Page 98 of Searching for Valor

This time, he hadn’t failed.

He hadn’t hesitated.

This time, he had pulled the trigger in time.

chapter

thirty-four

Izzy flinchedas the gunshot echoed through the ruined lobby. She thought for sure she was dead, but…

She was still breathing. Hard and fast, but she was.

She blinked as Callahan hit the floor, her smirk replaced by a look of slack-jawed shock that would never fade.

And there was Rylan, standing in the doorway, his rifle lowering, his face pale. Relief swept through her, so overwhelming that her knees nearly buckled.

“Rylan,” she whispered.

Before she knew it, she was running to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He caught her, holding her tightly as if he needed the hug as much as she did. She buried her face against his chest.

“I thought—” she started, her voice trembling, but he cut her off, his hands gripping her shoulders as he pulled back.

“What the hell were you thinking?” he snapped, his voice rough, his hazel eyes blazing. “You could’ve been killed, Izzy. Do you have any idea what that would’ve done to me?”

“I-I didn’t have a choice,” she said, her voice cracking. “They had Mateo.”

“You should’ve told me!”

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t risk it. They said they’d kill him if I told you.”

“So you thought going it alone was the better option?”

“I didn’t come alone.” She looked at Callahan’s body and had the overwhelming urge to kick the dead woman. “I calledher. The bitch. God, no wonder Monica was so afraid.”

“Damn it, Izzy.” Rylan’s voice broke, raw with emotion. “You should’ve trusted me.”

“Hey, back off,” Mateo rasped from behind them, his voice hoarse but firm. Izzy turned to see her brother leaning heavily on Shane, his face battered but his dark eyes burning with protective fury. “She saved my life.”

“Mateo—” Izzy started, but he held up a hand to stop her.

“No,” he said, his voice stronger now. “You did what you had to do, Issa. And I’m standing here because of it.”

Rylan’s jaw tightened as he looked between them, but his gaze softened when it returned to her. He touched her cheek. “You scared the hell out of me.”

“I know,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”

For a moment, they just stood there. Then Rylan pulled her in close and kissed her. It wasn’t gentle—it was desperate and raw, a collision of relief and need and everything he couldn’t say aloud. He was angry only because he was scared, she realized. Not because he thought she’d betrayed him again.

She melted into him, the world around them fading away. When they finally broke apart, both breathless, she saw the storm of emotions in his eyes—fear, relief, love, and a lingering anger that she knew would take time to dissipate.

“Don’t ever do that to me again,” he murmured, his forehead resting against hers.

Before she could respond, a commotion at the entrance drew their attention. They turned to see the team with their guns up, trained on Monica, who clutched Grace tightly to her side. Theyboth looked awful. Monica was bruised and battered, and Grace was gaunt.

“Wait,” Izzy called, breaking away from Rylan’s arms to shield her friend. “It’s okay! She’s not here to hurt us.”

The guns lowered, and Monica exhaled a trembling breath in relief. “Izzy, I’m so sorry. I came as soon as I got your message. I never wanted any of this. I never wanted you or anyone to get hurt…” Her gaze landed on Callahan’s body, and a mix of relief and revulsion crossed her face. “Is she?—?”

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