Page 61 of Raven's Claw
“That I didn’t leave soon enough.Or maybe he’d be disappointed I didn’t put a bullet between your eyes the moment you appeared, consequences be damned.Just like you did to him.”
Rook’s smile faltered.“Someone’s been reading up.Who’s your hacker?”
“Where’s Atticus?”
“Close.I wanted to make sure you didn’t have your team hiding nearby.That you came unarmed.”
“They’re not hiding, and I’m not stripping.You’re just going to have to take my word.”She reached into her pocket and removed the thumb drive.“Are we doing this, or what?”
Rook motioned with his fingers.“I want to make sure it’s authentic, first.”
“And I wanted to be left the hell alone, but we don’t always get what we want.You can have it once Atticus is safely on his way to the hospital.”
“And if it’s a fake?”
“Then, I guess you get to kill me.”She huffed.“It’s not fake, but that doesn’t matter because you know,” she tapped her head, “I’ve got it all up here.”
Rook laughed.“There she is.Fine.”
He snapped his fingers, his gaze still locked on her.Two more men materialized out of the darkness, Atticus slung between them.Each shouldering an arm as they dragged him toward the chopper like some drunk at a bar.
“I told you not to hurt him.”
“No, you told me to keep him alive.”He waved off her scowl.“It’s just a dose of Ketamine.The old dog wouldn’t shut up.He’ll be fine once it wears off.”
Jordan bit back her reply, waiting until the men got within twenty feet of them.“My people will take it from here.”
Rook shrugged.“Be my guest.”
Jordan nodded at Chase, and he and Greer darted over to Atticus.Chase gave the older man a quick once-over, then grabbed one arm as Greer took the other.They helped him along, finally shuffling him into the helicopter.
Chase stopped shy of getting in, looking at her across his shoulder.“Are you sure this is how you want it to go down?”
Jordan smiled.“I’m good.You just focus on Atticus.”
Chase frowned but jumped onboard, still staring at her as Mac spooled up the engines then took off, banking up and left before disappearing into the night, the flash of the nav lights quickly fading.
Rook tsked.“I have to admit.You seem to have found the kind of loyalty I’d hoped to have instilled in you.And he’s not even the dog handler.”He moved in closer.“I can’t help but notice he wasn’t part of your entourage.”
She scoffed.“Did you really think I’d bring him for you to use as leverage?If you’re going to test my skills because you’re worried several months on my own has deteriorated them, at least make the challenges worthy of my time.”
“It never hurts to ensure you’ve still got a solid foundation.I could do with a little less attitude, though.”
“Then, you shouldn’t have threatened the people I care about because you got caught with your pants down.”
The corners of his mouth quirked before he leaned in dangerously close.“Just because I’d rather take you back alive doesn’t mean I won’t snap your neck if given the right motivation.You’re already looking at months of retraining.You might want to keep that in mind before you say something you’ll regret.”
“Are we going inside or waiting on a boat?”
He held out his hand.“The intel.”
She placed it in his palm.“It’s all there.But, that’s only part of the reason we’re here.You really just hate to lose.”
He snarled then spun, waiting for her to move in beside him before heading inside like a man on a mission.The wind howled across the entrance, the roar slowly fading as they traveled farther inside.A string of lights hung from the ceiling, the bulbs dancing in the strong breeze.
She glanced over at him, noting the deep lines around his mouth.He looked older than she remembered, and she wondered if the months had taken a toll.If losing her had been a thorn in his otherwise exemplary career.“I didn’t expect the lights.How long have you been down here?”
He slowed a bit, turning right at the next junction.“Long enough to get a better understanding of who Jordan Archer is.”He cocked his eyebrow.“A waitress?Really?”
