Page 35 of SEAL's Tempest
Even if he couldn’t see the timer counting down, Quinn had told them just how much time they had to escape and get as far from the building as possible.
“Falcon 1, come in,” Josh said into his comms as they both watched for any signal on the monitor.
As Tempest stiffened by his side, he twined his fingers with hers. “Breathe, baby. It’ll be okay.”
Quinn’s face appeared within a heartbeat. He signed, “Ready?”
“Copy that, Falcon 1, we are a go,” Josh said.
He grabbed Tempest’s hand and got ready to run.
* * *
Tempest clenched Josh’s hand and settled into badass mode as they waited for the door to open. Quinn had said he and Lucky would open it, and they’d all run for it. Doc, Ry, and Whiskey were already outside, keeping the area clear as they waited for them. She was glad to hear that. The less people in the blast zone, the better.
Guilt weighed heavily on her shoulders. None of the Red Falcon team should have been anywhere near this mess. It was her mission. It was probably why JSOC had sent her in alone. It had always been a risk.
Tempest had accepted long ago that one day she might not make it home, and she’d made peace with it. Her family would mourn her, but they’d understand.
She glanced at Josh. The thought of him being injured or worse terrified her and she shuddered. She didn’t know if they would work as a couple, but she wanted the chance to find out.
Josh squeezed her hand.
She forced a smile.You’re a badass. They’d survive. No other option was acceptable. The creak of the steel door drew her focus, all other thoughts disappeared as she prepared to run for her life.
Time slowed as they waited for the opening to be wide enough, and Josh pulled her through. Her pack caught on something, and she panicked. She started to shrug it from her shoulders. When it pulled free, she was clear.
Josh yelled, “faster.”
Clenching her hand, they ran for the print shop exit.
As the first explosion hit, she lost her balance. But Josh pulled her up, and they kept running as one by one the explosives hidden throughout the building detonated.
They’d made it through the last door and she could see daylight as the building exploded. The force of the blast tossed them into the air. Then she was lying in the street with debris raining around her. When she caught her breath, she checked herself for injuries and then tried to sit up, looking for Josh.
Fear choked her as she searched for him. She screamed his name, but she couldn’t hear anything over the ringing in her ears. When Quinn touched her shoulder, she jumped.
He helped her up.
“Where is Josh,” she asked, “is he okay?”
Quinn answered her but she couldn’t hear him. He must have realized because he pointed to the other side of the street. Josh was lying on the ground, and Doc was bent over him.
Tempest tried to stand up, but a wave of nausea hit her hard. She bent over and vomited in the street. Her head pounded harder, making her dizzy. She refused to pass out. As she focused on Josh’s body, lying on the street, the dizziness cleared. He had to be alive; she wouldn’t accept anything else.
After sucking in a few deep breaths, she leaned on Quinn as she pushed to her feet. A pain shot through her shoulder, but it wasn’t enough to stop her. The ringing in her ears eased a little but everything was muffled, like she was under water.
When she made it to Josh, she dropped down to touch him. She grabbed his hand, and he squeezed back. Tears welled in her eyes.
“He’ll be fine, Tempest.” Doc smiled at her from where he knelt on Josh’s other side.
“Are you sure?” She still couldn’t hear well, but his smile went a long way to soothing her worry.
“I’m fine,” Josh said. “But you need to check Tempest.”
Doc laughed and shook his head. “Your shoulder is dislocated. Don’t be a slapnut. It’s not like we haven’t done this before. Now suck it up. I’ll check Tempest afterward. She’s not bleeding.” Doc winked at her.
Tempest laughed. Josh had to be okay, or Doc wouldn’t be messing around, right?
