Page 25

CHAPTER 25

M ore than anything, Raven had wanted to step in and help. So she was thankful Jake had included her.

Side by side, they began to walk the perimeter of the property, looking for anything that could signal trouble. They’d been assigned the forested area on the north end of the property.

The maritime forest around them was a dense patchwork of live oaks and loblolly pines silhouetted against the starlit sky. Their gnarled branches, sculpted by decades of sea winds, formed a protective canopy overhead.

A slight chill hung in the air, carrying the complex perfume of the coastal woodland—salt-tinged breeze mingling with the sweet fragrance of flowering wax myrtles and the earthy aroma of decomposing leaves on the forest floor.

Moonlight filtered through the twisted limbs, casting lace-like shadows that danced with each gentle gust. The distant rhythm of waves breaking on the shore provided a constant backdrop to the forest’s own nocturnal symphony: the soft hooting of barred owls, the rustle of small creatures navigating the underbrush, and the occasional splash from the nearby salt marsh.

Spanish moss swayed like ghostly curtains in the breeze, and their footsteps released the peppery scent of crushed pine needles. In clearings, the pale yellow-green glow of fireflies punctuated the darkness, drifting like embers among the shadowy trunks.

Thankfully, Raven and Jake had flashlights with them.

The trip to Emerald Isle had taken nine hours of their day—nine hours that someone had wanted them to be away from here.

Just what was someone plotting and why?

It made no sense to her.

Not yet at least.

She shone her light along the fence. So far, they’d found nothing.

“I don’t like this,” Jake muttered.

“I don’t either. The stakes are too high. And I don’t understand what someone wants to accomplish or why that man had a picture of me or why a picture from Syria was found at another scene.”

“You’re clearly a link here—I just don’t know why.” Jake continued to walk slowly, carefully. “Is there anyone you’ve upset lately? Someone who might want revenge?”

“Who might want this kind of revenge? It would be over the top. The only people I’ve made mad lately are a couple of collectors who couldn’t believe they’d purchased forged artifacts and one of my bosses who thought I was vying for his job.”

“You’re right. That doesn’t seem like enough motivation.” He frowned and paused. “What about your dad?”

Raven’s eyebrows flew up. “You think someone did this as a means of targeting my father?”

He shrugged. “It’s a theory.”

She frowned, wanting to deny his words. But instead, she thought it through, just in case Jake had a point. “Honestly, I haven’t talked to my father in a while. If he’s gotten himself into trouble again, I wouldn’t know about it.”

He cast her a look. “Maybe you should call him later.”

An imaginary rock suddenly pressed against Raven’s chest, but she nodded. “Maybe I should. For now, let’s keep looking.”

She could only deal with one problem at a time.

She took another step and heard a click. What was that?

Jake turned toward her, his eyes wide. “Stop! Don’t move.”

He knelt on the ground and shone his light by her feet.

What was he doing? Had he lost his mind?

“Raven, I need you to listen to me.” Jake’s voice contained a slight tremble. “You just stepped on a pressure plate. If you step off it, the IED below you will explode.”

Jake couldn’t believe this was happening.

A bomb had been hidden under the pile of leaves where Raven had stepped.

Sweat already poured down her forehead and neck.

“Are you sure?” Her voice trembled.

“I’m positive. But it’s going to be okay. I’ll figure out a way to get you out of this.”

Considering the bomb was half buried underground, it would be difficult. He wouldn’t be able to access the device to deactivate it. An ache formed in his chest at the thought.

He’d figure out something. He had no other choice.

First, he rose to his feet and used his radio to apprise Ty and Colton of the situation.

“Jake . . .” Raven’s voice still trembled as she stared at him with wide eyes.

He put his radio back on his belt, determined to be strong for her. “Yes?”

She swallowed hard, her breathing shallow. “I’m scared.”

Compassion panged inside him. No, it was more than compassion.

It was grief.

“It’s okay to be scared,” he told her. “You can be scared and brave.”

She nodded and drew in a deep but shaky breath. “You’ve always had a way of calming me down.”

“Good. I want you to stay calm.”

“I don’t even know how you do it exactly.” Her voice sounded thin. “But you do.”

Somewhere in there, Jake thought there was a compliment. But he couldn’t take time to revel in it now.

If Raven was being targeted, there was no way the person behind this could have known she’d be the one to step on this device.

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.