Page 56 of Raven

His family laughed as his brother told stories about fishing trips with Laney.

And somehow, I felt like I belonged.

Later, when everyone started heading inside, Raven took my hand and led me to the shoreline—close enough to hear the ocean, but not to touch.

“I wanted tonight to be perfect,” he said softly.

“It was.”

He brushed my hair behind my ear. “I don’t know what the future holds, Bea. I don’t know when I’ll have to leave again.

But whatever time we get—I want it to be ours.”

I looked into his eyes and saw nothing but truth.

“Then let’s make it count.”

He kissed me—slow, tender, and breathtaking.

And I knew: I was deeply in love for the first time in my life.

* * *

The next morning,I woke to the smell of coffee and the quiet sounds of Raven in the kitchen.

The sun hadn’t risen yet. I stretched slowly, my body still healing, but stronger.

Raven stood at the stove, shirtless, hair damp from a shower.

His dog tags glinted in the light as he stirred something in a pan, his face distant.

“Morning,” I said softly, wrapping my arms around him from behind.

He turned. “Did I wake you?”

“No. I just noticed you weren’t beside me.”

He handed me a mug. “Here. Coffee.”

I took it, heart sinking at the quiet tension in his voice. “What happened?”

“I got a call,” he said. Cyclone is on his way. Something’s gone wrong in Iran.

A unit of Army Special Forces we trained with has gone missing. Thirty-six hours now. No location. We’ll have to ask around once we get there.”

The warmth from the mug didn’t reach my hands. “You’re going.”

“I have to. They’d do the same for me.”

I swallowed hard. “When?”

“Two o’clock.”

Today. So soon.

“I’ll help you pack.”

“You don’t have to. I’m always packed.”

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