Page 57 of Raven's Claw
Kash pursed his lips, glancing at his teammates then back to her.“You’re sure he’s not going to kill you?”
“As sure as I can be.He’ll want me to suffer.I can’t do that if I’m dead.”
“And we’re confident we’ll be able to receive the tracker signal underground?”The thought of Chase putting it back in place irritated him.Knowing Rook would be tracking her, too.But having that invisible lifeline definitely eased a bit of the rawness raging inside Kash’s head.What might edge the odds in their favor.
Becca chimed in.“Are you doubting my ability to hack that thing?I’m actually hurt.”
Kash sighed.“I’ll assume that’s a yes.”
Becca merely stared at him.“It’s good to go.I’ve increased the strength of the signal, and I’ve sent the tracking app to everyone’s phone.As long as you don’t stray more than half a mile away, it should work, regardless of where you are.”
“Then, we’d better finalize this because we’re out of time.”
Cannon shook his head but scoured over the map with the rest of Kash’s team, divvying up their resources.The somber mood followed them out as they headed for their respective trucks.Mac would take Chase and Greer with Jordan, leaving Foster and Bodie to man their overwatch as the rest of them rendezvoused with Saylor — made a beeline for the tunnels south of the where Rook would be waiting.
Kash held up his hand as everyone piled into the vehicles, holding Jordan’s gaze.She pursed her lips, then launched herself at him, eating at his mouth when he caught her — held her until he was sure he’d used up all their extra time.
She wiped her thumb across his mouth.“Don’t die.”
“And risk having you kill me a second time?That’s crazy.”He held on a bit longer when she went to push free.“I know this needs to end, but you living is worth more than Rook dying.”
She smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.“Don’t be late.”
She jumped in, still watching him as Foster drove off.Kash climbed into Zain’s truck, absently stroking Nyx as they headed for the marina.
Saylor stood beside one of her boats, arms crossed, toe tapping the dock.“Just once, it’d be nice if these life and death missions didn’t crop up with a storm front baring down on us.”
Zain grinned.“What’s the fun in that?Besides, I think you miss the adrenaline rush you got in the Coast Guard.”He leaned in close.“Face it.You love this shit.”
She rolled her eyes, waving everyone onboard.Miller cast them off as Saylor worked the throttle, got the boat through the surf then headed south.White caps rolled across the ocean, the beginnings of the incoming front already kicking up the wind and the spray.Clouds thickened around them as the vessel cut through the water, rising and falling with the increasing swells.
Nyx pressed against Kash’s leg.She obviously sensed his unrest, staying closer than usual.Alert.Ready to react at the first hint of trouble.He tried to tamp it down, but all that looped through his head was the look in Jordan’s eyes as she’d disappeared into the night.That the kiss they’d shared outside Bodie’s office would be their last.
Kash scrubbed a hand down his face.There was plenty to be concerned about, the fact her implant hadn’t been the kind they’d counted on was right up there.But they could worry about that if they lived past tonight.If the future was more than a black hole threatening to suck them both over the event horizon.
Zain sat beside him, blinking against the stinging spray.“She’ll be okay.”
Kash nodded.Not because he believed it, but because he wasn’t about to jinx the mission before it began.Put any possibility other than success out into the universe.He’d tempted Fate enough, lately.No sense pissing her off.“It’s not just her I’m worried about.If anything happens to Atticus…”
He wasn’t sure how Mac would take it.How any of them would.Despite the fact Atticus was opinionated, ornery and a giant pain in their asses, he was the heart of Raven’s Watch.
“The old coot’s too stubborn to die.”
“Let’s hope you’re right.”
“I’m always right, brother.”He grunted when the boat tipped up then dropped down, shooting water out both sides.“Looks like that storm’s moving in fast.”
“Then, it’s a good thing our captain seems to thrive on the challenge.”Kash nudged him.“You ever gonna ask her out?”
“Who says I haven’t?”
“Nyx would know if you wereentertaininganyone, and she’d rat you out.”
Zain chuckled.“Maybe I’m just waiting to see how your experiment in love goes, first.Because I can’t tell if you’re on cloud nine or paddling down the river Styx.”
“Ask me, again, once this is over.”
Zain clapped him on the shoulder, then moved to Saylor’s side.She gave him a quick glance, lingering a bit longer than necessary before pointing at something in the distance.Kash squinted against the utter blackness.Large rocks rose out of the frothing surf, slashing against the inky sky like jagged scars.Waves beat against the sides, shooting into the air only to rain down over the boulders, swirling with the churning water before flowing out — starting the cycle all over again.
