Dark Salvation (DARC Ops Book 7) by Jamie Garrett

Author:Jamie Garrett [Garrett, Jamie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Owl Press
Published: 2017-05-24T18:30:00+00:00

15

Cole

Annica felt fluttery in his arms, like a butterfly in a closed hand, her breathing quickening to match his own. But there was no way her heart could keep up with his. Absolutely not. He could feel it, knocking against his ribcage, the sound of its hurried blood throbbing in his ears. It was almost a little embarrassing. He was usually so cool and confident and levelheaded. Especially with women. Though it had been a while. He thought back to the last time he’d done something like this with a woman. Had he been so excited then?

He remembered a time before the long ocean voyages, before what he did and didn’t do to assist an international smuggling ring, his last time being with anyone before he’d changed, before he’d lost the man he used to be. It was after a New Year’s Eve party in San Bernardino. A fond memory because he finally landed a waitress he’d been flirting with all night. But he couldn’t remember his body reacting in such a visceral and uncontrollable way as it had done tonight. He’d been plied with drinks on both occasions. Both women were beautiful—with Annica definitely taking the easy lead there. But it was more than that. On the beach with her now, his face inches away from hers and her hair billowing against him, Cole understood the difference. With her and every other woman before. No matter how much fun they’d been having on this beach, the hard reality of their situation was dire and fraught with danger. Picking up a waitress seemed ridiculous in contrast. As did the waitress, herself, compared to Annica and what she’d meant and come to symbolize for him: a second chance. But a second chance only through ashes. Only through death, a rebirth. It was the phoenix rising again, Cole making his way up from the depths of the ocean after tumbling overboard on Batchewana.

“I feel like you caught me,” Cole said.

“What? How do you mean?”

He could feel her breath on his face. He liked being close like this.

“Cole?”

“On the ship, I mean. And I guess before that, too. But I just never realized.”

“You didn’t realize a lot of things.”

“I know,” he said, looking down into the sand between their legs. “I know. And I’m sorry.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry,” he said it again, looking into her eyes now.

“No, don’t. You don’t have—”

“I do. I need to say it. I’m sorry I doubted you. That I didn’t trust you enough to fully come forward, and to talk with you on the ship.” He reached for her hand, holding it around the outside. “Because now look where we are.”

“What do you mean? We’re holding hands on a beach.”

His grip tightened. “I mean with getting you so involved in this mess.”

“Forget it,” she said. “Forget the past. Just be here with me.”

Cole nodded.

“Are you?”

“I’m here,” he said, squeezing her hand. He folded his hand with hers, so their fingers clasped together. “You won’t have to follow me again.”

Annica nodded.

“I just want you to know that,” he said.

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