Page 31 of A Rhapsody of Ravens and Revenge

Nate cleared his throat and grinned. “You know, like telling anyone he came in contact with that he’d kill them if they so much as looked in your direction. That kind of stuff.”

Cal growled low in his throat and Nate laughed. Thunder rumbled overhead as clouds moved in.

“I thought Florida was supposed to be sunny,” Nate said. “It’s done nothing but rain since we got here. Next time you witness a murder let’s rendezvous in Italy.”

Evie grinned, liking him immediately.

“I see you met my wife,” Nate said. “Don’t play poker with her. She counts cards.”

“Don’t worry,” Evie said. “So do I. It makes things more interesting.”

“My kind of woman,” Eden said.

It was obvious the couple loved each other very much. They almost looked like normal people, but they were highly trained agents and never to be underestimated.

She wondered what it would be like to have a partner like that in every sense of the word—in marriage and in work. It obviously suited them both because their thoughts and actions were in sync as they all walked around the perimeter of the house before the rain started again, cataloguing entrance and exit points and looking for signs of weakness.

“We’ll try not to invade your privacy too much,” Eden said. “We’re just here to be an extra set of eyes. Which is going to be interesting if the rain comes in hard again. It provides an excellent cover for someone wanting to get close to the house. How’s the security system?”

“It’s crap,” Cal said.

“Geez, tell us how you really feel, Cal,” Evie said.

“Just telling the truth, sugar. Your dad didn’t have the kind of security in mind that we need when he bought the place for your mom, and he never upgraded after she died since he’s rarely here. It has a standard alarm system and exterior cameras. But they’ve been spotty at best since the rain started. The wind knocks them out of alignment, and it’s a pain in the ass to go out and move them back into place. Basically, we’re working blind except for the lookout agents.

“Ahh, to be a peon again and get all the exciting assignments,” Nate said with a grin. “Those were the days.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Cal said, his mouth quirked in good humor. “I was never a peon.”

The storm intensified over the next several hours, and the sky had darkened. Cal was getting antsy, and he kept getting up from the table where he’d been working to check the windows and doors.

“You’re driving me crazy, Cyph,” Nate said, playing cards with Eden and Evie at the table. “You never did learn patience.”

“He’s close,” Cal said. “I can feel it.”

Cal’s cell phone rang. He didn’t recognize the number, but that wasn’t uncommon. Agents used burner cells most of the time.

“Cruz,” he said.

“Sir, this is Agent James. My partner and I are at a little restaurant called Rosa’s. We’ve been staked out here to watch cars as they cross the bridge. We were about to call in a silver BMW when the car turned into the lot and Taber walked into the restaurant. He’s got a corner table with his back to the wall. Do you want us to detain him?”

“You and your partner hang tight,” Cal said. “I’ll be there in a few minutes. Don’t take your eyes off him.”

“Yes, sir.”

Cal disconnected and looked at Nate. “Taber is at a restaurant called Rosa’s. It’s about a ten-minute drive from here.”

Nate looked hesitant. “Do you think it’s legitimate?”

“I think it’s worth checking out,” Cal said. “Atticus said this island is crawling with agents. I have no idea where they’re stationed or who they are. But he mentioned the BMW. That’s fairly new information that Atticus would have relayed to the rest of the team so they could keep an eye out.”

Eden looked at Nate and said, “You and Cal go. I’ll stay here with Evie. If something’s wrong give us a heads-up and we’ll go to plan B and get her moved to safety until you get back.”

“I’ll alert the agents next door to move in closer.” Nate opened his duffle bag and pulled out an extra magazine to stick in his pocket and then he grabbed a sheathed knife and strapped it to his ankle.

Evie didn’t know why the separation made her so anxious. She’d gotten used to having Cal as her primary protector. And it wasn’t that she didn’t think Eden could do a good job. She was just…different.

Eden had walked Nate to the door and they were saying their goodbyes, and Cal felt a pang of envy for what they had.

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