Page 51 of Soaring and Steadfast

The crash had been bad. So darn bad. The sight of the jet landing played on an endless loop in his mind—the sharp pop of the arresting wire, seeing the backlash a split second later, and honestly, it could have killed him, seeing that jet flung sideways, careening wildly before the ocean swallowed it whole. For minutes, they hadn’t known if Ohio had survived. Agonizing minutes that had felt like an eternity.

Now, Ohio was in medical, surrounded by doctors, counselors, and commanding officers. There would be reports, debriefings, psychological evaluations, and discussions upon discussions to make sure this never happened againas if that changed anything.

Louis exhaled sharply and ran a hand through his damp hair. If it had been him in that cockpit, if it had been his jet that had slid off the deck, if he had been the one sinking into that cold, endless abyss— would he be able to fly again? To land on this floating strip of metal after almost drowning beneath it?

His stomach twisted.

No.

No one walked away from something like that unscathed. It changed you, broke something deep inside that could never be put back the same way again.

And Lila knew that pain too well.

She had spent years piecing herself back together, learning how to breathe again after tragedy had ripped the air from her lungs. And now, because he couldn’t reach her, she was out there somewhere—helpless, afraid, trapped in the same cycle of fear that had nearly consumed her once before.

Louis swallowed the lump in his throat. He needed to get to a computer. He needed to tell her he was okay, that he was alive. But as another pilot slid into a seat before he could, his patience cracked.

He slammed his fist down on his thigh, biting back a curse.

He had never felt so powerless.

Maman,

I’m okay – if you see something on the news. I’m okay. Reach out to Laura – Trophy’s sister.

Je-t’aime,

Louis

Lila,

Sweetheart, I hope you hear from Stephanie quickly because I’ve been waiting for my turn on a computer for two hours now. My phone doesn’t get service out here, and I know this is gonna be on the news – but I’m okay.

It wasn’t me.

I’m all right, I promise you – but I will be late returning. I can’t say much more or this won’t go through. I will call when I get to base.

I love you,

Louis

Laura – it was Ohio.

He’s alive and in medical right now. I don’t have any updates yet, but I will share them when I hear them. Say a prayer for him – and your brother. Trophy’s a wreck right now.

Pasteur

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

LILA

Lila’s hands trembled as she stared at her cell phone, her heart hammering against her ribs like a caged bird. The screen glowed in the dim apartment, the weight of the message pressing into her chest like an unseen hand. The words from Louis swam in her mind, cold and distant despite their shocking content.I’m alive. I won’t be home for a while.That was it. No explanation. No reassurance. Just a vague message that only made her panic more.

She didn’t hesitate—her fingers flew across the screen as she called Stephanie, the familiar sound of the ringing line doing little to calm the dread clawing up her throat.

Stephanie answered almost immediately.

“What’s going on?” Lila said sharply, pressing a hand to her forehead as she paced the small living room.

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