Page 7 of Raven's Nest
“If we’re handing out blame, then Sean’s death — Rhett’s condition — is on me.” Chase looked Zain dead in the eyes. “I’mthe medic. I should have saved them.”
“If I’d done my job right, those CIA assholes never would have gotten off a shot.”
“And how were you supposed to know? Because I looked Stein and Adams dead in the eyes two minutes before they started shooting and didn’t see a damn thing that concerned me.”
“Enough.” Foster raised his voice so it carried without him having to move. “As hard as it is to admit — especially to myself — the only people to blame were Stein and Adams. That doesn’t mean I don’t still wake up in a cold sweat. That I don’t hear and see Sean’s ghost. But I can honestly tell you that if I’d been the one who’d died, I’d be haunting all your asses for not moving on. For wallowing in this.”
Foster rolled his shoulder as he shook out his right hand. His go-to move whenever stress got to him — made all those plates and screws holding his bones` together ache. “I stand by my statement. If anyone can understand the situation, it’s Saylor. And that’s not even taking into account the way she looks at you.”
Chase sighed. “Talk to us. You’re usually the first guy to take a risk. What’s really holding you back?”
Zain fisted his hands, then shuffled to where Kash had been sitting. “What if I can’t protect her?”
Kash furrowed his brow. “From what?”
“Anything.” Zain threw up his hands. “Everything. What if someone comes gunning for her, and I miss the threat?”
“The only one who’s worried about you missing a threat, is you. We’ve got complete faith.” Kash clapped him on the shoulder. “Not everyone is a rogue spy with a murderous ex-handler out to kill them. And we kept everyone breathing despite Jordan’s boss throwing everything he had at us, so… If Saylor does have a mysterious wet squad out to off her, there’s no one more qualified to help keep her alive than you.”
“And if I fail?”
“Then, you won’t have to worry because the only way that would ever happen is if you’re dead. You were obsessive about security before that fateful night. Now…” Kash whistled. “You’re on a whole other level. So, do everyone a favor, and stop treading water. Life has a funny way of happening while you’re trying to figure it all out. And a girl like Saylor isn’t going to wait forever.” Kash batted his eyelashes at him as he made kissing noises. “No matter how sexy you are, big boy.”
“Jackass.”
“You might want to save the pet names for her. I’d go with sweetheart or kitten, though.”
Zain shook his head, still mulling it all over when something glinted on the horizon. He shuffled in beside Foster and grabbed his scope, aiming it at where the light had reflected off the surface.
Foster nudged him. “Something specific bothering you?”
“I thought I saw… Shit. Head west. Now.” He handed Foster the scope. “Try ten o’clock.”
Foster inhaled. “Damn, looks like a platform ship of some kind. Hard to tell this far off, but it’s definitely adrift and possibly taking on water. Not too quickly, judging by the draft, but with the waves intensifying and another storm on the horizon, we can’t assume it’ll last if the Coast Guard can’t rally a ship quick enough.”
Foster handed Zain back his scope, then radioed the Coast Guard, all the while spinning the wheel and nosing the bow toward the open ocean. Foster hit the throttle, bouncing the boat across the surface, kicking up spray as the wind picked up. A few cresting waves surged to life as the sun dipped lower along the horizon, painting the ocean in orange and gold.
Zain kept that vessel in sight, occasionally glancing at the storm front building behind it. While he hadn’t been concerned before, with the possible rescue adding at least another hour to their trip, they might run into the leading edge — get bounced around on the journey back.
Not that the risk would stop them with possible lives on the line. He just hoped the conditions didn’t surpass their level of expertise. While Foster could pilot them through a hurricane in the air, the water was another story. Of course, Zain was confident his buddy would prove him wrong.
Foster slowed as they drew nearer, the vessel far larger than Zain had first suspected, the massive deckrising and falling with the increasing swells. A few waves shot into the air as they hit the side, spraying water across the bow. Foster angled their boat to the port side, circling around to the stern in what Zain assumed was their best chance at gaining entry without having to toss a rope and scale the sides. Spotting a Zodiac already tethered to the bottom of the first of two ladders had his senses on high alert. Recognizing it as one of Saylor’s…
Laser-focused didn’t begin to describe his mentality.
Kash hooked Zain’s arm as Foster maneuvered their boat closer. “I know what you’re thinking, but she probably noticed it was in distress, too, on the tail end of her charter and doubled back to ensure everyone’s okay. She can’t simply turn off fifteen years in the service, buddy.”
Zain forced himself to swallow as he pointed at a spot just below the deck. “I wouldn’t be worried if that wasn’t a bloody handprint smeared along the hull.”
Chase muttered under his breath as he moved in alongside. “Damn.”
“I think we’re past damn because she obviously saw that and still ventured onboard. Likely, alone.”
Chase shrugged. “Of course, she did. None of us would expect anything less, you included. So, shove it all down, grab your gear, and let’s go save your girl.”
Zain resisted the urge to smack Chase up the side of the head. Especially when the phrase, “your girl,” fluttered Zain’s stomach. Made it feel as if he was falling without hitting the ground. Not how he’d ever startedan op, and he had no doubts, this was a full-scale mission.
Foster spun the boat and lined up the starboard side with the second ladder, matching the constant shifting of the other hull until Chase managed to grab ahold — got a line knotted off before the ladder slipped away. It took a few tries to fully stabilize everything enough to climb up, and Zain couldn’t help but wonder how she’d managed it alone. If she’d used a hook or maybe mystic powers. Because the woman seemed almost magical when it came to piloting a boat. As if she operated on a completely different frequency.
