Page 18

CHAPTER 18

A s Jake stood beside her, Raven leaned against the railing and looked out over the water. Seagulls swooped around them, diving with the breeze. Families with children wandered about also, enjoying the trip from Lantern Beach to the mainland. Dolphins swam in the wake behind the boat.

If only she could enjoy everything.

Instead, the hair on her neck rose.

She turned and scanned her surroundings, not liking the bad feeling brewing inside her.

But she didn’t see anyone acting strangely—only passengers enjoying the day.

Perhaps the feeling wasn’t an omen of something bad about to happen.

Maybe the hairs on her neck had risen as well as her apprehension because Jake was beside her. She wasn’t sure that was a good thing, however.

A memory of her time with Jake hit her.

Once while in Syria, she’d decided to go into town on an errand. The threats against her father had seemed to fade, and she needed to get a few things. Plus, she’d been anxious to get away from the consulate. She was going stir crazy staying inside all the time and had even called herself a prisoner. Her dad was trying to get her back to the States, but he hadn’t been able to secure a flight yet.

Jake had escorted her into town, and they’d paused on a bridge over the Barada River. As people bustled around her, she’d leaned on the railing and looked out over it.

The moment had started peacefully. Lovely, really. She and Jake had talked about all the places they’d like to travel to one day.

Then everything changed.

She hadn’t even realized one of her father’s enemies had been creeping closer to her.

But Jake had.

In the blink of an eye, he’d knocked the man out. Then he’d grabbed Raven and started running, desperate to get her to safety.

More men had been waiting in the shadows.

Jake had taken all the hits for her. He’d gotten her back to the consulate safely.

In all, he’d taken down four assailants.

The situation had been precarious and scary.

But Raven had never felt as attracted to someone as she had at that moment.

Maybe that had been her problem. She’d developed a fantasy-like crush on Jake and had elevated him to hero status.

Their relationship couldn’t sustain itself fueled by only adrenaline.

That was what it had been, right?

All emotion and no substance?

But if that truly was the case, why was she so aware of him standing beside her now?

“How’s your dad doing?”

Jake’s voice pulled Raven from her thoughts. She put those memories aside, knowing it was better if she didn’t dwell on them anyway.

She glanced at him, noting how he had his back turned toward the water and his gaze studied everyone around them instead.

“Working hard like always.” Raven tried to keep the edge out of her voice, but she wasn’t successful.

Certainly, Jake had heard the bitterness there. He knew all about her daddy issues. He’d been there to witness some of them.

“How about your family?” she asked, desperate to change the subject.

He shrugged. “I don’t talk to them very often. They’re doing their own thing.”

She knew all about his family also. He’d opened up to her about how hard his dad had been on him. About the pressure the man had put on Jake to follow in his footsteps. He’d been a Navy commander.

Thankfully, there was another man who’d taken Jake under his wing. She couldn’t remember his name now. She only remembered that this person had helped Jake navigate things his own father had blown off.

Family life was rarely simple, no matter how things looked on the surface.

She and Jake both knew that firsthand.

Just then, the hairs on her neck rose again.

She turned to look behind her. Scanned the other passengers.

Then she looked up.

That was when she saw him.

A man in a ballcap and sunglasses. Standing on the observation deck above them, looking down over the crowd.

Though she couldn’t see his eyes, Raven was certain he was watching her . . . and that he was trouble.

Jake noticed the man at the same time as Raven.

He needed to find out why that guy was watching them.

His muscles turned to steel as he told Raven, “Get in the car, lock the doors, and wait for me there.”

She might not appreciate him bossing her around, but all he cared about was keeping her safe.

With a quick nod, she scrambled back toward the SUV.

When she was safely inside, Jake strode between the vehicles and people on the ferry, took the steps two at a time to the observation deck.

Before reaching the top, a family of five turned the corner and piled onto the narrow stairway, heading down.

Jake tried to patiently wait for them to pass. He didn’t want to alarm the children.

But by the time the stairs were clear and he reached the top level, the man was gone.

Blood rushed through Jake’s veins.

He quickened his steps until he reached the spot where the man had been standing.

It was empty, as he’d known it would be.

Where could the man have gone?

That’s when he spotted another narrow stairwell in the back.

Jake rushed down the steps, following them back to the main level where the cars were parked.

Had the man hidden behind a car or truck? Retreated back inside whatever vehicle he had driven aboard?

Just what would this guy’s next move be?

Jake flexed his fingers before curling them into fists. He wished he could draw his gun. But he couldn’t. Not with so many innocent bystanders lingering close.

He would only do so if the man forced his hand.

Right now, he needed to figure out where this guy had gone.

He scanned everyone around him again. The man was nowhere to be seen.

But he had to be somewhere onboard.

Jake headed toward the front of the boat, where a crowd had gathered to look at the water.

If he was trying to lose someone, he’d head toward the crowd in order to blend in.

As he walked past each vehicle, he searched the area around it, making sure this guy wasn’t crouching and waiting to attack.

As he reached the last car, he paused and glanced at the group gathered at the bow.

That was when Jake saw him.

The man had changed his hat and sunglasses, almost as if he’d been prepared for this very moment.

Which didn’t surprise Jake one bit.

“Hey!” Jake yelled.

The man took off into a run.

The passengers nearby gasped. Some of them yelled as the man shoved them aside. Most looked confused.

Jake charged toward the man.

The guy paused at a railing, trapped between it and a nearby car.

Jake had him now.

Satisfaction washed through him.

He couldn’t wait to get some answers from this guy.

But when Jake was only a few feet away, the man turned.

He hurdled the railing.

Then he jumped overboard.