Page 52 of Raven's Nest
Zain scrubbed a hand down his face, giving the others a thorough sweep. “Just the fatal hit to my pride. Unless we don’t get out of these clothes before hypothermia sets in.”
“Based on the carnage, I think no serious injuries is damn impressive.” She backed up as medics swarmed them. “I’ll let them take a look. Once you’re cleared and into some dry clothes, we’ll talk. Because this isn’t pirates seeking revenge. This was a damn hit, and I’ll be damned if I stand by while some group of highly trained assholes threatens my family.”
Zain nodded, batting at the medic. “I’m fine. Saylor and Jordan, first. Chase can clear me and Kash.”
Saylor opened her mouth to argue, but the medic shuffled her over to the back of the ambulance, Jordan cursing all the way beside her.
Kash stumbled over. “I’m officially pissed.”
Zain stared at the fire as the crew doused it with water. “Jordan okay?”
“Other than wanting to hunt down whoever’s behind this? Possibly bring Ember back to life? She didn’t get a scratch.”
Zain sighed, motioning to the patches of blood on Kash’s clothes. “You did.”
“Have you looked at yourself? You’ve got a chunk in your side that should have its own zip code.”
“Compared to Saylor’s place…” He’d let her down. Again. A habit that ate at his conscience. Had all those voices in his head yelling at him.
“Zain. There’s no way we could have known they’d lure us here just to blow it up. With a fucking rocket launcher, no less. I get she lost everything, and I’m not brushing the immensity of that aside. But you kept her safe. She didn’t have a scratch, either.”
“Just keeping her safe isn’t enough. We’re missing something. If we don’t figure this out soon, I’ll fail because the next attempt won’t allow for any mistakes. Any chance at her slipping through the cracks. They’ll throw everything they have at us, and we won’t be prepared if we still don’t know who’s targeting her. Why this is all happening, now.”
“Like I said the other day, if you fail, it’s because you’re dead.” Kash gave Zain’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’d hate to have to train another best friend this late in the game.”
“Your concern is truly touching.”
Kash blew him a kiss. “Anything for you, brother. C’mon. Let’s go stop Jordan from drop kicking the paramedic until Foster and Chase get here. Then, we’ll change. Regroup. Haul our asses over to Bodie’s until we have this figured out. You’re not the only one who’s done treading water. It’s time we went on the offensive.”
Zain nodded, trailing behind as he glanced back at the rubble. At least, her two Zodiacs had come through unscathed. He sighed. Or no worse than they were before. He wasn’t sure if that was enough, but he’d takewhatever win he could get. Kash was right. It was time they turned the tables. And Zain wouldn’t stop until he’d silenced all those voices in his head.
Until he’d saved himself by saving her.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Saylor sat in Bodie’s office, a mug of coffee cradled between her hands. Early morning light filtered in through the window, the slight yellow hue warming the otherwise cool space. It had taken the fire crews a few hours to get everything under control and fully extinguished. Nothing of the original structure had been left untouched. They’d combed through the debris — searched for anything remotely salvageable, but nothing had survived the double hit.
Zain snuggled up beside her, wrapping one arm around her shoulders before tugging her in close. Dropping a kiss on the top of her head. “You’ve barely gotten any sleep.”
“Hard to sleep when my mind won’t stop racing.”
“I’m so sorry about your place.”
Saylor eased back and brushed her fingers across his jaw. “You realize this is the thirteenth time you’ve apologized, right? For something you had no control over.”
The muscle in his temple jumped. “I knew it was some sort of setup. I should have guessed they’d use a boat — try something completely unorthodox.”
“How?” She placed her finger over his kissable mouth. “That was more of a rhetorical question. You kept us all alive. Opening the door like that…” She shook her head. “I don’t know how you reacted so fast. Kept that first missile from incinerating us on the spot. All the shrapnel you took shielding me. I don’t care about the boathouse or my loft. They’re just things and things can be replaced. You saved my life. Again.”
He stared at her. “Somehow that doesn’t feel like enough.”
“I still have my boats…” She inched closer. “But more importantly, I still have you.”
He smiled, slanted his mouth over hers, making her heart race more than when that first rocket had soared through the boathouse. Eclipsing the rest of the world with the soft play of his fingers in her hair. How he moaned when she leaned fully against him, trusting him to keep them from falling off the chairs. He’d just worked his way down her neck, nipping at her pulse point, when Bodie cleared his throat.
Zain kissed the spot, then sighed, glancing over his shoulder at Bodie, then back to her. “I swear everyone waits until the most inopportune time to strike.”
Bodie laughed. “I’ve been standing here for a full minute. Thought you’d take the hint.”
