Page 140 of Wilde and Deadly

Weston exhaled sharply. “Final wire.” His wire cutters hovered for half a second, just long enough for Rowan’s pulse to spike, for her breath to catch?—

He snapped the wire in half just as the timer hit zero.

A heartbeat of silence.

Nothing.

No explosion.

No flash of heat.

Weston let out a shaky breath. “We’re clear.”

Sabin and Weston moved as one, grabbing the vest and hauling it away from Liam’s chest like it might still go off.

Liam’s breath shuddered out of him, somewhere between a laugh and a groan. “Holy shit. I’m not dead.”

Tessa choked out something halfway between a sob and a curse. She didn’t let go of Liam, which was probably a good thing as the guy was white as toothpaste and looked about ready to pass out.

Sabin sat back on his knees and let his head drop back, breathing out a low, shaky laugh. “Bon Dieu, mon ami… I think I just lost fifteen years off my life.”

“It was bound to be a short one anyway,” Liam muttered.

“This is the thanks I get? I just helped save your miserable ass.”

“You want a medal?”

Sabin smirked. “Non.Just a stiff drink and a woman who appreciates my sacrifices.”

Weston snorted, wiping sweat from his brow. “Yeah, good luck with that. You praying back there didn’t help your odds.”

Sabin narrowed his eyes. “What?”

“The whole crossing yourself thing,” Weston said, and quirked an eyebrow. “Since when are you Catholic?”

Sabin spread his arms wide. “When explosives are involved, I get real religious.”

Rowan huffed out a breath, finally forcing herself to breathe again. “Right. And when they’re not?”

Sabin grinned. “Then I sin.”

Tessa, still clutching Liam’s arm, shot them all an exasperated look. “Can we go? He’s about to pass out, and I’d rather not have to drag him out of here.”

“I’m fine,” Liam muttered, but his knees wobbled as he tried to push upright.

Tessa caught him before he could list sideways. “Yeah, tell that to the blood dripping down your face, dumbass.”

“Don’t listen to her,” Sabin chirped. “You look amazing,mon ami.”

Liam let out a weak laugh. “Oh yeah?”

“Bien sûr.” Sabin grinned. “Very edgy. All the ladies love a man who survived an explosion.”

“Shut up and move,” Tessa snapped, practically hauling Liam toward the exit.

Rowan tapped her comms. “Elliot, bomb’s disarmed. We’re on our way to you with Liam.”

A pause—then a sharp exhale. “Jesus Christ. Copy that. Get his ass out of there.”

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