Page 12 of Raven’s Claw (Raven’s Cliff #2)
Zain glanced at the dog, then back at her. “She gave me away, didn’t she?”
“More that she didn’t react.”
He nodded, shifting on his feet, a sudden awkwardness slowly bleeding out the available oxygen. He opened his mouth, closed it, then stared at her.
She held up her hands, wondering how to push past him without making the situation worse. “I should get back…”
Zain moved aside, letting her pass before he grunted. “Kash is crazy about you.”
She froze, those five words weighing her down until she thought she’d crumble beneath the strain.
He took a step toward her. “Has been for months. I guess it took that plunge in the ocean to finally get him to realize that time is always limited.”
She attempted to swallow, coughing when it didn’t quite go down right. “Zain…”
“Just hear him out before you run.”
She looked at him over her shoulder. “I’m just trying to keep everyone safe.”
“What’s good being safe if you’ve got no one to share it with?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“The hell it isn’t.” He held up one hand.
“I get it. You’re got secrets that come with termination orders and wet squads.
The kind of shitstorm that levels everything it touches.
And when the first inklings of that pressure system arrives at your doorstep, you pack your bags and head for clearer skies.
But sooner or later, that rain’s gonna catch up.
Wouldn’t you rather have half a dozen more umbrellas surrounding you to weather it when it does? ”
“Of course, I would. But if this storm finds me…” She shivered, trying not to picture the fallout. “The rivers’ll run red. And I can’t be the reason he…”
She wouldn’t say it. Wouldn’t put it out into the universe for Rook to pick up on and manifest into reality. The odds were already stacked against her. She couldn’t afford to tempt Fate, too.
She thumbed toward Kash’s place. “I really should get back.”
Zain kicked at the mud, muttering something under his breath as he shook his head. “I’ll walk with you.”
“That’s not necessary.”
He simply waved at a slightly nicer trail, then followed behind, moving in beside her once they made it back to the long driveway. He didn’t talk, just kept walking, constantly sweeping the area.
Jordan gave him a nudge. “Seriously. I’m fine, and I’ve got Nyx with me.”
Zain brushed it off as if she’d told him she didn’t need to breathe. “My mother would crawl out of her grave and haunt my ass if I didn’t see you safely back to Kash’s. It was one of her rules. Always walk a lady to her door and make sure she goes inside.” He smiled. “Even if she is lethal.”
Jordan smiled. “That’s…”
“Weird? Sexist? Tragically old fashioned?”
“Sweet, actually. That your mom loved you enough to impart her wisdom.”
His brow furrowed. “That kinda sounds like yours didn’t.”
She slowed as they neared Kash’s door. “My parents only had several years to impart anything. And they were too tweaked out on whatever they were dealing to remember to feed me most days, let alone give me any worldly advice. After the accident…” She shrugged.
It seemed so long ago, she often forgot she’d had a life before Scythe and Rook.
“Not much changed, actually. There were too many kids with too much baggage for that group home to feel like anything other than a weigh station. So, yeah, I think it was sweet.”
She stopped just shy of the covered area stretching the length of Kash’s home. “We’re here, safe and sound. Thanks for the tracking lesson. Looks like I need to brush up a bit before our next session.”
“Sheesh, you two spend all of ten minutes together, and you’re already talking shop.” Kash moved out of the shadows, cup in one hand, a travel mug in the other. “It’s like you just can’t help yourselves.”
Jordan jumped. She’d been so focused on Zain, she hadn’t noticed Kash lurking in the dark. Which suggested she really was slipping, especially when she should be on high alert.
Zain shrugged. “Occupational hazard.”
Kash shook his head. “That’s lame, brother.” He held out the travel mug. “Figured you’d need a hit before you head off. Assuming you’re done with the war games for the night.”
“Just because I didn’t find any trouble doesn’t mean it’s not out there, brewing.”
“Which implies it’s not ready, so you can afford to get a few hours of sleep.”
Zain didn’t reply just tipped the mug at them then headed off. He crossed the open lawn, disappearing into the building off to their right.
Jordan moved in beside Kash. “First, I don’t realize you’re actually awake when I slip out of the bed, then I don’t see you in the dark. Are you trying to make me question my skill set?”
“Your skill set’s fine. I’m simply attempting to prove that you’re safer as part of a team than the lone wolf mentality you seem to think is your only option.” He nodded at the knife. “I hope that’s one of mine because if it’s not, I’m not sure I want to know where you were hiding it.”
“I got it from the drawer next to the dishwasher. And have you stopped to consider that I’m trying to keep you safe? That I don’t want to be the reason you get hurt?”
“I’ve considered it. I just don’t accept it.” He waved to the door. “Coffee?”