Page 34 of Provoking Bryan

Inside, the noise of the rotors was deafening, but Bryan didn’t care. He settled Sara into a seat, fastening her harness and ensuring she was secure. She glared at him faintly but didn’t resist.

“You really are bossy,” she muttered as he tugged the strap snug.

“And you really need to rest,” Bryan shot back, his tone soft but firm.

The chopper lifted off, the ground falling away as they soared over the coastline. Bryan sat beside her, his body tense as the adrenaline of the night began to ebb. Sara leaned back in her seat, her head tipping against the side of the cabin. Bryan reached for her hand, his fingers brushing hers. She didn’t pull away.

“You’re safe now,” he said, his voice barely audible over the hum of the chopper.

Sara turned her head slightly, her eyes meeting his. “I’m not used to this,” she admitted, her voice quieter now.

“Used to what?”

“Not being the one in control,” she said, her tone raw. “Letting someone else… take care of me.”

They didn’t speak again until the chopper landed at a secure compound on the isle of Crete. The soft, cool breeze of the Mediterranean was a refreshing change from the heat and humidity they had endured in the jungle. The operatives led them inside, the thick walls and high fences offering a sense of safety that had been elusive for days.

Once they were alone in the elegant room assigned to them, Bryan turned to Sara. She stood near the bed, her back to him.

“Sit,” he said gently, his voice carrying the same quiet authority he’d used on countless patients.

Sara hesitated but obeyed, sinking onto the edge of the bed. Bryan knelt in front of her, his hands resting lightly on her knees.

“You’ve been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders,” he said, his voice low. “It’s okay to let go, Sara. Just for a little while.”

Her breath hitched, and she looked down at him, her eyes glistening. “I don’t know how.”

Bryan reached up, his hand cupping her cheek. “You let me help you. You trust me.”

For a moment, she didn’t move. Then, slowly, she leaned into his touch, her body trembling as the walls she’d built around herself began to crumble.

“I trust you,” she whispered, the words a quiet surrender.

Bryan’s chest tightened, a mixture of relief and protectiveness flooding through him. “Good,” he murmured. “Because I’m not letting you go.”

The moment stretched, the air between them charged with a mix of emotions—fear, trust, love, and something deeper that neither of them could name.

They’d faced hell and come out alive. Whatever came next, they’d face it together.

10

SARA

Chicago, Illinois

A Month Later

Sara stood by the large window in Bryan’s penthouse apartment, the shores of Lake Michigan stretching out before her. It was a stark contrast to the rugged wilderness and dusty compounds they’d left behind, but the chaos of the city seemed fitting for the storm of emotions brewing inside her.

Behind her, Bryan moved through the apartment with the quiet efficiency she’d come to expect. He was packing, preparing for his next mission with Doctors Without Borders. She watched his reflection in the glass, her mind wrestling with the inevitable separation looming over them.

“Are you going to keep staring out that window, or are you going to tell me what’s on your mind?” Bryan’s voice broke through her thoughts, low and steady, with just a hint of amusement.

Sara turned, crossing her arms. “Maybe I don’t want to distract you while you pack.”

He straightened, a folded shirt in his hands, and gave her a knowing look. “You’re not distracting me. You’re avoiding something.”

She hated how easily he could see through her, but she couldn’t deny the comfort it brought, either.

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