Chapter 75: Saltwater and Desperate Kisses

We reach the boat—a small motorized vessel rocking in the surf. One gunman remains, emerging from the smoke. He raises his rifle. My blood runs cold. But Elena fires first, her shot echoing over the crashing waves. The man collapses, rifle clattering on the deck.

She stands there, panting, eyes full of shock. It's the first time she's directly killed someone, and her face contorts with horror. I grab her, pressing a fierce kiss to her temple. "You had no choice," I murmur, voice breaking.

Her body shakes in my arms. Tension and heartbreak fuse into an anguished desire to feel something other than fear. She kisses me fiercely, tears mixing with salt spray. Bullets still rattle in the distance, Zach and Marta covering us. We cling to each other on the rocking boat, a twisted moment of passion in the middle of carnage.

Finally, Marta's voice barks from the shore, telling us to power up the engine. We snap out of it, trembling as we prime the controls. The boat roars to life, salt spray drenching us. Adrenaline surges. We motion for Zach and Marta to jump aboard. The four of us peel away from the bloodied beach, water churning behind us.