Page 60 of Married to the SEAL
“It couldn’t have, or the train wouldn’t be moving. Quick. We look around for metal. If we can connect the third rail to the running rail, the electricity will stop,” said Austin. “But we have to hurry.”
Cowboy shined his flashlight up and down the sides of the tunnel. “There! On the next track. There are pieces of metal.” He ran over there and tried to pick one up. It didn’t budge.
The wind was getting stronger.
The other men each grabbed on. “Lift on one, two, three,” said Austin. Together they were able to just get it off the ground. “We need to drop it on the track on my count. As soon as you let go, get the fuck out of the way.” The train’s metal wheels squealed on the bend in the track, the rumble of the locomotive getting louder. “Ready? Just a few more feet. Good. On three. One, two, three!”
The men dropped the steel onto the tracks and scattered in the opposite direction, pressing their bodies against the side of the tunnel. Sparks flew as the train rounded the bend, then everything went dark, including the lights on the train. Its engine was quiet.
“Woot!” yelled Cowboy. “We did it!” They’d stopped the train from crashing into the debris. It was only in the silence that followed their congratulations that he heard the cries of a baby coming from inside.
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Grace was curledinto a ball beneath the covers, her body like a shield around her son. Their train cars were perfectly coordinated to crash into the rubble at the South Street Station at the same time.
Both were saved by the men of HERO Force.
Matteo watched them sleeping with a heavy, grateful heart.
He moved to the bed and climbed in beside her, opening his arms for her and the baby to cuddle against his side.
“I thought you were sleeping,” he said, kissing the top of her head.
“I thought I lost you both,” she whispered.
He could feel her tears, wet on her face and dripping onto his chest. Every emotion he had held in check throughout this day gathered in his throat, constricting his airway and choking his ability to keep it in check any longer.
He squeezed his eyes tightly shut, tears escaping at the corners, and pulled her more against his side. She was fitted tightly against him, her leg tucked over his leg, her arm around his waist, and he knew he’d never held another woman with such intensity of emotion before in his life.
“I want to make love to you, Grace.”
“What about the annulment?”
“I don’t want it.” He touched her face. “I want you.”
It was as natural as dusk following sunset, and he knew there would be no more considering. He needed to be with her just as much as she needed to be with him.
She was his wife.
He turned toward her and kissed the top of her head, then her head turned up to his and he kissed her on the mouth. This was when the marriage would become real, and every move of his hands and his body showed her how much he loved her.
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Matteo reclined on his side, baby Nico babbling on the bed next to him. He touched the baby’s feet, with his super-soft skin, pudgy rounded tops, and tiny perfect toenails.
His eyes went to the TV on the dresser. Grace looked beautiful in a bright blue suit, the flag waving behind her in the sunshine as she announced her candidacy for president.
“That’s your mama,” he said to the baby. “She’s going to be in charge of the whole country. You should be very proud of her.”
Nico babbled his agreement.
“I’m proud of her, too.” He truly was. These last three months he’d seen her go from a woman who was unsure of herself and looking for approval to someone who could stand up and lead as she clearly was meant to all along. As his father-in-law predicted, the people loved her even more than her predecessor, and Lutsia’s future looked promising and great.
He turned back to the baby, rubbing his belly, making him laugh.
Grace entered the room, a wide smile on her face as she began unbuttoning her jacket. “How’d I do?”
Matteo stood up and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You were amazing.”
