Page 62 of Raven's Claw
“I’m sorry, were you hoping I’d become a mercenary, instead?”
“At least, it would have put your skill set to good use.Do you even remember how to eliminate an asset?”
“Are you volunteering as a test subject?”
“I’ve already warned you about the attitude.”
“Then stop asking inane questions.If you believed I was anything less than the Ember you trained, we wouldn’t be talking.Which brings me to the real topic.Sandman.Does Scythe know you’re trying to oust them?Or are you simply killing off the execs one at a time.Like that op in Virginia you sent me on before I went to the compound.”
The corner of his mouth twitched.Not much, but she noticed.“We’ll talk about Sandman after.First, I want to hear more about this dog handler.I have to admit, of all the rules, I never thought you’d break that one.Allow yourself to care.”
“I already told you not to waste my time with these amateure-ish games.You know exactly who he is.”
Rook studied her for a while, then sighed.“Kash Sinclair.Ex-Army Ranger and SAR specialist.He and his crew all work for Raven’s Watch.Not that I’m surprised.Atticus always drifted toward like-minded people.Tell me, how did Kash take it when he learned who you really are?”
“Surprisingly well.But then, he already suspected I was Shadow Ops.I guess I’m not as good as you at hiding who I really am.”She paused for a moment when two more men joined their procession.“Why did you create Sandman?Wasn’t running Scythe enough for you?”
“There’s no such thing as too much power.You know that.While Scythe had promise, the current administration is too weak.Too worried about protocol and accountability to do the work that needs to be done.I’m not.”
“Then, why not just tell me?You recruited me once.You could have officially brought me over.”
Rook laughed.Hard.“I think this situation speaks to the reason.You were always destined to turn on me, Ember.To outgrow your leash.I couldn’t afford to have you go rogue while under my umbrella.This way, you’re still Scythe’s asset.And they had no problem issuing a kill order.”He grinned.“At my insistence, of course.”
“Of course.”She shifted her gaze, checking over her shoulder.“Too bad the men they sent kept missing the mark.”
“Enough.”Rook stopped at the entrance to that large cavern.“I let you have a taste of freedom.Proof you don’t belong out here.Now, it’s time for you to come in.To come home.”
“Home?Scythe was never home.You never cared about me.Not really.You took advantage of that little girl who was so starved for attention, she didn’t care what kind she got.”She laughed, but it wasn’t because it was funny.“Like I said.You only want me back because you hate to lose.”
“You know how this works.There’s no future for you without Scythe in it.Without me.”
“Then, I guess you’re going to have to kill me, after all.”
“Something’s…offabout you.And it’s more than just the taste of freedom.”His eyes widened before he laughed.“You actually fell in love with him, didn’t you?I knew you cared but…” He shook his head.“You really don’t want him to get hurt.”
She glanced into the chamber, wondering if Kash and the others were in position or if they needed her to buy more time.If the tracker really was broadcasting her position or if their op had already gone sideways.“If you give me your word that you’ll leave Kash and his teammates alone — that you’ll never set foot in Raven’s Cliff, again — I’ll walk out of here with you.Spend what’s left of my life running whatever missions you want.No questions.No lies.”
“You’d do that?Just to save him?”
“Not just him.His team.Atticus, too.I want them all off-limits.”She twisted enough she could dive for cover when everything erupted into chaos.“What do you say?It’s a good deal.”
“Except where your heart wouldn’t be in it.And sooner or later, Kash would come looking for you.”
Jordan stared at Rook — at the way his left eye twitched as the corner of his mouth quirked — and she knew.Even if he’d agreed and she’d willingly walked out with him, he’d had no intentions of letting anyone on Kash’s team live.
That he’d never be satisfied until he’d broken her.
Rook narrowed his gaze, glanced at the chamber, the tunnel, then focused back on her.“If you’re waiting for the cavalry, I don’t think they’re going to make it in time.”
She smiled as everything clicked into place.“Really?Because by my calculations, they’re already here.”
Gunfire echoed up the path behind them, Miller obviously taking the initiative as explosions rocked through the cave a moment later.Everything shaking and rolling — parts of the tunnel collapsing around them.
She grabbed a couple canisters off the guy to her left, kicked him in the groin, then dove into the cave, clearing the entrance as more of the structure fell.She pulled the pin, then launched the first one across the floor.Thick gray smoke filled the space, adding to the already dense air as rocks and dust rained down from above.Rook stepped through the increasing cloud, fired off a couple rounds, then disappeared amidst a swirl of gray.
Jordan tripped to one knee, a deep groove grazed down her ribs before she scrambled for cover, tossing the other grenade out for good measure.It clicked across the stone, stopping close to the entrance before erupting in a display of light and sound.The concussive wave caved more of the roof in, covering the entire front half of the chamber in a mountain of rocks.Not quite sealed off, but close.
Gunfire continued in the distance, followed by an eerie silence.Pain teased her senses, but she pushed it down, listening for any hint of movement.Rook’s muffled curse echoed around her before all traces of him vanished.
