Page 57 of Chain Reaction

Had this just been bad luck?

Jake would figure that out later. But bad luck was the only thing that made sense.

Right now, he had to keep her alive.

“What are you going to do?” Raven’s voice still quivered.

He peered up at her. “I’m still working on a plan. I just need you to stay still.”

Her gaze met his, and she didn’t bother to hide her fear. “I’m afraid I’m going to accidentally step off and kill us both.”

His throat tightened. What he wouldn’t do to trade places with her. To take away this anxiety.

Instead, he kept his steady gaze on her. “You’re not going to do that. You’re smart and reasonable.”

Raven slowly pressed her eyes closed and nodded, each motion terse. “Fear causes people to do things out of character.”

“You’re right. But I have total confidence you can handle this.” He meant the words.

She could handle this.

So could he.

He would figure out how to get Raven out of this situation if it was the last thing he did.

CHAPTER 26

Sweat dripped down Raven’s back.

Jake had made her feel better. Her words had been true. He’d always had the ability to somehow lift her spirit.

But she wasn’t sure how he’d get her out of this situation. She knew how bombs worked. She knew the reality of this moment.

Disarming the device beneath her foot would be nearly impossible.

Footsteps sounded behind her, but she didn’t dare move. She was afraid to even breathe.

Two men appeared, pausing in front of her.

“Raven, I’m Ty,” the lean but muscular man with dark hair started. “You met my wife, Cassidy. This is Colton.”

Colton was taller and broader with short, dark hair and a square jaw.

Colton calmly asked, “You doing okay?”

“I’d be better if I was standing on a beach contemplating how to relax.” She tried to keep her voice light.

“We’re going to get you off this,” Ty said. “We just need to figure out how to do it safely.”

“Safely is my preferred method.” Her voice sounded thin to her own ears.

Ty turned to Jake. “What are your ideas?”

Jake frowned and glanced toward her feet. “There are a couple of options. I could do a controlled flooding. If the device is mechanical and not electronic then it could jam the systems.”

“But we won’t know if it’s mechanical or electronic until we see it,” Colton pointed out.

“Exactly.” Jake rubbed his jaw.