Page 45 of Reset

“Helpful, Sarah, really helpful…”

Nine minutes and thirteen seconds.

What was she supposed to do when the time ran out? Go in there and find him? How would she do that when visibility was so low? Chances were high, she’d drown too.

Her stomach clenched and unclenched in a nauseating cycle set on repeat.

Even if she could find him in there, how would she get him out? He was huge, and muscled, and heavy, and she…wasn’t.

“Please be okay, please be okay, please be okay.” The whisper bounced around the chamber, and she imagined the words floating up the shaft above her.

Would shouting his name help? Or would it just attract the rats?

“Please be okay, please…”

Her palms were so damp that the phone almost slipped from her hands. She grasped at it, a little light-headed at the thought of losing it in the water.

Nine minutes and twenty-two seconds.

“Ryan,” she begged. “Please. Please don’t leave me alone here. Please don’t die.”

Sarah instinctively knew that if Ryan was gone, she would be too. It would only be a matter of time. She didn’t have the skill or confidence needed to get out of there on her own. This kind of adventure was Ryan’s wheelhouse, not hers.

A faint ripple on the water’s surface caught her eye, and she held her breath, refusing to blink in case she missed something.

Air rushed out of her as the light from a phone appeared followed by the dark shadow of Ryan’s body. The top of his head broke the surface. He wiped his hands down his face as he strode through the water toward her.

“Hey, Stats,” he said with a grin. “Miss me?”

As he reached the edge beside her, Sarah launched forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. Solid. He was solid and real. Not a hallucination brought on by being alone in the dark.

“Shush,” he said softly as his arms came around her. Even though he didn’t know her at all, he didn’t hesitate to hold her. “It’s okay. I’m here, back in under ten minutes. It’s okay.”

Sarah knew she was holding him too tight. Too long. Clinging like a desperate woman. And yet, she didn’t let go. She couldn’t. Not yet. Not until her heartbeat was steady and her runaway imagination believed he was real.

“I found a passageway that looks promising.” His voice rumbled through his chest, vibrating against her cheek. Strong hands stroked her back. “It looks good, Stats. I think it might get us out of here. There was graffiti, which means at least one person has been in there. If they got in, we can get out. So, don’t worry, we’re going to be fine.”

She swallowed hard, trying to get a grip on herself. It took longer than she would have liked. Slowly, she separated from him and sat back on her heels. Threading her hands together to stop them shaking.

“You didn’t think something would happen to me, did you?” He ran his hands through his sodden hair to sweep it back from his face.

Suddenly, she became all too aware of the cut wet chest in front of her. So much broader than she remembered. Her eyes strayed to two round white scars—one low on the right side of his chest, the other beneath it.

Bullet wounds.

“Your job is very dangerous,” she whispered.

“Not all the time.” He gently tipped her chin up until she looked him in the eye. “I told you I’d be back so you wouldn’t worry.”

“You know worry doesn’t work like that, right?”

His eyes sparkled at her. “You mean, you don’t just take my word as gospel? Huh. I thought you were back here having a nice, relaxed nap. Secure in the knowledge that I’d be fine.”

Sarah feigned a frustrated sigh. “Tell me what we’re dealing with.” She needed to prepare, mentally at least.

“Yes, ma’am.” He cocked his head and smiled. “Can I get out of the water first?”

All she could do was roll her eyes at him, then watch in silent appreciation as he flexed his muscles and climbed out of the pool with no effort at all.