The freezing riverwater stabs their skin as Rhett pulls Neva through the current, both of them gasping as they fight their way to the shore.
Neva collapses to her knees, coughing violently, palms digging into snow-dusted gravel.
Her soaked hair clings to her cheeks, and her lungs burn with every ragged breath.
Her nose stings. Her throat feels scraped raw. Eyes blur with riverwater and cold.
"Neva—" Rhett drops beside her, breath fogging the air as he rubs her back in firm, grounding circles. "Are you alright?"
She lifts her head, blinking hard.
His face—red with cold, brow creased with worry—swimming into focus.
She lets out a choked sob and folds into his arms.
Rhett exhales, heart pounding against his ribs.
He wraps her up tight, pressing her against his soaked shirt, one hand cupping the back of her head. She cries into his chest, her whole body shaking.
"It's alright," he breathes, swallowing hard. "You're safe now."
But the moment shatters. "They escaped!"
A voice—sharp, angry—cuts through the trees, echoing off the river's edge.
Another head breaks the water, splashing noisily.
"Chief! We lost them!"
"There!" someone shouts. "On the bank!"
"Get them!" Zev's voice pierces through, followed by the splash of frantic swimming.
Neva panics, her limbs heavy with cold and adrenaline.
Rhett's hand moves fast to the ankle holster, retrieving a spare gun. He flashes her a grim smile as he adjusts the soaked hem of his jeans.
"We need to move," he says, helping her up.
Her body protests—numb, aching, waterlogged—but she pushes through. Her head hammers with pain from inhaled riverwater, and her sodden clothes cling to her skin like ice.
They race into the forest. Boots crunching snow, branches clawing at them.
They break through to the main road they passed earlier.
But just as hope sparks—
The roar of an engine explodes from the west.
Neva's heart stutters.
Her feet freezes.
A sleek red Aston Martin surges into view, headlights slicing through the fog.
Rhett yanks her to the side. The wind howls past as the car skims by.
It screeches to a halt—then reverses.
Tires hisses on the icy road, and stops right in front of them.
Rhett tenses. His hand grips the gun tighter. He steps slightly ahead of her, shielding her as the window rolls down.
Then—
"Boss! Took us long enough!" a familiar voice calls out.
Ace, grinning wide.
Neva blinks at the stranger, confused.
Rhett's shoulders drop just slightly.
Relief flickers across his face.
He steps toward the car with her.
He opens the door. "Get in," he says to Neva.
She doesn't hesitate.
He follows, slamming the door shut behind them. "Drive."
Hunter responds with a sharp growl of the engine, speeding them away from the riverbank.
"Nice to finally meet you, Neva Mae," says the woman in the passenger seat, turning slightly with a small, wry smile.
"Call me Sky."
Still catching her breath, Neva glances up.
Sky has a laptop balanced on her knees, earpieces snug in place, and her blonde hair pulled into a sleek high ponytail.
Neva gives her a weak smile and shakes her hand.
"Nice to meet you too, Sky."
She turns just as Rhett starts unzipping her jacket.
"What are you doing?" she mumbles, too tired to protest.
"Getting rid of the ice blanket you're wearing." He peels the soggy fabric off her shoulders.
She lifts her arms sluggishly to help.
"Someone give her a jacket," Rhett says sharply toward the front.
"Oh, here—" Sky starts to shrug hers off.
"You don't have to," Neva says, waving weakly.
"Mine's warmer anyway," Ace grins, already pulling his off. "Name's Ace, by the way."
Neva hesitates, glancing up at Rhett.
"Wear it." Rhett takes the jacket from Ace and wraps it around her before she can argue.
Any other day, he might've bristled at the idea of another man's scent on her. But now? She's shivering down to her bones.
Even dry clothes aren't helping much—her drenched curls are dripping down her back, and water squelches beneath their seats. The car heater blasts, but the cold still claws at her.
"Aren't you freezing too?" she whispers through chattering teeth.
"A bit," Rhett admits. Then—"Hunter. Hoodie."
The car slows briefly. Hunter pulls off his hoodie with one hand and tosses it back.
Rhett catches it and pulls it over his own soaked shirt as Hunter speeds up again.
Silence settles in. No more shouting. No more gunfire. Just the hum of tires on snow and the low murmur of the heater.
Rhett looks down at their hands, now loosely intertwined. Hers is still trembling.
He shifts closer, wrapping his arm around her.
Neva rests her head against his chest without a word. Her eyes begin to droop.
He holds her close, gently tucking her against his side, and she melts into him.
Up front, Ace coughs awkwardly. Sky pretends to be engrossed in her screen. Hunter adjusts the mirror but says nothing.
They all glance at each other—quietly stunned.
This was Czar? Their stoic, no-nonsense boss?
The rest of the ride slips into quiet. No sign of Raka. No more shouting. Just the sound of tires and wind.
"Thanks for coming," Rhett says, breaking the silence.
"Sky gets the credit, Boss," Ace grins, catching his eye in the rearview mirror.
"I appreciate it," Rhett says sincerely.
"No big deal," Sky says, barely looking up. "By the way, we passed Raka's backup team on our way here. They're swarming east."
Rhett nods once, but his gaze doesn't leave Neva's face.
She's sleeping now. Curled against him, finally at peace.
And his chest tightens.
If they had been a minute later...
If she hadn't made it...
He shuts his eyes and exhales, fighting the knot in his throat.
But none of that matters now.
Because she's here.
With him.
He presses a kiss to her damp hair, pulling her in a little closer.
She's safe.
And he swears, with everything in him—
He won't ever let it happen again.