Rising Hope by Edie James

46

The first thingEnzo heard as he regained consciousness was Halliburton behind him barking orders at someone. His body ached and buzzed. His head swam. It seemed to take forever for his head to clear.

Thankful for the warning that his enemy was close by, he opened his eyes slowly, cracking them just wide enough to see without alerting Halliburton that he was conscious.

Sarah stood about thirty feet away, her face pale. She looked defeated. Empty.

He bit back a groan. He’d do anything to wipe that hopeless look off her face.

He was about to speak when her eyes caught fire. Hands on her hips, she glared at Halliburton. “It makes sense you’d be working with the Tambov Roka. You always were a selfish jerk. A seriously bad agent, too.”

Enzo ground his teeth. What was she doing? It was like she was trying to make herself a target.

Of course, she was. Draw the man’s fire. It was exactly what he’d do if she was incapacitated.

Body thrumming with frustration, he forced himself to listen to every tiny sound around him. He needed a sense of the stage before he acted.

Rollo and the Knight Tactical guys should be around somewhere. Unless Halliburton had already neutralized them. Hard to believe, but he’d fooled Enzo all too easily.

The lack of visual cues infuriated him, but he didn’t dare move his head to check. The element of surprise was all he had in his favor.

“You know the team in Miami called you, ‘Halli-bungler,’ right?” Sarah continued, her tone relentless. “Mr. Rules. Mr. Make the Paperwork Look Great.”

She shook her head sadly, but her eyes were on Enzo. “No one thought you were any good as an agent.”

A thrill of hope shot through him, energizing him instantly. She’d let him know when to move.

She made a disgusted sound. “I guess getting into bed with the Tambov Roka would look like a great career move to a guy like you.”

Rage radiated off the man. Easy, Enzo coaxed her silently. His heart raced in his chest. He ached to reach back and grab a fistful of the man’s shirt, but any move he made would endanger Sarah.

He watched her face, waiting for the go sign.

“Shut your mouth,” Halliburton ordered. “Like you know what you’re talking about. If it wasn’t for that moron, Ames, you’d be in prison. You never had any business carrying a badge.”

“At least I’m not a murderer,” Sarah said, her voice low and dangerous.

“Get back!” Halliburton yelled at someone. Probably the rest of the team. “Now. Move, or I shoot. First him, then her.”

Sarah threw her hands in the air and ran straight at Halliburton. “Go!” she yelled at Enzo. “Go!”

He let out a full-throated warrior’s cry and launched himself upwards.

His forearm connected with Halliburton’s extended arm. An explosion ripped through the air. The hot discharge from the gun’s barrel scorched Enzo’s ear. Before he could cup a hand to it, another shot rang out, this one from farther away.

Halliburton flew backwards. Enzo, too. He landed hard, elbows and butt connecting with the ground. Ignoring the pain, he rolled to his side, ready to tackle the other man, but a bullet to the shoulder had taken Halliburton out of commission.

Enzo reached for the man’s Glock, sending it spinning away. Then he scrambled to his feet. Sarah.

Before he straightened, she appeared. Her hair was a mess, and her face was pale, but she was whole, and safe. Her eyes crinkled in a smile, her lips parted, and her face lit up. She’d never looked more beautiful.

The sea glass necklace sparkled at the base of her throat. Feels grabbed him by the throat, cutting off his breath. He wanted the gesture to mean something. To mean she valued him, valued the guarded, prickly, tender little wisp of a relationship they managed to kindle, despite themselves.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Halliburton had fired at her. She was on her feet, and he didn’t see any overt wounds, but everything happened so fast. He squinted at her, still unable to focus clearly. “Are you hit?”

She shook her head. “I’m good. Perfect.”

He held out his arms, but a hand slapped him on the back before he could reach for her. “Nice recovery there, bro.” Rollo wrapped him in a hug so tight he probably cracked a rib.

He fought out of his brother’s hold. “I’m good. Thanks.”

“Yeah you are.” Rollo was grinning hard now. He glanced over Enzo’s shoulder. “You guys got this turkey?”

Austin came into view. “Sure thing.” He closed in on Halliburton, looming over the moaning man. “Nice shooting, Chief.”

Rollo acknowledged the compliment as he pulled Enzo aside so Austin and Jack could tend to Halliburton’s injuries. “Not bad for a rusty old jar head.”

Jack appeared at Austin’s side. “Don’t sell yourself short, MacKenzie, you’re not rusty. You’re just a little tarnished.”

Rollo laughed and wrapped an arm around Enzo, pulling him close again. “You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m okay,” he insisted, but he wanted Sarah in his arms.

Sirens wailed in the distance, closing in quickly. In a minute, they’d be swarmed by local law enforcement. Untangling this mess would take hours. They’d only have a minute before…

As if reading his mind, Sarah rushed him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I thought you were—”

He pressed her head to his shoulder, reveling in the feel of her body against his. “I know. Right back atcha.”

They swayed together for a few precious seconds, Enzo lifting a prayer of thanks as he pressed his cheek against her tangled hair.

A yelp split the air. “Oh, man! He hit the Admiral’s baby.”

Sarah pushed out of his hold, clawing strands of hair out of her eyes as all of them turned toward the pretty Eurocopter.

Jack stood in the open cargo area, pointing at a spot about six inches above him. A bullet hole pierced the slick blue skin.

“He’s not gonna like that,” Austin said in a singsong voice. “We are in trouble.”

Jack grimaced. “No doubt.” Then he shrugged. “Hey, we got two heroes saved and a fortune retrieved. I think the Admiral’ll call this a win.”

Austin didn’t look convinced. “If you say so.”

At least half a dozen cop cars flew into the parking area and squealed to a stop, lights flashing and sirens blaring.

Rollo waved a hand to get Enzo’s attention. He cupped his hands to his mouth to be heard over the noise. “I’m gonna make a few calls.” He jerked a thumb in the direction of the small private terminal and jogged off.

“He knows people,” Enzo answered Sarah’s unasked question.

Jack smiled at Rollo’s retreating form. “Man’s got a new bride waiting at home. He’ll make sure we’re outta here in a hot hurry.”

“Nice,” Sarah murmured.

Legs more wobbly than he wanted to admit, Enzo walked to her side.

Austin was standing guard over Halliburton while Jack met the lead cops, gesturing for them to follow him to the Dolphin.

Enzo hung his head and murmured a prayer for the dead agent inside. And for his misguided commander. What had made the man turn against his oath as a military officer?

So much death. And for what? A fortune that had no value in the only life that really mattered.

Sarah slipped her hand into his and squeezed lightly. “I should have known.”

He was afraid to move in case she pulled away. “Known what?”

The skin around her eyes crinkled in that endearing way that signaled a heartfelt smile. “Boy Scouts always win.”

He let out a dramatic sigh. “Yeah. We do. Always.”

If only.

They’d won the war with Paulson and Halliburton, but as for his private battle with one headstrong, soon-to-be-former undercover agent, well, the jury was still out on that one.

The afternoon breeze kicked up, pasting his shirt to his back and whipping Sarah’s golden hair into a curtain that covered her face.

All he could do now was have faith.

He grinned. That he could do. One hundred percent.