Page 63 of The Heat is On

Behind him, Skye screamed.

Skye!

The blackness closed in, and he flexed his neck, gulping, a fish without air.

Oh—oh—

God gives us everything we need…so we’ll have peace. So we won’t panic…

He closed his eyes.Maybe that’s what grace is—peaceful streams in the middle of danger.

Somewhere inside, he heard his voice, a pleading.God, save us. Only You can bring justice. I give it to You—

He heard a door slam, voices, but they fell away, far from him.

Then, Velcro ripping, and in a second, the rush of glorious air swept into his lungs. He gulped hard, opened his eyes, expecting to see Stevie—

Skye looked down at him, her hands unwinding the cuff, crying so hard she couldn’t speak.

“Shh,” he sort of managed, then pushed himself from the floor, still sucking in sweet air. “Shh, I’m okay—” He wanted to grab her, calm her down, but she just wrapped her arms around his neck, buried her face in his shoulder, and held on.

Okay, this worked too. He turned his head, kissed her cheek. “Skye—it’s okay.”

Across the room he spotted Darryl, slumped to the floor, writhing, wearing the pale-gray look of a man taken down by a glory shot. One of the marshals ran over to him, turning him over.

“Skye? You did that?”

She leaned back, her eyes red. Glanced at Darryl. “I just—I just reacted.” She looked back at him. “It’s your fault. You’re the one who said I was smart, brave, and tough. I just decided to believe you.”

“You should. I always tell the truth. Grab the gun.”

She reached for it.

Stevie was standing over Buttles, pushing him to the ground.

The third marshal—the big one—produced keys. He took the gun from Skye and turned Rio around to uncuff him. “Sorry.”

But Rio wasn’t listening. Because Skye had him by the collar, kissing him, so much emotion in her kiss—well, he simply let her be in charge.

When his hands were free, he wrapped them around her arms and eased her away.

“Sorry,” she mumbled, looking away.

“Nothing to apologize for.” He winked at her. Because frankly, he was right there with her.

But they had an audience.

Her boss, for one, pacing out in the hallway.

Stevie hauled Buttles from the floor. She handed him off to the big marshal, while the other one pushed a still moaning Darryl from the room.

“I want to see my wife!” he yelled.

Rio shook his head. “He should have thought that through a little better.”

Stevie followed them into the hallway. Tucker rushed over to Skye. “You’re killing me,” he said. “You okay?”

She nodded.