Page 51 of Raven's Nest
“RPG!”
He grabbed the bottom of the door and sent the thing flying — rolling it up onto the ceiling before he snagged Saylor and took them both to the ground. What he hoped might be their one chance at surviving the first attack by removing any surface the missile could impact — explode on contact. Assuming the bastard had aimed at the door. If he’d targeted the roof, instead…
The damn thing would likely collapse half the building down on top of them. A death sentence. But he’d shield her as best he could.
Kash hit the ground on the other side, covering Jordan and Nyx as the rocket soared through, a dull whoosh following in its wake before it hit the far wall — detonated.
Chaos.
The wall blew outward, taking half the roof with it. Smoke and fire shooting up into the air, debris followingclose behind. Dust swirled around them, blocking out the room, the pier — every thought that tried to form. Zain blinked, nearly blacked out, then managed to push onto an elbow. Flames flickered amidst the shadows, a mind-numbing tone ringing in his head.
He gave Saylor a quick once-over, heart thundering in his chest until she coughed and gave him a shaky nod. Eyes looking more than a bit wild. Dirt and soot dulling the golden tones in her hair.
Voices.
Close.
Drowned out by the growl of an engine. Not a truck. This was louder. Rougher. Sputtering a few times before easing back. Idling.
Boat.
The word finally formed in his head, pieced together by the scent of diesel and brine — a memory playing in the background he couldn’t quite place. He pushed onto his knees, everything shifting left and right when Nyx growled.
The sound shook a bit of the fuzziness away — got him onto his feet. Shaky, but standing. Kash staggered up beside him, tripping a few times before bracing his legs apart — fumbling with his weapon as Nyx tugged at the end of her leash, her hackles raised. Teeth gnashing white amidst the smoke and shadows.
Zain took a step, lifting his Sig shoulder height. Praying his arms didn’t fall back down as boots hit the pavement a moment later. The smoke swirled, a single white light cutting a path through the gray as a couple silhouettes materialized out of the aftermath.
Zain fired a second before Kash, clipping the forerunner and sending the other guy diving for cover. Automatic rounds whizzed through the air as soon as the tango hit the ground, punching holes in the pieces of wall still standing.
Kash grabbed a frag off his vest — tossed it toward the pier. It clicked along the pavement, vanishing into the swirling vapor. Someone yelled as everything froze, just that clicking in the background. The smoke circling as the other guy scrambled to his feet.
The grenade exploded.
More lights and sound rumbling through, knocking Zain on his ass. Kash tumbled down beside him, Nyx in his arms. Jordan covering her ears from the resulting concussive shock.
The boat revved, tipping left and right as the captain hit the throttles… got it underway.
Zain’s cue to move.
He clawed his way to his feet and took a few staggering steps toward the open water, when movement caught his attention. He turned as a truck barreled down the road, hitting the parking lot going way too fast. Some asshole in black tactical garb leaned out the window, another missile launcher grasped in his hands.
Zain raised his weapon. “Incoming. Water. Now.”
He fired, despite the shitty angle, but he needed to do something. Buy them a bit of time as he retreated the couple steps and bodily lifted Saylor. She got most of her weight under her, tripping along beside him as he gave Kash and Jordan a shove. They stumbled towardthe ocean, laying down cover fire. Pelting that truck with everything they had. Clipping a tire and punching a few rounds through the windshield.
The vehicle kept coming, swerving to a stop with the asshole’s side facing the building. Zain managed to clip the bastard’s arm a second before the guy fired, knocking off his aim. Not that it mattered with the truck only fifty feet away, the missile still punching through Saylor’s loft instead of hitting the office. Blowing the whole place into a fiery ball as Zain tossed Nyx into the water behind Kash and Jordan, then jumped off.
Saylor inhaled, plunging beneath the icy waves still encircled in Zain’s arms. Their combined weight took them down several feet before he eased her free. He gave her a shove, kicking to the surface, already sweeping the area with his Sig once he’d crested the choppy water. Ready to down any threat if someone so much as presented a hint of a target.
Flames clawed at the sky, only half a wall visible amidst the blaze. Sirens wailed in the distance, the shrill sound drawing closer.
Zain swam to the edge of the pier, gun still covering the area as he climbed out — took point. Taillights gleamed in the distance as the truck bounced up the road, skidded around the corner, then vanished.
No men, just the fire crackling in the background. His ears still ringing.
He kept his focus, scouring all the shadows as Greer’s SUV pulled up followed by two fire engines.
She jumped out, shaking her head as she jogged overto them. “I leave to track down one damn lead, and all hell breaks loose.” She waved the paramedics over. “I called Foster. He and Chase are on the way. Is anyone hurt?”
