Page 112 of Rescuing Mia

“It’s a lot to take in,” he murmurs, his hand still holding mine.

“That’s the understatement of a century.”

“It’s definitely a lot, but you’re not alone. You have me, and now we have an entire team on our side.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, the words barely audible over the sound of the waves. “Thank you for being here. It means more to me than you know.” I turn to him, my eyes searching his. “But what if I can’t do it? What if I can’t leave my old life behind? What if I can’t become someone new? What if I fail, and Red Phoenix finds me anyway?”

Rigel takes my face in his hands, his touch infinitely gentle, his gaze fierce with determination. “You are stronger than you know. You’ve already proven that by taking the risks you did and by fighting for the truth even when it put your life in danger. You have courage and resilience most people can only dream of.”

His words wash over me, a balm to my battered soul. I lean into his touch, my eyes fluttering closed, my heart swelling with gratitude and affection.

Rigel’s arms come around me, pulling me close, enveloping me in his warmth and strength. I bury my face in his chest, breathing in his scent—clean, with a hint of the sea, mixed with the subtle musk that is uniquely him. His steady heartbeat against my cheek is a comforting rhythm, grounding me in this moment.

We stay like that for a long moment, wrapped in each other’s arms, the rest of the world falling away until there is only the two of us, the ocean, and the limitless sky above. The gentle sway of the trawler and the soft murmur of waves against the hull create a cocoon of tranquility.

When we finally pull apart, Rigel’s hand comes up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing over my skin with a tenderness that steals my breath. His eyes hold mine, a deep well of emotion that makes my heart ache with its intensity.

He leans in, his forehead resting against mine, his breath warm on my face.

“I believe in you,” he whispers, his lips a heartbeat away from mine. “I believe in us.”

And then he’s kissing me, his mouth soft and sweet against mine, his hands tangling in my hair. I melt into him, into the safety and comfort of his embrace, my fears and doubts receding like the tide, replaced by a warm, glowing sense of hope and possibility.

The kiss deepens, becoming a silent promise between us. His lips are warm and insistent, drawing me closer, grounding me in the here and now. His hands travel from my hair to my back, pulling me even tighter against his chest as if he can shield me from all the dangers in the world.

I let myself get lost in him, in the feel of his body against mine, the taste of his lips, and how his breath mingles with mine. The ocean, the sky, and all the vastness around us fade into insignificance, leaving only this moment.

This connection.

This love that binds us together.

When we finally break apart, breathless and flushed, I rest my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart.

“With you,” I murmur, my voice soft but sure, “I believe I can do anything.”

Rigel’s arms tighten around me, his lips pressing a tender kiss to my forehead.

And as we stand there, wrapped in each other’s embrace, the world feels a little less daunting, the future a little more hopeful. The love between us shines like a beacon in the midst of the storm.

As we stand there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the weight of everything I’ve put Rigel through crashes over me in a wave of guilt.

I pull back, my eyes searching his, my heart heavy with uncertainty.

“Rigel, I…” I begin, my voice trembling. “I’m so sorry for getting you wrapped up in all of this. It’s not fair to you to ask you to give up everything to protect me. You have a life, too, and I don’t want to interfere with that or with the choices you might have made if I hadn’t come along.”

He starts to protest, but I press on, the words tumbling out of me in a rush. “I know you’re considering joining Guardian HRS, and I don’t want you to feel pressured to do that because of me. Youshould be free to do your dives, to take the time you need to figure out what you want next. I don’t want to be an anchor in your life, holding you back from your dreams, from the path you were meant to take.”

Rigel’s eyes widen, a flicker of surprise flickers on his face, and something deeper, something I can’t quite name, crosses his face. He takes my hands in his, his touch gentle but firm, his gaze intense and unwavering.

“Mia, do you believe in fate?” he asks, his voice low and serious.

I blink, taken aback by the question. “I—I don’t know. Maybe?”

He nods, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I believe that everything happens for a reason, that the paths we take, the choices we make, all lead us to where we’re meant to be.” He takes a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine. “When I left the Navy, it was because I no longer knew what I was fighting for. The enemy was endless, the war was never over, and I felt like I was drowning in a sea of futility. But Guardian HRS—it provides a different purpose, a purpose I was born to meet.”

His words wash over me, a balm to my battered soul. I lean into his touch, my heart swelling with a deep emotion I can barely comprehend.

“How’s that?”