Page 84 of Mountain Target

Something in his chest squeezed painfully.

Don’t ask that of me.

Don’t ask me to leave you here.

“I’m taking you both out of here,” he said.

Somehow.

“Take her,” she repeated stubbornly.

No.

I can’t leave you.

“I’ll follow you. And you can come back for me.”

The way she said it made him realize she didn’t believe her own words.

She was saying it for his benefit.

And he knew she was making the right call. They had to get Ren out of the water. Already, the girl had been in for far too long.

His mind struggled against the inevitable, even as he took up a position behind Ren, placing his right arm under her shoulder and leaning her head against his chest.

He took one last look at Valentina, saw how much she was struggling—wondered how she’d even managed to keep Ren’s head out of the water for so long.

And he knew then, with a certainty that defied understanding, that if he left her now, he would never see her again.

She won’t make it.

Her blue lips moved in something that looked like thank you.

And his heart broke in two, but Ren was a slight, solid weight against his chest, and he knew he had to go.

“I will come back for you,” he promised. “Please keep swimming.”

And with that, he pulled away.

Away from his heart.

Away from his life.

He powered on through the sluggishness in his body. Because he’d trained for this, but at some point, training wasn’t enough. Not when he was feeling like he’d left his soul behind him.

And he was too cold to cry, but he was crying anyway.

Suddenly, something struck him. He jerked away before realizing it was Alex. His friend was treading water next to him, his mouth moving as if he were shouting.

He is shouting.

“Give her to me, Beau! Let me take her!”

Beau had to force his frozen hands to release the girl, who coughed feebly.

“I’ve got her,” Alex said in his ear. “I promise I’ll take care of her.”

Beau’s heart pounded in his chest as he realized the chance Alex had given him. He turned and swam to where he’d last seen Valentina, except this time her red hair was nowhere to be seen.