Page 71 of Hot SEAL, Under Pressure

“Ready.” She nodded and turned to pick up the gun and check her ammunition.

She’d already calculated what she had to miss, and what she could hit to make it look like nerves had hit her and not like she was taking a dive.

She glanced at Stefan one last time. His nose was in his cell again. He glanced up and saw her looking at him and pocketed the phone.

“You good?” he asked, forcing himself back into coach mode.

“Yeah. All good.” She turned back and faced the target. And proceeded to lose the challenge, perfectly and with precision.

The cast was dead silent as Jonas announced the score and they realized it put Stefan and her out of the competition. There was a polite round of applause for them as the couple about to be eliminated.

She accepted it with a tight-lipped nod as she glanced at Stefan. “Sorry.”

His confusion was clear. So was the moment it hit him what she’d done. His eyes widened and he grabbed her by the arm, pulling her away from the group.

Hand still in a vice grip on her arm, he leaned low and hissed near her ear, “You purposely threw that challenge.”

She pulled back and opened her eyes wide in feigned innocence. “I would never do anything like that.”

He cocked up one brow.

Ignoring the silent accusation, she said, “Call your team. See if they left yet.”

The deep breath he drew in expanded his chest beneath his T-shirt, making her itch to run both hands over the solid wall of muscle. She’d just have to remember what it felt like to lie against that chest.

She knew she’d left him a couple of things to remember her by, as well, in the form of hickeys where she’d bitten him as he’d driven her over the edge of ecstasy.

“What are you going to do now?” he asked, concern etching his features.

“Once we’re through this elimination ceremony and after you ring the bell—sorry you have to do that—I’ll finish up the rest of the show as a producer instead of a cast member.” She lifted one shoulder. “No big deal.”

“Are you gonna be okay?”

He was most likely asking if she’d be all right career wise. But all she could think about was what it was going to be like finishing up this show without knowing where he was. What he was doing. If he was in danger. Or hurt. Or worse.

She swallowed away the dryness in her mouth and nodded.

Forcing a smile, she said, “I’ll be fine.”

ChapterTwenty-Eight

“Talk,” Eric said when he answered instead of hello.

“Tell me you haven’t left yet,” Stefan begged, hoping Shelly’s sacrifice wasn’t for nothing.

“Tell me you’re coming with us,” Eric countered.

“I can. I am,” he said with a smile.

Eric let out a whoop. “We’re in the cages now checking our gear. Wheels up in two hours. Can you make it?”

“Pfft. With time to spare. See you soon.” He navigated his Jeep into a spot as the call went dead.

He had to pack and get his own gear ready. But there was a call he had to make first.

Pulling the cell out of the dashboard cradle, he disconnected it from the Jeep’s Bluetooth. He navigated to his recent calls and hit to dial his parents’ house.

“Another call? What’s happening?” Irina demanded.

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