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“Jameson,” Marc’s strained voice in my earpiece. “Cut the cable.”

“No!” I heard Zeke roar behind me.

My chest solidified, felt like fucking concrete. I could cut the cable. My gaze locked on Marc below us. My gut clenched. Greer’s hand pressed over mine.

No. We never fucking left a man or woman behind.

“We’renotcutting the cable. We leaveno onebehind. Okay—” I pulled out my combat knife “—let’s?—”

Greer broke away and reached behind us. Then she stepped into the open door beside me, the crossbow in her hands.

“Let’s make this fucking monster regret its actions.” She aimed the crossbow, then fired several bolts down at the monster.

The creature let out a muted roar and loosened its hold on Marc a little.

“Concentrate fire on its head,” she said.

Everyone aimed their carbines at the creature’s head. The monster jerked, shaking its massive bulk.

“That’s it,” I yelled. “Keep firing.”

Then, a second tentacle speared up, and grabbed the body of the Talon.

Fuck.

Black, oily skin dotted with suckers was right in front of me. The guys were shouting, Colbie was yelling, and the Talon tilted.

Greer slipped, and the crossbow fell from her hands, dropping into the water below. We listed even more to the side. She slid toward the open door.

“Greer!”

She fell but grabbed the bottom of the doorway, her body dangling out of the quadcopter. Her gaze met mine.

I could see her fingers slipping.

“Greer! No!” I lunged for her.

Then she fell.

I watched her arms and legs flailing as she fell past a tentacle and hit the water.

No.

For a second, I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Then my focus solidified. I had to save my squad, and I sure as hell had to save my woman.

I leaped out of the Talon and onto one of the tentacles.

Clamping my arms and legs onto it, I slid a little. I clamped on harder. Then I pulled out my knife and stabbed it deep, and the tentacle jerked.

I used all my weight and dragged the knife through the thick skin. I heard that roar-shriek again.

The creature released the Talon. I clung to the tentacle like I was riding a bucking bull. It waved through the air, whipping me around. I stabbed again.

Then it released Marc.

“Colbie, get out of range. Now!”

I watched the quadcopter turn and ascend, Marc swinging below it. He was limp in the harness, his arm and legs dangling. Shit, I hoped to hell he was all right.