Page 78 of Stand Fast

She shook her head, unaffected by his sharp tone. She didn’t want to look at anyone but Zaid. She needed to see him, to see with her own eyes that he was really gone.

As Prentiss drew near she was vaguely aware of someone else emerging from inside the helo.

“Jaliya, for Christ’s sake, look at me.” Taggart stepped in front of her and grabbed her face in his hands, jolting her out of her shock. His dark blond brows were drawn together in a fierce frown as he glared down at her. “Zaid is alive.”

She jerked. “W-what?”

Seeming relieved that she had given even that tiny response, he relaxed and gave her a half-smile. “He’s okay. Look.” He let her go and turned aside for her to see.

Her shocked gaze landed on a man climbing out of the battle-damaged helo carrying another body bag. For a moment she was sure her mind and eyes were playing a trick on her. That she was hallucinating and had imagined the past five seconds.

Zaid. Walking toward her.

Oh my God…

“Zaid!” It tore from her in a desperate scream as she bolted toward him, her legs like jelly.

His head snapped up and he stopped, an expression of pure relief crossing his handsome face in the perimeter lights. Her face crumpled as she ran for him, the tears streaming down her face preventing her from seeing anything else. Someone else rushed over and took the body bag from him and then he was running toward her.

Jaliya flung herself into his arms and locked hers around his ribs, holding on with all the strength she had in her body as she buried her face in his throat and cried. Zaid crushed her tight to his chest, his arms like iron bands as they locked her to him.

You’re alive. You’re alive…

It was the only thought running through her head as she clung to him and cried her heart out, releasing all the grief and fear and guilt that had been choking her.

Gradually, the endearing sound of his voice penetrated the haze in her brain. “I’m okay, honey. I’m okay.”

She couldn’t stop crying, or shaking. “I th-thought…”

“I see that,” he said with a soft chuckle that hit her square in the heart. “What did they tell you?”

She shook her head, fought to get control. It wasn’t like her to cry like this, let alone in public, but she’d fallen to pieces and didn’t know how to get herself together. “Just t-two…KIA,” she managed in between hitching breaths.

“Oh, baby, you had a real bad scare, huh?” he soothed, his mouth next to her ear.

She nodded, not trusting her voice. Not willing to let go, half afraid that he would disappear if she did.

Zaid held her for a minute longer, smoothing a hand up and down her back while keeping one arm locked around her waist. “It was close, but I’m fine. See? Right here holding you.”

In answer she burrowed in closer and he let out a low groan/chuckle as he gathered her tight once more. “So you really do care, huh?” he murmured.

He was teasing her to try and get her to stop crying but his words shredded her swollen, battered heart.

Pulling her wet face from his chest, she looked up into his eyes. Gold and green flecks glittered back at her in the lights coming from behind her. “I love you.”

His eyes flared hot, an expression of absolute joy crossing his face before he dragged her back into his arms and buried his face in her hair. “Love you too, sweetheart.”

A hot, sweet pain sliced through her at the endearment, the tender intimacy in his voice as he said the words she’d dreamed of hearing. “Should have told you before,” she muttered, her shoulders hitching.

“Nah. Way more romantic this way.”

A watery laugh bubbled out of her. “Stuff of dreams, right here.”

“They’ll make a movie about us someday. Star-crossed, black sheep Muslims finding love in a war zone. It’ll be epic. Probably win an Oscar for best movie.”

That made her chuckle. Her legs didn’t feel so weak anymore, and she was no longer a frozen block of ice inside. Warmth was flooding her system, bringing with it a heavy wave of exhaustion and relief. It felt like she was floating, and Zaid was the only thing anchoring her to the ground.

She let out a shaky sigh and relaxed against him, savoring the thump of his heartbeat beneath her cheek. “I love you. Can’t believe I almost lost you before I worked up the nerve to tell you.”

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