Page 52 of Chain Reaction

It brought back too many bad memories. Memories of his time in the service—one mission in particular.

He stared out the window as his mind traveled back in time.

His team had gone in to diffuse a possible bomb in a compound where they believed a terrorist leader was hiding out. Jake had been the leader, so he’d remained on the periphery while his guys had gone in.

They’d all communicated via their comms.

But halfway through the mission, they lost all contact.

Jake had feared the worst.

After several minutes, he’d decided to go in himself.

He had to know if his guys were okay.

He reached them just in time to see one of them cross a tripwire.

The building had gone up in flames.

He’d lost three of his best guys that day. Two others had been seriously injured.

And Jake had never seen it coming.

It should have been him.

Shortly after that he’d been reassigned and directed to rescue the ambassador’s daughter.

Raven.

She’d been abducted by a group of terrorists with a fetish for bombs.

But Jake had been hired. He’d tracked her down. Rescued her.

Protected her as her abductors had been captured and arrested.

His time with her had changed him.

Until everything had been turned upside down.

He ran a hand over his face.

Would Raven ever understand why he did what he’d done?

He frowned.

He wasn’t sure.

Few things in life scared him—but Raven not understanding his reason for not being in touch caused enough fear that he kept the truth to himself.

CHAPTER 24

Raven saw the tension on Jake’s face as they sat in the SUV traveling across the water by ferry.

He was worried—as he should be.

Something highly suspicious was going on.

The stakes were high.