Page 104 of Chain Reaction

“Who is Sigma?” Raven asked. She could hardly breathe as she waited.

Maybe this was their chance to find out some answers.

Her father’s expression softened. “They’re a group of men whose sole purpose is to destroy the United States. They have ties to Syria. I found out about them and tried to put an end to them. That was when they went after your mother . . . then you.”

Regret filled his features, and his eyes sagged with sadness.

“Their name was never mentioned before.” Raven would have remembered. Every conversation her dad seemed to have back then had been political.

The sadness disappeared from his gaze as her dad popped back into professional mode. “Everything about them was top secret. My superiors didn’t want word to get out about this group. Honestly, we thought special forces had successfully destroyed the organization.”

“But now they’re back . . .” Jake murmured.

His eyes darkened again. “It sounds as if they are. Can you tell me what you know?”

They updated him on what had happened.

His expression grew grimmer with every detail.

“I believe Sigma is hiring people under the guise of being a secret government organization, and they’re convincing these people they’re doing classified work,” Dad said. “The person leading this group is persuasive and makes these people believe they’re targeting enemies of the state. The leader most likely told his men that all of you were secretly working for terrorists. They had no idea you were actually on the right side of the law.”

“So these men could have good motives. They may not know exactly what they’re doing.” Ty sighed as if burdened by the thought.

“Exactly,” her dad said. “They could be doing work similar to what your men do. They believe they’ve been hired to stop deadly plots or bring down dangerous people. In truth, it’s all lies.”

“These guys seem especially dangerous then,” Jake said. “Especially if they believe they’re doing the right thing. What’s their end goal?”

“My opinion? To destroy everyone’s peace of mind. To destroy the economy. To strike fear into the hearts of everyday people.” Her father grimaced. “I believe they knew these bombs would draw Raven here. The fact you’re here, Jake, is probably like a bonus to them. They knew by targeting Raven that I’d feel a gut punch.”

“Because you’re also a target?”

“Because of the peace deal I was able to strike in the Middle East, they hate me. I represent everything they despise.”

Raven didn’t like the sound of that. The group could create the perfect storm, mixing alliances and blurring the line between right and wrong.

“It sounds like we have a lot to talk about,” she finally said.

“Yes, we do.”

“Maybe you should get some rest first,” Ty suggested. “Why don’t I take you to a room for the night? You can stay here.”

“That sounds great.” He turned to Raven. “We can talk more later.”

She didn’t hesitate before nodding. “I would like that.”

A smile began to curl his lip. “Then I look forward to it.”

A moment later, Ty escorted her father and his attaché into the lodge, leaving just her and Jake.

CHAPTER 49

Jake watched the men walk away, his thoughts still reeling.

It was nighttime now. Darkness had fallen, and crickets chirped in the distance.

The moment almost felt . . . peaceful.

Was peace really possible? And, if so, how long would the feeling last?