BUD/S and SERE had nothing on this.

He quickly snapped a roped carabiner to Rivera’s tactical vest, tethering them together, then gave the order for the man to let go of his float, allowing Luke to move into position behind him.

The log bobbled when released, and Rivera’s head went under, but Luke caught him and managed to wedge his chest under Rivera’s right side, unable to have the man lie flat against Luke’s chest because he still wore his bulky backpack.

“Pull!” he yelled, and the rope went taut as the ranger reeled them in.

Luke kicked and used one arm to ease the load for Jae as much as possible.

It was slow going with Jae hauling in at least four hundred pounds of men and gear through thick mud that resisted their movement while dodging logs that floated into their path. But finally, they reached the shallow edge of the slide zone, and Luke got to his feet and dragged Rivera out of the frigid muck.

They couldn’t pause to rest, as another slide could happen at any moment, so he dragged Rivera as far as he could in sock-covered feet, then stopped to don his boots and slip on his pack after cramming his discarded clothing inside.

Together, he and Jae carried Rivera upslope and away from the slide zone, finally stopping when they couldn’t see the wrecked hillside through the thick trees. They should be safe from additional slides here.

Luke flopped down on the mossy ground next to where they’d placed Rivera and caught his breath. “Damn, and I thought the water in the strait was cold.”

Rivera let out a wheezing sound. “Everything about this place is cold and wet and gray. How do you tolerate living here?”

Jae shrugged. “Generally, I avoid swimming in the strait or in mudslides.”

“Easier said than done,” Rivera said.

Luke smiled. Maybe he could like this guy. He hoped so, given what he’d just risked to save him.

Jae swore he was a good guy, but Luke was reserving judgment until he found out what happened to Audrey.

Rivera unclipped his water bottle from his pack and poured water over his face, rinsing away mud from his eyes and nose and running his hand over his mouth.

“Let’s get that shoulder put back,” Jae said.

Rivera must be in agony, but he hadn’t said a word as Luke and Jae hauled him over uneven ground without bothering to pop his arm back first.

The guy got bonus points for that.

Badass surfer. Not a whiner. Undine would say this could be the start of a bromance, but she was also Team Audrey.

Rivera nodded and forced himself to sit up, gripping his ribs with his good arm. He grimaced but again didn’t say a word.