Page 38 of Raven’s Claw (Raven’s Cliff #2)

Kash motioned for Nyx to stay then chanced a peek out, hoofing it across the open space for the far wall when Tucker didn’t outright fire on him. If he kept the man focused on him, he could turn him around then spring Nyx on him. Take the guy down without killing him.

Kash moved through the next door, circling to his right. “I’ll assume you’re Icarus.”

“Bravo. You figured it out. I’m impressed.

” He laughed, the sound bouncing all over the place.

“I’m afraid your teammates are on the other side of the building.

I made some modifications over the past month.

Installed a few doors so I could isolate different sections.

It’ll all be over by the time they double back. ”

“Look, Icarus. I don’t want to hurt you. I just need to see Jordan. Make sure she’s okay.”

“She’s been better. But then, bullet wounds tend to leave a mark.” He’d moved off to the left, farther from the doorway.

Kash clenched his jaw, biting back the urge to barrel ahead, guns blazing. But if Tucker really had made modifications, they might need him to find Jordan before she bled out.

Kash cleared the next area, then turned back, that thick feeling between his shoulder blades stronger than before. “Did you shoot Rook, too?”

“The man’s a monster. Always pushing. Never satisfied. Nothing was ever good enough. Except Ember. She’s all he ever talked about. Be like Ember. Think like Ember. Well, screw Ember! I’m his son. I should have been his favorite.”

Boots scuffed off to Kash’s left. He’d been right. Tucker had backtracked.

Kash inched ahead. “That must have been frustrating. Always being in her shadow. But she was a victim, too. Why do you think she left?”

“To make my life hell! Do you know what Rook did to me when she slipped past me at that compound?” His voice trailed off, a solitary sob sounding in front of Kash.

“Nothing good, I’m sure.”

“She said I could leave. That I’m free. But I’ll never be free… Until I kill everyone.”

He stepped out of the shadows off to Kash’s right, rifle notched in his shoulder. A burst of gunfire preceding each step.

Kash dove to his left, clipping Tucker in the leg before whistling — keeping the man at bay with a few well-placed shots just shy of hitting him but enough to make him retreat. He took two staggering steps back, blood blossoming through his pants, when Nyx hit him full force from behind.

They crashed to the floor, landing hard as Nyx shook her head, yanking on Tucker’s arm — dragging him back. Tucker shouted and kicked then grabbed his knife when Kash called her off.

She released him, circling around to Kash’s left side as Kash stood over Tucker. Feet braced apart. His weapon centered on Tucker’s heart. Even with his head still spinning, the room tilting, he wouldn’t miss. Not this close.

“Where’s Jordan?”

Tucker glared at him, still brandishing the knife, but too far away to get in a viable hit. And Kash would have a bullet through his chest before the man could throw the blade. “Probably already dead.”

“Tell me where.”

“Or what? You’ll kill me?” He laughed. “Looks like your ‘not yet’ is going to be your ‘not ever’.”

Tucker moved, shoving the knife in his side, then twisting. Kash dove at him, knocking him out with the butt of his weapon before Tucker could yank the knife out and stab himself, again. But it was already critical, blood quickly pooling beneath his side.

“Damn it, Tucker.” Kash went to his knees, stabilized the knife as much as possible when Zain and Gibson barreled around the corner. They cleared the area then rushed over, staring at Tucker.

Miller toed the floor. “What the?”

Kash grunted. “He freaking stabbed himself. I…”

“Did he tell you where he has Jordan?”

“Not a word. But if Becca was right and he carried her in…”

“Nyx can get her scent off him.” Zain peered over Kash’s shoulder. “Well?”

“Guess we’ll find out.”

Miller nodded. “I’ll take Tucker to the boat. If you arses aren’t back in five, I’ll come looking for you. See that I don’t have to.”

Kash sighed. He hoped they wouldn’t need help, either because he wasn’t sure Jordan had that much time to spare. “Nyx. Find, Jordan.”

Nyx took one more sniff of Tucker’s clothes, then bounded off, limping across the floor and through one of the doorways.

Kash followed, bouncing off the walls a few times when his balance shifted, but he kept up.

Trailing after her as she went deeper into the building.

She stopped at an open door, sniffed the lip then headed inside.

Kash braced himself, then ran in, staring at the empty bed. Blood stained the sheets, the sheer amount stealing his breath. “Shit. Where the hell is she? That’s way too much for her to be vertical.”

“A normal person, sure, but Jordan.” Zain scoured the floor just outside the doorway. “I’ve got directional blood drops. Can Nyx track her that way?”

“Hell, yeah.” Kash moved to the door — pointed to the blood. “Nyx, find.”

The dog made a few passes then took off. Not running but walking fast. She paused every few feet, then continued, weaving back toward the entrance when something clattered to the floor ahead.

Kash took off, racing down a corridor then through a doorway, scanning the room when a silhouette lunged at him from the darkness, nearly tripping him up before he spun — grabbed an arm. “Christ.”