Page 58 of Raven's Nest
Zain didn’t wait for the ensuing gunfight, just hit the gas — got that RV surging forward. He angled left, headed for a break in the trees — what looked like an adjoining road at the bottom of a bumpy incline.
Buck inhaled, grabbing the top of the half-wall leading to the steps. “Are you insane? This thing…”
His voice keened into a curse as Zain hit the edge of the forest and just kept going. The RV bounced off a few rocks, plowing through some dead branches and underbrush as automatic fire erupted behind them, a few punching through the glass — impacting one of the walls with a dull thud.
Zain glanced back, gave Greer and Saylor a quick once-over, then focused on the path. Branches scraped across the top and sides, the eerie screech sending shivers down his spine. A deer appeared on the trail up ahead, barely leaping out of the way before the RV bounced over a log, dropping a couple feet down the other side. The bottom scraped along the rocks and dirt, groans and creaks sounding through the interior. Not as bad as the haunting noises from the hull of theNexus, but close.
The vehicle hit the gravel road trailing branches and vines — mud spraying out both sides as he swerved it onto the two-track, the backend fishtailing a few times before finally straightening out.
Saylor moved in beside him, hair spilling out of herponytail. “You’re insane. Unfortunately, our friends are, too. Two followed you down, and I doubt we’ll outrun them in this hunk of junk.”
Buck grunted. “No need to badmouth my home.”
Zain glared at Buck, skidding around a massive pothole. “Buck? You seem like the kind of guy who’d be prepared for a small invasion. Any chance you’ve got some weapons stashed away?”
Buck eyed Greer. “I’m required to register any firearms?—”
“We don’t care if they’re legal or not. Just that you’ve got more than tin foil for us to toss at them.”
Buck pursed his lips, looking as if he was considering how much to tell them, before he nodded toward the rear. “There’s a trunk under the bed in the back.”
“Exactly what I wanted to hear.” Zain motioned to the driver’s seat. “Sweetheart, take the wheel.”
Saylor’s eyes widened. “I’ve never driven?—”
“After the way you handled your Zodiac in that storm, this is child’s play. Just keep it between the ditches.”
He slipped out once she had her hands on the steering wheel. The RV lurched, quickly bleeding off speed, until Saylor settled behind the wheel and hit the gas. Zain tripped at the sudden acceleration, smiling at how natural she looked behind the wheel, gaze constantly scanning between the mirrors and the road.
He bolted for the back and dragged a massive trunk out from beneath the bed.
Greer whistled when Zain flipped it open. “Jesus, Bucky, is there anything you don’t have in here?”
Buck chuckled. “Still looking for one of those rocket launchers, but other than that…”
Zain lifted one of the rifles, checked the sights and barrel, then grabbed a few boxes of ammo. “Buck, are these smoke or frag grenades?”
“Smoke… I think. Like I said. I’m not trying to hurt people, just watching out for myself.”
“Your arsenal suggests differently.” Zain scanned the roof. “I’ll crawl out of the overhead vent. Try to slow down our friends.”
Greer frowned. “Zain.”
“I know. You’re the law, and you’re one hell of a shot…”
“But I’m not a former Army Ranger sniper.” She tapped her radio. “I’m not sure if anyone heard my call. All I got was static, and there’s no cell service until we get closer to town. I’ll keep trying.”
“For all we know, they’ve got one of those drones cruising overhead, jamming any signals.” He gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Shout if anything changes.”
Zain glanced at Saylor, smiling at her in the rearview — praying this wasn’t the last time he’d see those gorgeous blue eyes — then slung the rifle over his shoulder. A hard thrust with the end of a broom, and the vent popped off, fluttering onto the dirt behind them. A jump and a reach, and he had his fingers curled around the edge — pulled himself up and through the opening.
Strong gusts blew dirt and pine needles across hisface, the constant rocking nearly knocking him onto his ass. He settled in beside the communications array, his foot braced against the air conditioner. Two trucks bounced along the trail behind them, keeping far enough back the constant spray of mud and stones didn’t blind them. But Zain knew it was only a matter of time before they either made a move and tried to run them into a ditch or opened fire in an attempt to blow out their tires.
Not on his watch.
He took a breath, then peered through the scope. Tinted windows. He couldn’t tell if it was thicker than normal — might be bullet resistant — not that it mattered. Enough hits in the same square inch would eventually leave a mark.
Getting tossed into the array a moment later as Saylor skidded the RV around a tight turn, taking some branching path to the left, didn’t instill any confidence he’d be able to get off any quality shots. Especially when the damn vehicle bounced through a series of potholes before sliding sideways as it hit some washboard, the series of bumps rattling his teeth and knocking one of the transmitters off the array.
