Page 48

CHAPTER 48

J ake and Raven headed back to Blackout.

It had been a long day, to say the least. The sun was now setting, a strange peacefulness to the pastel hues stretching across the sky.

But at least, it was over. The worst of it—hopefully.

The Coast Guard had boarded the yacht and taken over the scene.

The marine police, in the meantime, had picked up Kingston and his colleague. They’d been arrested, but they weren’t talking yet.

Paramedics had insisted on checking out Jake after the explosion. He had some cuts and bruises, but he would be okay. They checked out Raven also, but she was fine.

The senator had thanked them for saving his life. Jake felt certain there was a connection between Sigma and Rollins, but that truth hadn’t come out yet.

The FBI was talking to the man now.

For a moment, Jake and Raven were free to do their own thing, although Jake was sure there would be more questions.

As they stood outside on the oversized porch, enjoying the mild weather, Ty stepped out and strode toward them.

His gaze appeared purposeful as if he had an update. “I just got off the phone with one of my FBI contacts. They’ve taken over the investigation. Kingston and his colleague still aren’t talking.”

That was disappointing but not necessarily a surprise.

“They did say one thing,” Ty said. “Kingston said his superiors will get him out of this, and then we’d all understand.”

“He said something like that to me also.” Raven narrowed her gaze with the memories. “I think he and his colleagues truly believe they’re working black ops for the government and that we’re the bad guys.”

“Why would they think that?” Ty furrowed his brow.

“Someone who hired them wanted these guys to think that, to think they’re doing something noble. Some kind of CIA-like operations yet here on US soil.”

“We still have no idea who might have hired them?” Jake asked.

Ty shook his head. “Not that I’ve heard.”

Jake still had to wonder if one of his colleagues was involved. But he’d honor what he’d told Ty and Colton he’d do. He’d wait to smoke out anyone involved.

“Any updates on this Thomas Logan guy?” Raven asked. “The one who ran out in front of the car?”

“I checked earlier today, and he’s still in ICU. However, we did a deeper dive into his past. It turns out he has a background with the CIA.”

“What?” Jake squinted. “So whose side is this guy on?”

“That’s what’s still uncertain,” Ty said. “Even the government seems uncertain about the truth. My theory is that he came here to keep an eye on these bombs. Then things went south. We’ll see if he regains consciousness or not. It may be the only way we find out answers about him, however.”

“This is obviously a complex situation,” Jake said, thinking about all of the unanswered questions they still faced. “And what about the second bomb that was planted at Eleanor’s house? I’m still trying to figure out why that was there also.”

“I think these people wanted to send a message, to let us know that no one was safe,” Raven said. “And they wanted to keep us on our toes. That guy was lingering nearby so he could watch it all play out.”

Jake only grunted in response.

“My other question is: Why Raven?” Ty turned toward her. “It seems as if you were targeted. I’m assuming the leader of this organization told his new hires you were an enemy of the state.”

“I assume that also.” She swallowed hard. “But I’m afraid it might have something to do with my father. When I was abducted in Syria . . . one of the men who was the mastermind behind the operation came into the room where I was being kept. I had a flashback of that moment.”

“And?” Jake squeezed her shoulder, sensing the tension in her.

“This guy wore a pin with that insignia on it—the circle of Ss. I’d forgotten about it. I blocked the memory out, I suppose. But it came back to me earlier.”

“Did you ask your dad about it?” Ty asked.

“I did, but he went quiet. I don’t know what he knows, but he’s not talking.” Raven shrugged apologetically. “I will ask again, however. I want to find out the truth about this just as much—if not more—than anyone.”

Just as she said the words, a chopping sound came from above them.

Her hair began to swirl around her as she looked up.

A helicopter was about to land on the property.

“You expecting someone?” Jake shouted over the sound of the aircraft.

“Nope.” Ty continued to watch, his phone already in hand as he called this in.

If an enemy was landing, they needed to be prepared.

A moment later, two men in military uniforms stepped out, followed by another man wearing a suit.

Raven’s lips parted as she muttered, “Dad?”

