwho looks worse, buddy, you or Emery.”

Flint glanced at Bowie as his best friend slipped inside the room, leaning against the wall beside him. It had been nearly twelve hours since they’d rolled Emery through the large sliding doors, her blood pressure so low Flint thought for sure she was dead and her body simply hadn’t caught up to that fact, yet.

But thanks to Kian giving her far more blood than he should have — nearly tripping onto his ass once they finally removed the tube joining them — she’d pulled through. And with surprisingly few serious injuries. No permanent effects from the two minutes she’d been clinically dead. And no major organs damaged from the gunshot wound. Though that was more because of the plate in her shoulder — what had ricocheted the bullet back out instead of allowing it to penetrate into her lungs, killing her.

Definitely an act of fate.

Flint nodded at her as she mumbled in her sleep. “No contest.”

“Have you looked in the mirror lately? Your chest looks like you ran jagged glass all over it and those bruises from the other night are really putting on a colorful show.”

“Which is still nothing compared to the morning she had.” Flint rolled his shoulders in an effort to ease the tension straining his muscles.

Bowie sighed, glancing at Carter and Quinn when they shuffled through the door and joined them. “She’s going to be fine. That’s what you need to focus on.”

“What Ineedis to find the fucker who did this. Which brings up the real issue. Any new leads? Has Waylen started that deep dive into any viable cartel activity in the area?”

Quinn shoved his hands into his pockets. “Waylen said he’d see what he could do.”

Flint huffed. “That sounds less than promising. Which makes me wonder if there’s something we’re all missing? Because Kian alluded to there being stories and connections he’d explain later. And I don’t care what his team says, no way Blake flies to those extremes from purely civilian training. The girl’s had some serious upgrading, which only comes from years of flying missions.”

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