Page 103 of Chain Reaction

“And?” Jake squeezed her shoulder, sensing the tension in her.

“This guy wore a pin with that insignia on it—the circle of Ss. I’d forgotten about it. I blocked the memory out, I suppose. But it came back to me earlier.”

“Did you ask your dad about it?” Ty asked.

“I did, but he went quiet. I don’t know what he knows, but he’s not talking.” Raven shrugged apologetically. “Iwillask again, however. I want to find out the truth about this just as much—if not more—than anyone.”

Just as she said the words, a chopping sound came from above them.

Her hair began to swirl around her as she looked up.

A helicopter was about to land on the property.

“You expecting someone?” Jake shouted over the sound of the aircraft.

“Nope.” Ty continued to watch, his phone already in hand as he called this in.

If an enemy was landing, they needed to be prepared.

A moment later, two men in military uniforms stepped out, followed by another man wearing a suit.

Raven’s lips parted as she muttered, “Dad?”

Raven couldn’t believe her eyes.

Why was her father here? She hardly knew what to say or do.

Or how to react.

Escorted by the two military guards, her dad headed toward them.

Her father paused in front of them, nodded at Ty and Jake, then turned to Raven.

His eyes softened when he saw her. “My beautiful daughter.”

Against her will, her heart warmed. “Dad.”

After a moment of hesitation, she reached for him. He reached for her. They hugged, though the action felt awkward and stiffer than it should.

Still, the familiar feel of his arms embracing her swept her mind back in time to the happy days of her childhood—days before everything had changed. Days before her mom had been killed and her dad had grown distant.

After a few seconds, they pulled away.

Raven instantly missed the embrace—missed the ideal of what she thought in her mind should be the relationship between a father and daughter.

“Sorry to stop by unannounced.” Her dad’s expression turned more professional.

“How did you know I was here?” Raven’s thoughts turned from their relationship, and she tried to connect the dots.

“I can find out almost anything I need to know.”

Raven couldn’t argue with his words. Her father had all the connections he could ever need.

Her father glanced at her, his gaze now heavy. “Can we talk?”

“Jake and Ty have been with me this whole time,” Raven said. “I wouldn’t be alive right now if it weren’t for them. You can speak in front of them.”

His expression remained tense, but he nodded. “That’s what I thought. I was shaken up after you mentioned the insignia you found. I thought everyone associated with the group had been killed.”