Page 45

CHAPTER 45

“ K ingston?” Raven stared at him. “You’re the one who’s been behind this?”

The man looked just as handsome as ever with his thick, dark hair and fit build.

But his eyes looked different from when she’d last seen him.

Gone was the spark of interest. In its place was a darkness.

He moved toward her. “Raven. Beautiful Raven. I’m sorry things had to go this way.”

“I don’t understand.” Raven shook her head as she tried to put the facts together. “You just got to know me because of this?”

Kingston paced forward and paused in front of her. That was when she noticed he was wearing a tux. Why in the world was he wearing a tux?

He continued to stare at her, a cocky expression on his face. “I had to think of some way to keep tabs on you. That dating site seemed to be the easiest. You weren’t as charmed by me as I’d hoped, however.”

If he was behind this, then he had some of the answers she needed. “Who is Sigma, and what do you guys want?”

His gaze burned into her. “The question is: Who are you working for, Raven Newton?”

Her forehead creased. “Who am I . . . ? You know who I work for. ICHPA.”

“We know that’s just a cover. You’re not working for the government. You’re working with the enemy.”

Her head continued to spin. He wasn’t making any sense. “What enemy would that be that I’m working for?”

He scowled, some of his humor disappearing. “You know good and well who you’re working for. People who are trying to destroy this country.”

Raven’s eyebrows shot up. “You think I’m working for terrorists?”

His gaze darkened. “Stop playing games. It’s unbecoming.”

“Wait . . . if you think I’m working for people who want to destroy America, then who are you working for?”

“I’m a government operative.” He narrowed his eyes as if annoyed. “But I think you already know that.”

Raven’s thoughts continued to race. “You’re saying the US government has been trying to kill me?”

He shrugged, still acting annoyed. “If you’re going to die anyway, I guess I can tell you this much. Sigma is a black ops group hired to take down enemies of the state.”

Her mind raced. “But I’m not an enemy of the state. Where are you even getting that information?”

He did a half eye roll. “Stop playing dumb. You’re way too smart for that.”

“I’m not playing dumb, Kingston.” She tugged harder against her binds.

Of all the things she’d expected him to say, that wasn’t it. Why would he think she was a terrorist?

The pieces continued to click together in her mind.

She continued to stare at him.

He believed his words, she realized. He really thought she was an enemy and he was the noble one.

She would need to proceed very carefully.

She cleared her throat before asking, “So you think I’m secretly trying to destroy the United States?”

“That’s right,” he said. “You and your father.”

“Because of that, you lured me here to Lantern Beach by planting that fake bomb, and you did all this just so you could eventually abduct and kill me? Why didn’t you just kill me while I was up in DC? Why all the theatrics?”

“We needed to make sure to send the right message.”

“And what’s that?”

“That evil people won’t get away with their evil deeds.”

There was clearly a misunderstanding here. “But I’m not evil.”

He cast her a look.

She wasn’t going to change his mind, was she?

“And what do you plan on doing with me now?” Her throat ached as she asked the question. “You said kill me but . . . I’m tied up.”

“The bomb behind you is set to detonate in thirty minutes. That will give me enough time to get off this boat and get out of here, all while sending a powerful message.”

Her breath caught at the implications of his words. “Who else is on board?”

A smile curled his lip. “That’s not important.”

Yet Raven knew it was. This boat had been chosen for a reason. Were more supposed enemies of the state on board? It seemed like a possibility.

Then another thought startled her.

Kingston wasn’t the man who’d gotten her from the walk-in freezer.

That had been someone else.

She had a feeling there was a whole network of people just like Kingston . . . people who thought they were working for the government.

But in truth, they were working for the enemy.

The Coast Guard and marine police had been called.

But there was no way Jake would stay on Lantern Beach and not do everything within his power to help Raven. He could recover from any of his injuries later. His aches and pains would still be there.

Colton had already secured a Zodiac boat.

Now he, Ty, and Colton were on board and heading across the water.

The Coast Guard was twenty minutes out.

Jake hoped they could make it to the yacht sooner.

He kept his gaze focused on the horizon as he searched for the boat Jimmy James had told them about.

The three of them had already talked about their plan and what they’d do if they arrived at the boat before the Coast Guard. Jake personally thought his team would have more of an advantage in that situation. There was less of a chance someone would see them approaching in the Zodiac. When the Coast Guard arrived, it would be obvious, and that could make somebody panic.

“There it is!” Jake saw the boat in the distance.

“Perfect.” Ty angled the boat toward the large vessel.

As they got closer, he saw a smaller boat beside the bigger one.

“What’s that about?” he muttered.

“I’m not sure,” Colton said, holding his binoculars. “But there are only two people aboard—two men.”

“You recognize them?” Jake asked.

“No.”

“Can I see?”

Colton handed him the binoculars.

“One of them is the man from the ferry,” Jake said. “I don’t recognize the other one. But I don’t see Raven.”

“I don’t think she’s on that boat,” Colton said. “Unless she’s lying down, and I doubt there’s room on that boat for that.”

“So there’s a good chance she’s still on board the yacht?” Jake’s heart thumped in his ears as he waited for his answer.

“I’d say so,” Ty said. “Let’s find out. We’ll let the Coast Guard catch those guys.” Ty picked up his radio to give the authorities the update.