Page 64 of Rescue Me (Tempting SEALs 6.10)

She was silent for a moment. “That has to be hard. Especially for your mom and dad.”

“Yeah,” he agreed. “It’s been hard. On everyone.”

“It’s not your fault, you know. He made his own decisions.”

“Right.”

“So why don’t you sound convinced of that?”

“Because I always figured I should have been able to … I don’t know. Help him. Straighten him out.”

“That why you became a cop? To help straighten people out?”

He shrugged, felt the effort in his throbbing head. “Maybe. I don’t know.”

“I think I do,” she said softly. “I think that’s exactly why you do what you do. It’s a good thing, Seth. You’ve done a good thing.”

Whatever, he thought, feeling the fatigue and the physical strain of the rap on his skull. Bottom line was, he hadn’t helped his brother, the one person in the world he should have been able to help.

“What’s happening over there?”

“Jake’s still snoring. Cravets is still awake.”

“Probably figures he’ll go down with us if he screws up and falls asleep.”

“As incentives go, it’s a good one.”

“Still, I don’t figure he’ll last much longer. They gorged themselves on water and food. It’s going to take a toll soon. We need to be ready. You need to do something for me now, sweetheart. Very slowly, scoot down. I’ll bring my knees up. See if you can reach in my right boot. My Leatherman is tucked in there.”

The all-in-one knife had been a birthday gift from his dad what now seemed like a hundred years ago. It was just one of many things he had to thank the old man for. In his estimation, it was the knife to end all knives.

Titanium handles, pliers, wire cutters, knife, saw, scissors. Hell, it even had screwdrivers and a bottle opener—all packed in less than five flat inches and less than half a pound.

The Leatherman was like his credit card—he never left home without it.

“Oh, thank you, God,” Elena breathed when she realized he was actually armed. “I was certain you didn’t really have a plan.”

“O ye of little faith.” He smiled against her neck then kissed her there. Just a little “trust me” kiss. A little “everything will be all right” kiss before she started slowly moving down.

“Got it,” she whispered after several minutes of struggling to remove the knife from his boot. “Now what?”

“Do you think you can work it open?”

“I’ll try.”

“Take your time,” he whispered, encouragingly, when she made a sound of frustration. “Just take your time.”

“It’s open.” She sounded breathless and winded after struggling and fumbling for several minutes.

“Good girl. I’m going to slowly turn to my other side, okay? When we’re back to back, you’re going to start sawing on the ropes around my wrists.”

“What if I cut you?”

“Darlin’, cutting me is the least of our worries.”

It took everything in him to roll to his back then maneuver to his opposite side. Sweat beaded on his brow and his stiff limbs screamed in protest. His head throbbed like a gong, his vision was blurry by the time he’d settled, exhausted, with his back against Elena’s—and she’d actually done most of the maneuvering to push them together.

“What if he sees us?”

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