5. Wynn
WYNN
The first burst of automatic gunfire echoed through the warehouse.
Concrete exploded beside the doorway.
“Incoming!”
Adam’s command cut through the chaos.
The Brave moved instantly.
No hesitation.
No confusion.
Each man flowed into position as though they’d trained for this a thousand times.
Maybe they had.
Lucas stepped directly in front of me before I realized he’d moved.
His broad shoulders became a shield between me and the gunfire.
Just as they had years ago.
Only now, his silver eyes were harder.
Older.
Carrying burdens I hadn’t been there to help him bear.
“Stay behind me.”
His voice left no room for argument.
I folded my arms.
“I know how to take cover.”
He glanced over his shoulder, one eyebrow lifting.
“I wasn’t asking.”
Despite everything, I almost smiled.
Some things never changed.
Another volley of gunfire ripped through the shattered windows.
Glass rained across the concrete floor.
Children screamed.
Janice Turner immediately threw herself over a frightened little boy, protecting him with her body.
Boone rushed forward.
“I’ve got them!”
Hawk dropped to one knee beside a broken loading-dock window.
“Five hostiles! East side!”
Russ answered from outside.
“Three more moving toward the south gate.”
Adam never raised his voice.
“Hawk, cover.”
“Got it.”
“Boone, move the civilians.”
“I’m on it.”
“Lucas, you’re with me.”
Lucas didn’t move.
Not right away.
His silver eyes stayed locked on me.
Searching.
Taking in every bruise.
Every scrape.
Every reminder that the last few days hadn’t been kind.
His jaw tightened.
“You can walk?”
I stared at him.
“I’ve walked through bombed cities.”
“I’m taking that as a yes.”
“I wasn’t asking your permission.”
For a second, one corner of his mouth almost moved.
Almost.
Then another explosion shook the building.
The roof groaned overhead.
Adam looked back.
“Lucas!”
“I’m moving.”
Lucas reached for my hand.
Instinct made me pull away.
“I can keep up.”
His expression darkened.
“I know you can.”
“Then why?—”
“Because I already lost you once.”
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Silence settled between us.
His eyes widened slightly, as though he couldn’t believe he’d said them aloud.
My heart stumbled.
For one brief moment, I wasn’t looking at the hardened Delta operator.
I was looking at my husband.
The man who used to leave handwritten notes on the kitchen counter before deployments.
The man who always kissed my forehead before walking out the door.
The man I’d never stopped loving.
A terrified little girl cried out.
“My mama!”
I spun.
Her mother had fallen after the latest explosion.
Without thinking, I ran.
“Wynn!”
Lucas shouted my name.
I ignored him.
The frightened woman struggled to stand while shielding her daughter.
I reached them just as another burst of gunfire tore through the wall overhead.
Concrete rained around us.
Lucas reached me seconds later.
One powerful arm wrapped around my waist.
The other scooped up the little girl.
“What are you doing?”
“Helping them!”
“So am I!”
“You can’t save everyone!”
I looked up into those familiar silver eyes, blazing with frustration.
“You’ve spent your entire life trying.”
Everything stopped.
Because we both knew it was true.
Lucas had never been able to walk away from someone who needed him.
Neither had I.
Maybe that had always been our problem.
Or maybe it had always been the reason we belonged together.
Adam reached us a second later.
“We’re out of time! The trucks are here!”
Outside, engines roared.
The militia wasn’t retreating.
They were bringing reinforcements.
Adam looked at every member of the Brave.
“New plan. We fight our way out.”
Lucas looked down at me.
Our eyes met.
For one heartbeat, the rest of the world disappeared again.
He released a long, resigned sigh and slowly shook his head.
“You still drive me crazy.”
A smile tugged at my lips.
“So I’ve been told.”
For the first time since we’d found each other again, he almost smiled back.
Almost.
Then he checked his rifle.
“Stay beside me.”
This time, I nodded.
Not because he’d ordered me to.
Because I trusted him with my life.
I always had.
Outside, the night erupted into war.
The Brave stepped into the darkness.
And every enemy waiting beyond those walls was about to discover exactly what happened when they stood between a Delta operator and the woman he’d already lost once.