Page 34 of Raven’s Claw (Raven’s Cliff #2)
Rook narrowed his gaze, glanced at the chamber, the tunnel, then focused back on her. “If you’re waiting for the cavalry, I don’t think they’re going to make it in time.”
She smiled as everything clicked into place. “Really? Because by my calculations, they’re already here.”
Gunfire echoed up the path behind them, Miller obviously taking the initiative as explosions rocked through the cave a moment later. Everything shaking and rolling — parts of the tunnel collapsing around them.
She grabbed a couple canisters off the guy to her left, kicked him in the groin, then dove into the cave, clearing the entrance as more of the structure fell.
She pulled the pin, then launched the first one across the floor.
Thick gray smoke filled the space, adding to the already dense air as rocks and dust rained down from above.
Rook stepped through the increasing cloud, fired off a couple rounds, then disappeared amidst a swirl of gray.
Jordan tripped to one knee, a deep groove grazed down her ribs before she scrambled for cover, tossing the other grenade out for good measure.
It clicked across the stone, stopping close to the entrance before erupting in a display of light and sound.
The concussive wave caved more of the roof in, covering the entire front half of the chamber in a mountain of rocks. Not quite sealed off, but close.
Gunfire continued in the distance, followed by an eerie silence. Pain teased her senses, but she pushed it down, listening for any hint of movement. Rook’s muffled curse echoed around her before all traces of him vanished.
Just like that. As if he’d fallen through the floor or been beamed up by aliens.
This was the true version of him.
The man who’d spent more time as a ghost than he had being alive — being visible. The operative who’d completed more missions than most teams combined.
Other than her.
Because she’d learned from the best, and she could vanish, too.
Jordan quieted her mind, sensing her surroundings more than simply seeing them. How the smoke curled off to her right, a hint of that licorice wafting toward her. The slight press of a boot followed by a rustle of fabric as his gun brushed against his jacket.
Rook lunged out of the smoke, Sig level with her chest, his finger already inside the guard. She spun into him, eliminating any chance at a shot before slamming his hand against a rock. A quick hit to his elbow and jaw, and the gun clattered to the ground.
She kicked it away, ducking his left hook before shoving him back — gaining a bit of distance.
That only enabled him enough time to draw his KA-BAR — brandish it in the glow of the smoky lights before slicing it toward her in long sweepings arcs.
He caught the rock above her shoulder as she dropped — swiped at his feet.
He managed to jump out of the way, but he recovered a heartbeat later, stabbing at her.
Landing a hit to her arm. Blood splattered across the stone, looking almost black in the eerie light.
Rook tossed the blade into his other hand, twirling it a few times as he shook his head. “Maybe I was right? Maybe seven months in the real world made you soft?”
She stepped to her left, keeping her limbs out of reach. He couldn’t afford to throw the knife with her this close, aware she’d counter before he drew a second. She studied the way he moved, noting the stiffness in his right knee.
“Actually, it gave me a whole new perspective. Allowed me to focus on the bigger picture. Like your knee. You’ve had it replaced.”
She blocked his next strike, then kicked the inside of that knee — buckled it. Not enough to drop him, but she landed half a dozen hits to his arm and ribs before the knife fell, bouncing a few feet away.
Rook grabbed her, countered the way she tried to lower her weight then bodily lifted her. He spun, slammed her into the stone, then wrapped his hands around her throat. Her airway cut off, black dots quickly eating up her vision.
He leaned in, his breath washing over her face. “I’m starting to think I was wrong about you. That you were never the protégé I’d hoped for. I guess I should have focused more on Icarus, after all.”
She clenched her jaw, palmed his head with her left hand and shoved her thumb in his eye. He shouted, easing up just enough she connected her elbow to the side of his head — knocked him back.
That was all the opening she needed. She grabbed his jacket, kicked off the rock and jumped onto his shoulders.
It wasn’t pretty, both of them still reeling from the after-effects of the grenades, but she managed a couple strikes to his head before he stumbled backwards, arms flailing trying to catch his balance.
They hit a rock and tumbled, crashing to the floor as an explosion sounded off to their right.
Jordan hit hard, her head bouncing on the stone — adding to the wooziness blurring her vision.
The impact had the floor tilting left and right.
The scenery spinning, then stopping, only to whirl, again.
Even the air seemed louder, ringing in her ears as the smoke curled around her.
She staggered onto her feet, fighting to find any semblance of balance when Rook lunged out of the gray light, his Sig grasped in his right hand.
Not quite pointed at her, but close. All he needed was a few more seconds to get his muscles to respond, and he’d have her. No way to miss that close.
Kash’s face flashed in her head. She wasn’t going to lose.
Not this time.
Not to Rook.
Her reflexes kicked in, and she stepped toward him, deflecting his arm as she slammed her palm against the grip — ejected the magazine.
Her momentum carried her into his chest, knocking him to the ground.
Dropping the Sig into her hand. She flipped it, pointed it at him, the chambered bullet a pull away from hitting his heart.
Rocks crashed in the distance as she stood there, chest heaving, blood dripping onto the ground. Each drop echoing through the cave. She just wasn’t sure if it sounded like victory or failure.
She blinked back sweat and smoke, staring him in the eyes. “Who’s Icarus?”
Rook chuckled, pushing up enough to lean against a rock. “All this time and you never looked beyond the obvious. Never considered anyone who wasn’t already part of the system.” He grinned. “I named him, too.”
“Him?” She inhaled. “Is Icarus your son? Is that what the code name means? Like the myth? Did you send him to hurt Kash?”
Rook’s eyes widened. “Why don’t you ask him?”
A single footstep sounded behind her before twin reports boomed through the space. Bouncing off the walls then moving through her. Pain shot through her shoulder, everything shifting left before she hit the ground.
A silhouette passed above her, haunted brown eyes staring down at her. Something stabbed her neck, a burst of icy fluid burning through her veins before the scenery swam and everything faded to black.