Raven couldn’t believe her eyes.

Why was her father here? She hardly knew what to say or do.

Or how to react.

Escorted by the two military guards, her dad headed toward them.

Her father paused in front of them, nodded at Ty and Jake, then turned to Raven.

His eyes softened when he saw her. “My beautiful daughter.”

Against her will, her heart warmed. “Dad.”

After a moment of hesitation, she reached for him. He reached for her. They hugged, though the action felt awkward and stiffer than it should.

Still, the familiar feel of his arms embracing her swept her mind back in time to the happy days of her childhood—days before everything had changed. Days before her mom had been killed and her dad had grown distant.

After a few seconds, they pulled away.

Raven instantly missed the embrace—missed the ideal of what she thought in her mind should be the relationship between a father and daughter.

“Sorry to stop by unannounced.” Her dad’s expression turned more professional.

“How did you know I was here?” Raven’s thoughts turned from their relationship, and she tried to connect the dots.

“I can find out almost anything I need to know.”

Raven couldn’t argue with his words. Her father had all the connections he could ever need.

Her father glanced at her, his gaze now heavy. “Can we talk?”

“Jake and Ty have been with me this whole time,” Raven said. “I wouldn’t be alive right now if it weren’t for them. You can speak in front of them.”

His expression remained tense, but he nodded. “That’s what I thought. I was shaken up after you mentioned the insignia you found. I thought everyone associated with the group had been killed.”

“Who is Sigma?” Raven asked. She could hardly breathe as she waited.

Maybe this was their chance to find out some answers.

Her father’s expression softened. “They’re a group of men whose sole purpose is to destroy the United States. They have ties to Syria. I found out about them and tried to put an end to them. That was when they went after your mother . . . then you.”

Regret filled his features, and his eyes sagged with sadness.

“Their name was never mentioned before.” Raven would have remembered. Every conversation her dad seemed to have back then had been political.

The sadness disappeared from his gaze as her dad popped back into professional mode. “Everything about them was top secret. My superiors didn’t want word to get out about this group. Honestly, we thought special forces had successfully destroyed the organization.”

“But now they’re back . . .” Jake murmured.

His eyes darkened again. “It sounds as if they are. Can you tell me what you know?”

They updated him on what had happened.

His expression grew grimmer with every detail.

“I believe Sigma is hiring people under the guise of being a secret government organization, and they’re convincing these people they’re doing classified work,” Dad said. “The person leading this group is persuasive and makes these people believe they’re targeting enemies of the state. The leader most likely told his men that all of you were secretly working for terrorists. They had no idea you were actually on the right side of the law.”

“So these men could have good motives. They may not know exactly what they’re doing.” Ty sighed as if burdened by the thought.

“Exactly,” her dad said. “They could be doing work similar to what your men do. They believe they’ve been hired to stop deadly plots or bring down dangerous people. In truth, it’s all lies.”

“These guys seem especially dangerous then,” Jake said. “Especially if they believe they’re doing the right thing. What’s their end goal?”

“My opinion? To destroy everyone’s peace of mind. To destroy the economy. To strike fear into the hearts of everyday people.” Her father grimaced. “I believe they knew these bombs would draw Raven here. The fact you’re here, Jake, is probably like a bonus to them. They knew by targeting Raven that I’d feel a gut punch.”

“Because you’re also a target?”

“Because of the peace deal I was able to strike in the Middle East, they hate me. I represent everything they despise.”

Raven didn’t like the sound of that. The group could create the perfect storm, mixing alliances and blurring the line between right and wrong.

“It sounds like we have a lot to talk about,” she finally said.

“Yes, we do.”

“Maybe you should get some rest first,” Ty suggested. “Why don’t I take you to a room for the night? You can stay here.”

“That sounds great.” He turned to Raven. “We can talk more later.”

She didn’t hesitate before nodding. “I would like that.”

A smile began to curl his lip. “Then I look forward to it.”

A moment later, Ty escorted her father and his attaché into the lodge, leaving just her and Jake.