Page 139 of Nothing But Air

“You’re impossible.”

“So I’ve been told.” She smiled against his shoulder. “Usually by you.”

They sat in silence for a moment.

The storm had passed, sun fully visible, painting the world in shades of fire and gold. The rocks glowed with deep reds and tan hues, twice as vibrant after the rain. Water still dripped from the edges of boulders, small rivulets turned to liquid gold.

The air smelled clean. Sharp with sage and wet earth and the peculiar sweetness that came after a storm.

The moment might have been perfect—if it wasn’t for the madman hunting them below.

Before she could respond, the thump of rotor blades cut through the air.

Distant at first. Then growing louder. Echoing off the canyon walls until the sky itself seemed to vibrate.

“Sounds like the Black Hawk Xander mentioned.” Teague was already on his feet, scanning the horizon.

The helicopter crested the canyon rim—massive and angular against the gray storm clouds now moving east. Its spotlight swept across the plateau, harsh white light cutting through the growing shadows.

Teague started waving his arms above his head.

The spotlight found them. Pinned them in brilliant white light.

Just before a gunshot cracked off the canyon walls.

Kyle.

“Get down!” Teague grabbed Eden and pulled her behind the boulder as more shots rang out.

The aircraft banked hard, rotors screaming as the pilot took evasive action. The spotlight swung wildly across the wet stone.

“Of course he’s still shooting at us.” Eden pressed herself against the boulder. “Why wouldn’t he still be shooting at us?”

“The man’s committed. I’ll give him that.”

“That’s not funny.”

“Wasn’t trying to be funny.” His hand found hers. Warm. Solid. “They saw us. It’s going to be okay. They’re just repositioning.”

More gunfire from below. The helicopter maintained its distance, circling, its spotlight sweeping the lower plateau. Searching for Kyle’s position among the evening shadows.

Wind from the rotors blew dust and debris—stinging Eden’s eyes, whipping her braid against her face. Teague pulled her into his chest, shielding her from the worst of it.

She buried her face against him. Breathed in the scent of rain and stone and him.

I will never apologize for being reckless when it comes to keeping you safe.

The words settled into her bones like truth.

The wall she’d built after Landon died. The conviction that loving someone meant losing them.

She had no doubt in this moment that Teague loved her.

And he wouldn’t leave her.

Peace surrounded her. Not because the danger was gone. Not because she could see how it would all work out. But because the Rock had held. Because Teague had caught her. Because God had been there every impossible step of the way—in the solid stone beneath her hands, in the rope that held when everything else failed, in the man who refused to let her fall.

A single shot burst from the helicopter—sharper, louder than Kyle’s weapon.