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“We’re in here!” I called out to the rescue team still out of sight, my voice raw and desperate as I waved my flashlight beam into the gap.

A beautiful, familiar face appeared that was so unexpected that I thought I was hallucinating.

“Maya?” I gasped. “I thought you were in the hospital.”

“Got out two hours ago.” Her tone was brisk and commanding as she scrambled to me. “Lucky I did. I’m the smallest one to crawl through that mess.”

A black eye and six stitches along her jaw were the only visible reminders that she'd almost died in the warehouse explosion.

Her eyes locked on Blade’s hand, gripping mine through the floorboards. She moved toward him, her face softening as she grabbed his hand.

“Boy, am I glad to see you, boss.” Her voice was louder and steadier than mine had been.

Blade’s lips twitched in what could almost be a smile. She released his hand, pulled a pack from across her chest, and tugged out a small electric saw. She fired it up without hesitation, and the sharp whine of the blade split the air.

I didn’t bother offering to take over. Her expression said it all as pure determination blazed in her eyes. No matter what, she was going to cut her teammates free.

With a screech, the saw bit into the first floorboard three feet from Blade’s fingers, sending splinters flying. As if on cue, another wave surged in, flooding the space and submerging Blade and Viper again.

My chest tightened as their fingers vanished below the water.

“Hurry!” I shouted over the deafening roar of the saw.

Maya didn’t need my encouragement. She tore through the first board with controlled precision and moved to the next without pausing.

Onyx nudged against me, pressing her warm body to my side.

“Good girl,” I said, though she probably didn’t hear me over the chaos.

The second board cracked free, and Maya eased the saw’s power back.

“Get out of my way!” Her tone left no room for argument.

I scrambled backward, giving her space as she squeezed past me. She revved the saw again, her focus razor-sharp as she carved through the other end of the first board.

“Get ready to pull it up!” she yelled.

I pushed my hands on either side of the board, muscles straining as I waited. The second she severed the last piece, I yanked it free and tossed it aside.

Blade and Viper’s faces broke the surface, gasping for precious air. Their relief was palpable, even as the water lapped over their ears.

Maya worked on the next board, the saw whining as it bit through the wood. When the final piece snapped, I pulled it clear, and Maya cut the engine.

The silence was deafening, broken only by the crash of waves and the groaning of the wreckage. Blade and Viper’s heads bobbed above the water. Their faces were gray, their eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and their cracked and crusty lips were bleeding.

Maya dropped the saw and lunged toward them, wrapping her arms around their necks and pulling them up in a fierce hug.

“Oh my god,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “We thought we’d lost you.”

Blade’s lips moved, but no sound came at first. Maya leaned closer, straining to hear him.

“You nearly did, Ghost,” Blade croaked, his voice hoarse and broken. “You nearly did.”

Tears streamed down Maya’s face as she turned to me. “Thank you,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.

I nodded as tears pricked at my eyes, but I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay focused. It felt damn good to have a happy ending, but we weren’t out of the woods yet.

Reaching for my comms, I pressed the button. “Jaxson to Watts.”

“I read you,” came his reply.

“Maya has freed the men. I repeat, Blade and Viper can breathe again.”

A cheer erupted in the background, and Watts’s voice came through again, “Copy that, Jaxson. Well done.”

I turned back to Blade and Viper. They looked like death warmed up but the relief in their eyes was unmistakable.

Maya gripped their hands, helping them keep their heads above the water.

“Jeez, Viper,” she said with a grin. “The things you’ll do to get out of coming to my wedding.”

Viper let out a rough bark. “Fuck, don’t make me laugh,” he rasped, wincing.

“Okay, serious now,” she said, her tone shifting. “Rattle off your injuries. I need to know if you can crawl out of here or if I need to carry your sorry asses.”

Her bedside manner was a bit rough, but I had no doubt Blade and Viper expected nothing less .

“I’ve got a broken leg,” Viper said, his voice strained.

She winced. “Bad?”

“Bad enough.”

“Anything else?”

“Couple of broken ribs,” he muttered, “and the damn fish have been biting at a cut on my back.”

“Eww,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “Gross. And you, Blade?”

“Broken toes,” Blade croaked. “Maybe my foot. Got my share of cuts, too, but I’ve been able to keep the fish away. I’d murder for a pizza and beer, though.”

“There you go.” Maya smirked. “That’s the Blade I know.”

She turned to me, her expression tightening. “Do you think we can get them out of the water? I brought two body braces with me.”

“Absolutely.” I clenched my jaw. Failure was not an option.

“Good,” she said. “Let’s get them the hell out of here.”

“Agreed. Before this whole damn place comes crashing down.”