Page 50 of Raven's Claw
They headed out, Nyx squishing in beside Jordan as they made the short trip back.His buddies stood outside Bodie’s office.Waiting.
Miller slipped past them, chuckling to himself before disappearing inside.Leaving Kash and Jordan to face the rest of his crew.
Kash stopped in front of his teammates.“Call me crazy, but you all look as if you didn’t think we’d come back.”
Foster crossed his arms.“Between Rook snatching Atticus, Bodie calling in reinforcements he neglected to tell us about, and some fellow operative showing up, we figured there was a good forty percent chance you’d simply head to wherever Jordan thinks Rook is holed up and leave us hanging.”
“You had forty percent, Foster, because you tend to give people the benefit of the doubt.”Kash motioned toward Zain.“No way Zain picked anything under seventy-five.”
Zain shrugged.“Closer to ninety, actually, because it’s what I would have done if I were in Jordan’s shoes.”He clapped Kash on the back.“I’m glad you both proved me wrong because I’m seriously done with this Rook asshole.He’s crossed a line, and there’s no way I’m not getting some payback.”
Foster huffed.“You’ll have to take a number, Zain, because I have first dibs.”
“Actually, boys, I have first dibs.”Jordan matched Foster by crossing her arms over her chest.“And last, really.I might let you take out some of his disciples.Which is crazy because you should all be standing there, insisting I fix this on my own.”
Foster scrunched up his face, looking at her as if she’d lost her mind.“What kind of men would we be if we did that?Besides, we both know this is going to be an epic shitshow.The kind with wet squads and impossible terrain.No way you can handle all the men Rook’s going to have waiting and hand him his ass without backup.”
Jordan just shook her head.“Like I said… Crazy.”She pushed past them, stopping a foot inside.“Thanks.I’m gonna need all the crazy I can get if we’re going to finally put Rook in his place.”
Kash stood there after she’d disappeared inside, glancing at his buddies.“We good?”
Chase huffed.“Just don’t get any bright ideas about ditching us for real.”
“And miss you and Greer giving each other awkward longing glances?”
“You’re an ass.”
“I love it when you talk dirty to me.”
Chase rolled his eyes and headed inside, Zain trailing behind.
Foster lingered, toeing the cement as he blew out a rough breath.“If this goes poorly…”
“Jordan’s confident Rook won’t hurt Atticus until he has her and the intel.Honestly, the bastard’s too smart, and far too cocky, to risk eliminating his only bargaining chip.”
“I meant, Jordan, too.We’ve all seen how you look at her.How this has been months in the making.Just… Don’t fucking die on me.”
Foster turned and marched off, his words hanging in the air.It wasn’t as if Kash wanted to die, either, but if he had to choose between his life and Jordan’s…
Nyx nudged his leg, tail wagging.Eyes bright.She’d help him see this through.And once they’d taken care of Rook and Scythe, he’d do whatever it took to show Jordan she had a future in Raven’s Cliff.
ChapterFourteen
Jordan leaned against the far wall, plotting.She just wasn’t sure which to act on first.If she should strangle Bodie, disappear and hunt down Rook, or march over to Kash and kiss him.
She brushed the back of her hand across her mouth.She still tasted him on her lips.The hint of coffee and spice mixed with something innately him.Heat or maybe ice.She only knew that she was addicted to it.To him.
Footsteps echoed through the room as Foster walked in, giving her a small smile before heading for Mac — tugging her into a firm embrace.Jordan had expected Mac to yell.Maybe throw a punch.But she’d been oddly quiet.
“I know that look.”Kash moved in beside her, Nyx choosing to sit between them, again.“No one in here blames you.”
Jordan nodded at Mackenzie.“You sure about that?”
“Mac’s upset.Scared.Undoubtedly angry.It’s just not at you, which is the real issue.”He bumped shoulders with her.“Give it time.You’ll get used to having people care about you.”
Jordan bit back the part where she wasn’t convinced she’d live long enough to get accustomed to anything when Cannon stepped forward, his mere presence commanding attention.
Cannon shoved his hands in his pockets, which only made him seem even more imposing.“I could stand here and give you all a laundry list of reasons why you can trust us.Missions.Connections.But the truth is, trust is earned, not given.So, let’s cut through the bullshit and just get down to facts.”
