Page 32 of Provoking Bryan

Bryan worked quickly, his fingers finding the explosives in his medical bag and placing them with care. Sara kept watch, her sharp gaze scanning the area for any sign of movement. The tension between them was palpable, a thread stretched taut by the danger of their mission and the unspoken emotions simmering beneath the surface.

“Done,” Bryan whispered, closing the bag. “Let’s get to the boat.”

They moved as one, their steps silent as they approached the remaining vessel. Bryan climbed in first, his hands steady on the controls as he prepared to start the engine. Sara joined him, her rifle at the ready as she scanned the dock.

The hum of voices grew louder, followed by the beam of a flashlight cutting through the darkness.

“They’re coming,” Sara murmured, her voice tight.

Bryan’s fingers hovered over the ignition switch, his jaw clenched. “Hold on.”

The engine roared to life, shattering the stillness of the night. The guards who reached the dock shouted, their rifles raising as they fired blindly into the darkness. Bryan pushed thethrottle forward, the boat lurching away from the dock as bullets splintered the wood around them.

“Bryan, now!” Sara shouted, her hand gripping the detonator.

Bryan nodded, his focus split between steering the boat and the chaos erupting behind them. “Do it.”

Sara pressed the button. The explosions were blinding, fiery blasts that blew as one and lit up the night sky. The shockwave rolled over them, the force rocking the boat as debris rained into the water. The dock erupted in a fiery blaze, the remaining boats consumed by the inferno.

Bryan glanced back at the sight of the destruction. “They’ll be on us.”

“How? We blew up their boats.”

“You don’t think they have patrols out on the water?”

Sara shook her head. “Of course. Sorry.“

“Nothing to be sorry for.”

She nodded. “Let them come. We’ve got what we need to make some huge dents in the cartel’s business, and the fact that they haven’t been able to take out one pesky doctor isn’t going to play well with their friends.”

“We make a pretty good team,” Bryan said, a grin tugging at his lips despite the danger.

“Not over yet,” Sara shot back, her tone grim.

As the boat cut through the dark waters, the glow of the burning dock fading behind them, Bryan knew the cartel wasn’t finished. But neither were they.

Ahead, two small power boats emerged from the shadows, their engines revving as they gave chase. Cartel men crouched in the boats, their rifles gleaming under the moonlight.

“Shit! There they are—patrol boats.”

Bryan’s jaw tightened. “Hang on!”

He spun the wheel hard, sending their boat into a sharp turn that sprayed water into the air. The patrol boats struggled to adjust, their smaller size making them more maneuverable but less stable in the wake of Bryan’s larger craft.

Sara crouched low, her rifle on the deck of the boat at her feet as she pulled out her pistol. “Keep them off balance. I’ll handle the rest.”

Bryan grinned, adrenaline surging through him. “You got it.”

He pushed the throttle to its limit, the boat cutting through the water with precision. The boats closed in, their occupants firing sporadically. Bullets pinged against the hull, but Bryan’s calculated turns made it difficult for them to get a clear shot.

“Bryan, turn left!” Sara shouted.

He complied without hesitation, the boat veering sharply as Sara fired. Her shot was clean, and one of the drivers slumped over, sending the boat spinning out of control before crashing into the waves.

“Nice shot,” Bryan called, his eyes flicking to her briefly.

“Focus on driving, Doc,” she replied, her tone teasing despite the danger they were in.

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