Page 33 of Provoking Bryan

The second boat was faster, its driver more skilled. The cartel men onboard leaned out, their guns trained on Bryan and Sara’s boat.

“Take the wheel!” Bryan barked, letting go and moving to the stern.

Sara didn’t question him, sliding into place and gripping the wheel with steady hands. Bryan grabbed the rifle from the deck, bracing himself against the railing as he aimed.

The first shot took out the smaller boat’s engine, the spray of sparks and smoke sending the boat skidding to a halt. The second shot hit the fuel tank, and the resulting explosion sent the remaining cartel men diving into the water.

Bryan lowered the rifle, his chest heaving as the adrenaline ebbed slightly. He turned back to Sara, who was grinning. There was a part of her, he realized, that really was enjoying this.

“Not bad,” she said, her voice laced with approval.

Bryan shook his head, moving to take the wheel from her. “Not bad yourself.”

As they powered through the dark waters, the burning remnants of the dock and the destroyed patrol boats faded behind them, Bryan couldn’t help but glance at Sara. Her hair was windswept, her face flushed with exertion, but her eyes burned with determination.

“You’re amazing, you know that?” he said, his voice low but sincere.

She glanced at him, her lips curving into a faint smile. “You’re not so bad yourself, Doc.”

The first rays of dawn bled across the horizon, painting the sea in shades of gold and crimson. Bryan tightened his grip on the wheel of the boat, his jaw set as he navigated the still-choppy waters. The silence between him and Sara was now more companionable than charged. There was a comfort and familiarity that seemed odd given the short amount of time they’d known each other.

Sara leaned against the rail, the satellite phone pressed to her ear. Her voice was calm but clipped, the precise tone of a professional keeping emotions at bay.

“This is Gray. We’re requesting immediate extraction. I’m sending the GPS coordinates.”

“Tell them they’ll find us in that small inlet just to the southeast of those coordinates. It’ll be easier to stay out of sight.”Bryan steered the boat toward the inlet that was shielded by rocky cliffs.

“Got it.” Sara relayed the information. “Cartel assets neutralized, but they’ll regroup soon.”

The line crackled as the response came, a familiar voice carrying a tone of urgency. “Extraction team in route. ETA thirty minutes. Hold tight and stay low.”

Sara ended the call, shoving the phone back into her pocket. She turned to Bryan, her expression unreadable. “They’re on their way.”

With that, all the wind seemed to have gone out of her sails. She looked weary, the weight of her responsibilities etched into every line of her face. He couldn’t stop himself from reaching out, his hand brushing her arm.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice low.

She met his gaze, and for a moment, her guard faltered. “I don’t know,” she admitted quietly. “It’s not every day you blow up a cartel’s entire dock.”

Bryan couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips. “Not every day you escape in a boat, either.”

Her lips curved faintly, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “They’ll come after us, you know. The cartel doesn’t just let things go.”

“We’ll be ready,” Bryan said firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

She looked at him then, her eyes searching his. Whatever she saw seemed to steady her, because she nodded and leaned slightly into his touch.

The distant thrum of helicopter blades broke the quiet, growing louder as the extraction team approached. Bryan brought the boat to a stop as the chopper descended onto the beach.

The downdraft from the rotors whipped through the narrow space, kicking up spray and making the air thick with salt. Bryan moved quickly, helping Sara to her feet and steadying her as she climbed onto the rocky shore.

Two operatives emerged from the chopper, their movements precise as they approached. One of them, a wiry man with sharp eyes, nodded to Bryan. “You must be Dr. Mena. And you—” He turned to Sara, his expression softening slightly. “You look like you’ve been through hell.”

“Something like that,” Sara replied, her voice steady but tired.

Bryan stepped closer to her, his hand resting lightly on her lower back. “She’s been through enough. Let’s get her on board.”

Sara shot him a look, her lips parting as if to argue, but the exhaustion in her eyes betrayed her. She allowed Bryan to guide her toward the chopper, the operatives falling in step behind them.

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