23
YOU GOT ME FOREVER
GREYSTONE
Greystone kept his gaze trained on the missile as it circled back, heading right for Air Force One. Without hesitation, he flew into its path.
“C’mon, baby,” he said as it propelled toward him. “Come on.”
Wait for it.
With a second to spare, he fired one of his sidewinders, then banked left, hard. The missile exploded, the shockwave sent him spiraling. He lost control of the jet, then began descending nose-first at an alarming and accelerating rate. He lost his peripheral vision and started forcing oxygen to his head, but he couldn’t get control of himself or the jet.
He could feel himself passing out and, for the first time in his life, he was powerless to stop it.
CAROLINE
Caroline staredout the window in disbelief as Greystone’s jet plummeted toward the ocean below.
Pull up,she silently begged.
Panic gripped her by the throat, but she tapped the comm. “Grey, wake up.”
No response.
“Greystone Santini,” she said, the force in her voice causing Evelyn to jerk her head in Caroline’s direction.
Nothing.
“Grey, wake up,” she said. “You can do it. I need you to pull up. I love you. I need you to be alive so I can have your babies and grow old with you. You can’t leave me. It’s not your time. Grey, wake up! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!WAKE UP!”
There was no response from him as the jet vanished from view. A stabbing pain slashed through her heart and she cried out, “Ohmygod, no!”
Evelyn’s eyes grew large. “Tell me he’s okay.”
Caroline’s forehead was pressed against the window as she searched desperately for his jet, for a sign that he hadn’t been claimed by the ocean. Her heart sank, her soul felt like it had been shredded.
She closed her eyes and prayed. “Please, Lord, don’t take him.”
Her pounding heart was her only reply.
“Austin, I’m right here.” Grey’s velvety voice rumbled through her like thunder. “Hey, baby, it’s all good.”
Her eyes flew open and she peered out the window. Three F-18s flew in tandem. “Which jet are you?”
“The first,” he replied.
“I’m waving at you,” she said.
“I see you, babe.”
Caroline shuddered in a breath, tears filled her eyes and slid down her cheeks. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“I heard the voice of an angel,” he said. “You’ve never, ever, let me down, Caroline. Thanks for the save.”
“Evelyn, he’s okay.”
Evelyn’s eyes grew moist and she clutched her heart. “That was terrifying.” After composing herself, she said, “You brought him back. How did you do that?”