I hopped off when Zeke did, hugging him, then evaluating the new cuts on his face.

Zeke winced. “Did you have to drive through every tree branch between the cliff and the Complex?”

“Yes,” I said. “Did you notice we were the first ones back?”

One side of his mouth turned up. “You’re so damn competitive.”

I winked at him. “You have no idea.”

The ambulance arrived, loading up the injured first. I couldn’t stop checking Zeke for injuries, for some reason unable to wrap my head around the fact that he was safe. Something still didn’t feel right.

“You’re sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah,” he said again, touching my arm. “A little dizzy still, but I’ll be okay.”

“You’re sure?”

He kissed my forehead. “I’m sure. Everyone is okay.”

“I’m not asking about everyone,” I said.

He grinned. “I know.”

The sun had gone down, and it felt safe in the darkness to let my softer side show.

“Fish?” a woman called, jumping out of the back after the first paramedic.

“Here,” Fish called. “Over here, Logan.”

She hugged him, tears and dirt smudging her face, her dark hair sticking to her wet cheeks. “You’re okay?”

“Yeah. I’m okay,” Fish said.

Sanchez leaned in to whisper, “Isn’t that Bobby’s mechanic?”

“Yeah,” Jubal said, watching her hug Fish with curiosity.

Another man stepped out of the passenger side seeming relieved. He was tall, a squared jaw, and too clean and pretty to be an on-duty hotshot. He was even prettier than Watts.

“Bobby,” Zeke said, shaking his hand. “Bobby’s our helo pilot. One of the best,” he said to me.

“Nice to meet you,” I said, nodding.

“What’s Reese doing here? Did you stop breaking your helo?”

“She was worried about Fish. And did you just say I was one of the best?” Bobby asked with a smirk.

“You didn’t find them, did you?” I said.

“Touché,” Bobby conceded after a few seconds of surprise. “Just so you know, I’ve been looking for them all day.”

“I looked for them and got them to safety in a few hours,” I said.

Zeke smiled at me. “You done with the pissing match, or can I get this taken care of?”

Bobby was amused. Like most pilots, he wasn’t easily rattled. “Is that what she’s doing?”

I smiled at Bobby then kissed the corner of Zeke’s mouth. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

Zeke touched his lips, surprised, then stepped into the back, grinning until the doors shut, and they drove away. I was glad that Trex was in no hurry to return to the Complex, allowing us to stand at the checkpoint until they were out of sight.

“What the hell was that, Nomes?” Sloan asked.

“None of your damn business,” I said, walking to my ATV.

Harbinger slapped Trex’s back. “Good call, boss. Felt good to save lives again.”