Page 107 of Chris

Her surprise made him laugh.

“They go really fast, too.”

“Wow.”

“Les?” Chris called.

Alessio didn’t waste time coming over with harnesses ready in his hands—three. One for Maria, Valeria, and Abril who still hadn’t gotten down from her horse. Chris figured he would deal with that one after he handled Valeria.

Maria went to Alessio with no arguments.

Chris turned to Valeria as he stood.

It took their gazes meeting in the darkness for his world to slow again. Two days he had been in pain because he had left her, punishing himself second by second for the suffering she endured behind closed doors with no one to help. And yet, here she was, as beautiful and perfect and strong as ever.

While people moved all around them, unpacking AKs from waterproof cases, and getting the finishing touches ready for their oncoming assault on the ranch—Corrado needed to make it out alive, after all—Chris took a moment to step forward. His arm linked around Valeria’s neck, tightening to pull her close to him until he hid her away from the rest as she folded into his chest.

Closer was better.

He needed her closer always.

Chris tipped his head down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Her fingers curled around the edge of the Kevlar vest he’d thrown on, and he breathed her life in.

Because she was …

Alive.

“He’ll take you down the cliffs, too,” he whispered.

Valeria looked up, eyes dimmed with confusion. “Aren’t you coming?”

“Later. We have to get my brother out first.”

“But that means you’re not coming with—”

“Soon, okay? I will follow you soon.”

“Chris.”

“Don’t make this hard, Val. Argue with me another day. Tell me this was crazy some night when you’re next to me in bed. Give me the silent treatment over dinner because I didn’t follow you like you wanted me to. Right now, though, let Alessio put the harness on you, and take you down the cliffs to the boats. Because that means you can do all those things someday. And that’s what you wanted, right?”

She nodded, bottom lip trembling. “A chance, yeah.”

“Here’s your chance, babe.”

Her grip on his vest flexed tighter. “But you’re coming right after?”

“As soon as I can.”

Valeria made a soft noise in the back of her throat before standing on her tiptoes to press a fast, burning kiss to Chris’s lips. She didn’t linger, not nearly as long as he wanted her to, but it was enough to remind him why he was here doing this.

And that was worth everything.

Her hand patted his chest over the Kevlar vest. “I’ll … see you soon, then?”

Chris grinned. “Absolutely.”

“Okay,” she said in a breath.