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For his family? What kind of twisted logic was that? The guy had sold out his country, turned traitor. That wasn’t love for his family.
Love?
Max looked at Perry again and saw…
“Yeah, Max.” He nodded, his gun hand wavering. “I loved Eva, too. And you let her die.”
Darcy twisted to glare at her captor. “Traitors who sell out agents killed her. Traitors like you.”
The full power of Perry’s hatred pulsed through the air. Illogical but real. Max didn’t need the words to confirm a thing. Perry was through waiting— ready to go over the edge.
With Darcy.
A woman so incredible as she fought to stay awake, holding on to life and giving him any advantage she could. He only had maybe six inches of Perry’s chest in sight. Darcy too close. Her only chance lay in Max taking that shot - and praying she didn’t launch over the cliff.
The Glock weighted heavy in his hands. He stared at her one last time. Hoped she would read his intent and prepare. Prayed she would see how much he loved her.
Max cocked his head to the side, aiming. “Perry?”
“Yeah,boss?”
Max pulled the trigger.
The bullet tore through Perry’s shoulder. Propelled him backward toward the edge, his arm banded around Darcy’s waist.
“Max!” she screamed.
No!He launched forward. Darcy flung her arms out, kicked backward asshe angled over the side with Perry. Max ran, reached. Her hand clapped against his wrist even as Perry’s body dragged her down.
Max’s fingers clamped around her forearm, and he wasn’t letting go. Ever. He set his feet. Jerked. Perry’s crazed eyes met his over Darcy’s shoulder for one expanded second.
And then he fell away.
Max yanked Darcy into his arms. He buried her face in his neck to shield her from the vision below and thanked heaven she wasn’t down there, as well.
For once he was grateful for those fast reflexes his power-tripping father had honed in him over the years. “You scared the hell out of me.”
Her limp arms looped around his neck as streaks of morning sun fingered through the sky. “I guess that means you were worried and you care. But we’re gonna have to work on your delivery, Doc.”
“We’ve got time for that.” Thank goodness they had time. He cupped her face and studied her dilated pupils. “Are you okay?”
“Just doped up on some kind of…dolphin drug,” she answered, her words slurring as her lids drooped. “Maybe you could take me back to our room and have your wicked way with me. Except I probably couldn’t stay awake much longer.”
He laughed into her hair. No question, it took more than tranquilizers and a brush with death to down Darcy. Because yes, he loved this incredible woman. “You’re a tough one, Darcy Renshaw.”
“Well, like Perry said earlier. I’m one tough lady to kill,” she answered just before sagging in Max’s arms.
He scooped her up, turning toward the path. They had a long road ahead of them in more ways than one. But none of that mattered anymore. He’d been willing to do anything to keep this incredible woman alive. Now he knew he would do anything to keep her in his arms, as well.
* * *
Darcy leaned back in Max’s arms and gazed out over the ocean from Lovers’ Leap. How much difference a day made in perspective. Standing on the edge, she basked in the noonday sun gleaming off the breakers. The windswept cliff stirred none of the fears she’d felt over the past weeks whenever she’d considered climbing the path. The past had eased its grip.
Thanks to Max.
Wind twined around them in their bathing suits, bound them. Sea-scented air whispered memories of yesterday, softened by the hope for all her tomorrows. Max’s arms locked around her, maybe a bit too tight, but understandable. She recognized the protectiveness for what it was. Love. Fear of losing her.
More love. She liked that “more” best of all. She didn’t intend to pull away, but rather savor this moment with him. There wouldn’t be much time for them to talk in person in the coming weeks with Max tying up his investigation.
