Page 6 of Jason Bourne (Seals on Fraiser Mountain #7)

Jason

I cupped her face first. Couldn’t help it. I needed to feel her skin under my palms to believe she was real and breathing.

“Hey,” I rasped. My thumbs brushed grime and blood off her cheekbones. “Lane. Look at me.”

She did. Those eyes — wildfire and oceans. Same as five years ago. Except now they shimmered wet, her lashes clumped together from tears she didn’t even seem to notice.

“Jesus, sweetheart,” I whispered. My fingers shook as I worked the cuff key. The lock fought me, slick with rust and her blood.

“I thought—” Her voice cracked. “I thought you were just… in my head again.”

Metal clinked. One wrist free. Her arm dropped like a dead weight, and she gasped. I caught it before she could hiss in pain.

“Easy. I’ve got you.”

“You shouldn’t be here,” she whispered, eyes flicking over my face like she was memorizing it. “You shouldn’t have come. It’s too dangerous. There is a camera, and the guard will see you.”

“Don’t worry, sweetheart, we’ve got this.”

I forced the second cuff open. Her hand fell against my chest, warm, trembling. I covered it with mine, pressing it flat so she’d know she was safe. So I’d know she was real.

“I couldn’t let them take you,” I said. My voice was low, but every word cost me something. “Not again. Not you.”

Her mouth opened, but a broken sound slipped out instead. She bit her lip so hard I thought she’d draw blood.

Then the truth came out in a raw whisper, one tear tracing her jaw before she even noticed.

“They left Zoe on the dock. She was breathing, but I don’t—” She sucked in air like it hurt. “They took me. They said I pissed off the wrong people. Jason… they killed Thor.”

A sob hitched up from her chest. She slammed her eyes shut like she could trap it there, but more tears slid out anyway.

I crushed her to me. Her fingers clutched my shirt, fists gathering fabric like she was anchoring herself.

“They shot him, Jason. He tried to protect me. He— you gave him to me—”

“Hey, look at me. Look at me. ” I tilted her chin up. Her eyes, God… I’d kill every bastard on this ship and burn it to the waterline if it made that look disappear.

“I know about Thor. And Zoe’s alive, Lane. She’s alive. We’ll get her. But first, you. You’re coming home with me.”

She laughed, wet and bitter and so damn fragile. “Five years and you just— you just show up, thinking I’m going home with you. Like this.”

“I’m not going to discuss us. You are the one who sent me away.”

I brushed my lips to her forehead — quick, grounding us both. She flinched at first, then leaned in so hard I felt her heartbeat slam into mine.

“I’m sorry. I missed you every day,” she whispered. So soft I almost thought I imagined it.

I wanted to say it back. Hell, I wanted to say a thousand things. But footsteps pounded above us — heavy boots, shouts, a voice barking orders in Mandarin.

Time was up.

I pressed a pistol into her hand. Her fingers curled around it like she’d never let it go.

“Can you stand on your own?”

She swiped her cheeks with the back of her wrist. “Of course I can, these fuckers didn’t beat me down.”

God, I’d missed her mouth. Her fire. All of her.

“Atta girl,” I growled, and pulled her behind me.