Page 64 of Raven's Claw
He staggered to his feet, squinting against the burning smoke.The stench of propellant hung in the air, a layer of ash covering half the cave.
It couldn’t end like this.
After all they’d been through — all his promises — he couldn’t lose her.
Kash zeroed in on Jordan — her limp form swaying over Rook’s shoulder — then took off.Hauled ass across the large cave, completely focused on closing the distance.Cutting it down with each driving step.
He got halfway across — had already worked through how he’d outmaneuver the bastard without compromising Jordan’s safety — when the junction to the tunnel exploded.Just blew up, raining rock and dust down around him.The resulting wave knocked him and Nyx back, tumbling them ass over head a few times before skidding to a halt.
Kash groaned.Every muscle cramped.Every bone hurt.The room spun, though he wasn’t sure if it was his head or just the smoke.Nyx managed to regain her balance, first, stumbling over to him, then licking his face.He gave her a pat as he tried to get everything to stabilize.
“Jesus, Kash.”Zain dropped to his knees beside him, skin smudged with dust and soot, a fresh cut across his forehead.“The way you flew backwards…”
His buddy swallowed, coughed, then gave Nyx a quick once-over.“Can you move everything?Do you need me to carry you out?”
“I need to find a way to follow that bastard.”
“The rest of the crew’s looking.Cannon had to blow his tunnel to get through, too.And Miller all but excavated the entrance to get inside.I’m actually surprised the whole cave system hasn’t collapsed.”Zain scrubbed a hand down his face.“It looks like that other tunnel’s completely blocked.”
“Shit.”Kash pushed onto his elbows, nearly fell back when the world did a full three-sixty, but he managed to hold it together.“Help me up.”
“Can you give yourself a freaking minute before you try to wage war?”
“Jordan doesn’t have time for me to wait a minute.”
“I thought I’d find you and Nyx packed full of shrapnel, so cut me some slack.Besides, if Rook wanted her dead, she’d be in the rubble.The fact he carried her out implies he wants her alive, just like she said.”
“Just, give me a hand.”
Zain shook his head.“Damn, you’re stubborn.”
Kash clapped Zain on the shoulder, though, even that small movement hurt.Increased the jackhammer pounding away in his head.Made him acutely aware of the ringing in his ears.Zain helped Kash up, stayed close in case Kash face planted the moment he moved.
Miller whistled from across the cave.“I found Donovan.He’s been shot with what looks like a forty-five, has multiple contusions, but he’s alive.Not sure how long he might stay that way if we don’t get the prick to hospital, soon, though.”
“What?”Kash picked up the pace, half-tripping his way over to the edge of the debris, Zain keeping him upright.“If that’s Rook, who the hell took Jordan?”
“Let’s ask the prat.”Miller gave Rook a shake, slapping him when he blinked.“Donovan.Chum.Who took Ember?”
Rook grunted, coughing when Miller shook him, again.He squinted, looked as if he was going to pass out, then sighed.“You’re too late.”
“Who took her?”
He laughed, drops of blood dribbling out of his mouth.“You’ll never find her, now.”
“And you’re dead unless you start talking.”
Rook snorted.“I win.”He slumped against Miller’s hold, barely moving when Miller released him.
Kash stared at the rubble.His heart somewhere up in his throat.His chest so tight it took all his effort just to move it an inch — suck in any air.He needed to think.Except where that jackhammer kept derailing any thought.Sent it off on some tangent as soon as it formed.“We can’t just stand here.We…”
He inhaled, then dug for his cell, brushing all the dirt and grim off the screen.He opened the app.
Nothing.
No pulsing dot.
No way to follow her.
