Page 129 of No Regrets
“Dex, please.” The pleading in her voice did nothing to dissuade him.
“Come on, Dex. We’ll be right outside,” Ryan urged.
“Not happening.”
“Dawson, move your ass now,” Sam snapped.
Dex stood up, spinning to face them. “I’m not coming.” His voice was steel. “There’s five minutes left. You both need to go. I’m staying here and that’s not up for discussion.” He didn’t give a fuck about rank, about the job, or even the fact that he might die in five minutes time. The only way he was walking out of here was with Kelly next to him.
“Dawso—” Sam started.
“No, Sam. Not this time.” His voice was quiet. “I'm not trying to disobey you. I love her and I can’t leave her. I’d never live with myself.”
Sam sighed. “What’s the verdict?” he asked bomb squad guy.
“If I can do it, it will be tight. You need to leave now.”
Ryan stepped forward and hugged Dex. “I should drag your ass outta here, but I won’t. I love you, brother.”
Sam held out his hand and Dex shook it. “I should fucking order you out, but if this is truly what you want, I’ll respect it. Good luck, you stubborn son of a bitch.”
Dex crouched and took hold of Kelly’s hands, listening to their footsteps as they left.
“Dex, you can’t stay here. Go, for me, please.”
“No.”
Kelly shook her head. “That’s not what I want. I don’t want you to die. I want you to go.”
“We’re not going to die.” Three minutes.
Kelly sighed. Placing one hand on his cheek. “I thought you were dead, I thought Saleem....”
“Sshh... not that easy to kill, beautiful, you know that. My team always have my back.” He turned his face into her palm, kissing it. “I’m sorry I got you into this.”
“What are you talking about?”
Two minutes.
“I promised to keep you safe, to protect you and I failed...”
“Don’t. This isn’t your fault. And I’m still breathing, I’m still here, right?”
“Yeah.” For the next ninety seconds at least. If this bomb was going to blow it would take both of them with it. If he walked away now and she died, he wouldn’t be able to live with the guilt.
“I love you.” He leaned in, kissing her gently on the lips.
“I love you too.”
“If that timer gets to thirty seconds, we have to leave,” bomb squad guy said. He was lying on his back, reaching under the chair.
“You leave. I’m not going anywhere.”
One minute.
“If, and I mean if, the timer stops, don’t move,” bomb squad guy said.
“Got it,” Dex acknowledged. He didn’t want to look at the timer, couldn’t. Whatever was going to happen was going to happen. He cupped Kelly’s face and her hands wrapped around his wrists. If this was how he went out, he could think of far worse ways than looking into the eyes of the woman he loved.