Page 145 of Red Fury

“Are you on flight 847?” she asks.

“Yes,” I manage to say.

“Wonderful! Boarding will commence in just a few minutes. We should have you in the air right on schedule.”

Fury turns to face me, and I see him swallow thickly. There’s something raw in his expression that he’s trying to hide, but I know him well enough now to see through his mask. He looks as affected by this as I feel. Maybe it’s just that he’s overwhelmed; it was only a few short hours ago that we left Kozlov’s place, thatwe heard the news about Secretary Harrison. I’m sure he’s just overwhelmed.

“This is it,” Fury says.

“Yep.”

The gate agent’s voice cuts through our moment. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re now ready to begin boarding for flight 847.” She looks pointedly at me before looking at the other two people who are making their way to her.

“You need to take care of yourself,” he tells me, his voice deep.

“You, too. I’m sure you’ll get Steel to believe you now. He has to.”

A ghost of a smile crosses his lips. “I’m sure I will too. I can be quite convincing when I need to be.”

He steps forward then, and I meet him halfway. His arms come around me, pulling me against his chest in a tight hug. His heart beats against mine. I push my face into his chest. Even though I don’t want to let go – even though every fiber of my being is screaming at me to hold on – I force myself to step back.

Shit! Shit!

I blink hard, trying desperately to hold back the tears that are threatening to spill over.

“Look after yourself, Draiger,” Fury says softly.

I’m too afraid that my voice will break if I try to speak, so I just nod instead.

Then I turn and start walking toward the gate. My vision blurs, tears I can’t hold back making everything swim. I bite the inside of my cheek, using the sting to keep the sob locked in my chest.

I show the gate agent my boarding pass and keep walking down the hallway. Just before I reach the end, I stop.

I shouldn’t do this. I know I shouldn’t. I don’t want to be disappointed, but I turn around anyway, holding my breath.

I make the tiniest little noise.

He’s still there, standing exactly where I left him, watching me with an expression that makes my heart clench.

I smile at him, a real smile despite the tears.

He smiles back. God, but he’s beautiful. He’s everything I never knew I wanted and everything I can never have.

Before I can stop myself, I take a step toward him.

He takes a step toward me.

And then we’re both running.

“Sir! Sir, you can’t go through there!” the gate agent calls out as Fury barrels past her, but he ignores her completely.

“Don’t go,” he says as he reaches me, his hands cupping my face.

“I don’t want to go,” I say at exactly the same time.

We both laugh, but it’s filled with hurt, raw and desperate and real.

He grabs me in a tight hug, lifting me off the ground. When my feet touch the floor again, his lips crash against mine in a kiss that’s frantic and hungry and perfect. I kiss him back with everything I have, pouring all my love and fear and hope into this moment.