Free At the Edge by Laura Griffin

his teammates? The rain had let up, at least, but still she couldn’t really hear what he was saying.
    He lifted her off his shoulder and set her down gently.
    â€œLean against the tree,” he said, placing her hand against it.
    He crouched at her feet again, and she could hear the zippers on his pack. Then he stood up and rested a hand on her shoulder.
    â€œTo our east is a tree line. You see it?” His voice sounded only slightly strained, as though he’d just taken a brisk walk instead of a long run through a forest carrying a hundred-thirty-pound weight.
    She was about to tell him she couldn’t see a damn thing, but then she squinted into the dimness and noticed a dark shadow against a slightly lighter sky. There had to be a break in the clouds somewhere to allow the hint of moonlight.
    He shifted her around until she was directly facing the trees. “See it?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œJust beyond that tree line is the beach. The land dips in and makes a small cove. That’s our new extract point.”
    She tried to make sense of that. “The cove.”
    â€œWe’re going to swim out and wait for the helo.”
    She turned to face him, sure she’d misheard him. “We’re going to swim —”
    â€œThey’ll drop down the rescue basket, we’ll load you in, get you up in the bird.”
    Emma’s heart skittered. He couldn’t be serious.
    â€œDon’t worry, I’m a good swimmer.”
    She actually laughed at him. It was that or cry.
    A good swimmer? That was probably something of an understatement given his profession. But his swimming ability did nothing to alleviate the cold, slimy ball of fear forming in her stomach.
    Someone eased up beside them in the dark.
    â€œWe ready?” he asked, and she recognized Jake’s voice.
    â€œAlmost.” Ryan handed him his pack.
    Of course. Ryan couldn’t swim with a pack on his back because he was going to be swimming with her instead.
    This plan was insane.
    â€œRyan, this is impossible. You guys go without me.”
    He chuckled softly.
    â€œI’m totally serious.”
    â€œThis time, I’ll carry you in front,” he said. “The beach is narrow here. We’ll cross the sand and enter the water, and at about a meter deep, we’ll shift to a lifesaving carry. Got it?”
    Another shadow appeared, either Ethan or Lucas. “We got four hostiles on the south end of the beach. Looks like we might be in for a hot extract.”
    â€œFuck.”
    â€œTime to move, bro.”
    The other men disappeared, and Emma looked at Ryan. “What’s that mean? Hot extract?”
    â€œMeans we might be getting a friendly send-off. You ready?”
    â€œNo. Ryan, listen to me.” She found his hand and clutched it. “If I die tonight—”
    â€œYou’re not going to die tonight.”
    â€œIf I fall—”
    â€œI won’t let you fall.”
    â€œListen to me!” She dug her nails into his palm. “If anything happens, I need you to find my father. Tell him I’m sorry for what I said at Christmas. Tell him I love him.”
    â€œYou can tell him yourself.”
    â€œRyan, promise me you’ll tell him.”
    He settled his hands on her shoulders. “I know you’re scared.”
    â€œI’m not scared, I’m just . . . realistic. This will never work. It’s raining, and my ankle’s injured, and I can’t swim fast—”
    â€œYou don’t have to swim at all. I’ve got you.”
    She gazed up at him. Where did he get this absurd confidence? Men with guns might be waiting out there to shoot them, and it was a very real possibility that after they’d come all this way to find her and rescue her, they might not make it out of here alive.
    â€œJust hold on to me, okay?”
    She stared up at his dark silhouette, wishing she could see his eyes. Maybe it was adrenaline