Page 99 of Ground Zero
The first touch of their lips was desperate, almost frantic—a confirmation that they were both still here, both breathing, both alive.
Then Maverick’s arms came around her, drawing her against him, and the kiss deepened into something else entirely.
All the fear, the adrenaline, the unspoken feelings of the past few days poured into this moment. She tasted salt on his lips—ocean spray or her own tears, she wasn’t sure which.
His hands tangled in her hair, and she felt him shudder against her, whether from emotion or exhaustion she couldn’t tell.
Time seemed to stop. The world narrowed to the solid warmth of him, the way he kissed her like she was oxygen and he’d been drowning, the feeling of being completely, utterly alive. Around them, Sheridan could hear radio chatter, helicopters.
But none of it mattered.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Maverick rested his forehead against hers. His eyes were still closed, and she watched a smile spread across his face—the first real, unguarded smile she’d seen from him.
“Good job, you two,” a familiar voice said from beside them.
They looked over and saw Ty Chambers pull up beside them on a military patrol boat. Hudson, Jake, and Atlas were with him.
“It was close,” Maverick said. “Really close. Kyle is tied up at the old EOD facility. Rebecca is there also. We’re not sure if she’s still alive or not.”
“First responders are already headed that way,” Ty said.
“Someone with the FBI was helping?—”
“Morrison has already been arrested,” Ty said. “He’s in custody. Cook found him with a burner phone, and things progressed from there.”
Relief swept through her. “Good.”
She wasn’t really surprised. She’d gotten bad vibes from that man. He must have been coordinating with those fake FBI agents.
“Now let’s see if we can get you two back to dry land and checked out for injuries. A lot of people owe you a world of thanks right now. Unfortunately for you two, most people will never know just how heroic you both were today or how many lives you saved.”
That was par for the course and just part of the job. Sheridan had never done this for the glory.
As military personnel swarmed the vessel, Maverick pulled her closer. “Think they’ll let us take a few days off?”
She laughed, tension finally releasing. “After this? I think we can ask for anything we want.”
“Good. Because I know exactly what I want.” He kissed her again.
They’d stopped a terrorist attack, exposed a conspiracy, and cleared their names. But more importantly, they’d found each other.
As they stood there on the boat, rocking back and forth on the water as emergency teams surrounded them, Sheridanrealized that sometimes the best things came from the worst circumstances.
CHAPTER 54
The next day, the conference room at Naval Station Norfolk was packed. FBI, Navy brass, British naval officers, and Blackout’s leaders had all gathered with the media surrounding them.
Maverick stood at the front, wearing borrowed Navy clothes since his were back in Lantern Beach. Sheridan stood beside him.
The press conference was scheduled to begin in fifteen minutes. Though everyone had assumed this incident would remain quietly covered up, the government had gone in a different direction. They’d released a CliffsNotes version of what had happened.
Now Maverick and Sheridan were both being honored for their hard work and sacrifices.
Maverick could live without the attention. But he was thankful for this outcome. Things could have turned out so much differently
Kyle had been arrested, and Rebecca would be arrested as soon as she was medically cleared. She’d survived her gunshot wound—though barely. From what they’d heard, neither seemed remorseful over what they’d done.
Maverick knew Sheridan was still reeling over her friend’s betrayal. Anyone in her shoes would be. Personal betrayals hurt the most.
