Page 39 of Raven’s Claw (Raven’s Cliff #2)

Chapter Nineteen

She looked like a ghost.

Skin deathly white. Deep smudges beneath her eyes as she trembled against him, a length of pipe in one hand. Blood soaked her sweater, the excess dripping onto the floor.

“Easy, sweetheart.”

Jordan fisted his shirt, her grip stronger than he’d thought possible. “It’s Tucker…”

“I know.”

“He’s Rook’s son.” She collapsed against him, nearly taking them both down when the scenery swam for a moment.

Zain stopped Kash from tripping onto his ass, possibly hurting Jordan in the process, cradling her head as Kash eased her onto the floor.

Kash checked her pulse. Thready, but there. “Jordan? Eyes on me.”

She smiled, or at least, tried, only one corner of her mouth lifting. “You know what that phrase does to me.”

“Which is why I keep saying it.” He lifted the bottom of her shirt then rolled her enough to expose the bullet wound on her scapula. “You really outdid yourself. A knife wound and a forty-five to the shoulder blade.”

“I…”

“Shhh. Let me get some pressure on this, then we’ll head back, okay?”

“Rook?”

Kash huffed, thanking Zain when he handed Kash his tee. “Still breathing the last time I saw him.”

She nodded, then frowned. “You’re hurt.”

“And yet, a far sight better than you.”

“What…”

“I’ll tell you everything once you’re coherent. Which is my subtle way of telling you to stay with me.” He leaned in. “You promised me you wouldn’t run. I need you to keep that.”

“I’ll…”

Her head lolled to the side as she faded, eyes falling shut. He rechecked her pulse — breath held, heart a dead weight in his chest until a weak strum fluttered against his fingertips. “We’re losing her.”

Zain crouched low. “Brother, I know how much you want to be the one to carry her out, but it might complicate things if you end up on your ass on the way. Let me take her.”

Kash cursed under his breath but nodded. While he wouldn’t admit it out loud, he wasn’t sure he could carry her. Not without doing exactly what Zain had mentioned.

Zain gathered her in his arms, maintaining the pressure on her back before making a beeline for the exit. Kash trailed behind, using Nyx and the wall to stay upright and moving.

Miller already had Tucker on the boat by the time they reached the dock, the weather infinitely worse than when they’d ventured in.

Saylor waved them on, holding up her radio. “Foster just left Providence. But with the freezing level so low, he has to go around a few of the bigger hills. It’ll add another ten minutes to his flight.”

Zain winced. “I don’t think she has that to spare.”

“Which is why I told him we’d meet him at this out-of-the-way marina south of here.

I called ahead, and they’ll let me dock my boat for the night.

Honestly, I think they were more surprised anyone was out here.

There’s enough room for Foster to squeeze the machine next to the dock. It should buy us back that time.”

“Are you sure it’s okay to be out on the water?” Zain shook his head. “I’m not gonna lie, Saylor. It looks bad.”

“I’ve been in worse.”

“And if this ends up beating that?”

Saylor glanced at Jordan. “I’ll never be able to look at myself in the mirror if we don’t try. I’ve lost teammates, too. I’m not losing another.”

Zain looked at Kash, then back to her. “Then, let’s go.”

Zain motioned for Kash to plant his ass on one of the seats, then placed Jordan in his arms. “I figure you’ll be okay as long as you don’t try to stand.”

Kash held Jordan against his chest as Saylor maneuvered the boat away from the dock.

She hit the throttle and leapt ahead. Not as insane as before, but faster than she probably should, considering the conditions.

Zain hadn’t been exaggerating. White caps covered the surface, lashing at the hull as each swell lifted and dropped them several feet.

The wind roared past, lowering the temperature until Kash had to focus on keeping his teeth from chattering.

Saylor never wavered. Kept the bow pointed south, despite how her hands shook against the wheel. Even from several feet back, he noticed the way she shivered. Zain stepped up behind her, shielded some of the spray, but it was only a matter of time before they all succumbed to the cold.

Having the marina appear amidst the pouring rain and heavy clouds gave Kash a glimmer of hope. If they could just make it to the dock, Jordan would have a chance.

Saylor spun the wheel, working the engines as the surf attempted to capsize the vessel. But she held firm, guiding it in without crashing, which looked like a distinct possibility with everything rocking and tilting.

Or maybe that was his head.

Regardless, Saylor had the boat snugged into the pier just as Foster soared overhead, the downwash rocking the vessel before he banked to the left, wrestling the chopper into an aggressive approach. He hovered a foot off the ground, making it look easy despite the gusting winds and driving rain.

They clambered onboard in record time, shutting out the weather.

Chase had an IV and some plasma hooked up to Jordan’s arms before Foster lifted off.

Had her on her side — her wound exposed.

Chase didn’t falter, coating it with clotting powder then wrapping it tight.

He double checked her vitals then moved on to Tucker.

Kash didn’t know how Chase did it. Held their lives in his hands without batting eye. Just staring at all the blood, how her skin was practically transparent, had Kash fighting not to puke.

Chase shifted back, pushing meds into her before handing Kash a bag. “If you’re gonna hurl, brother, do it in that. And count how many times, because I have a bad feeling that concussion I heard you got at the cave has gotten a whole lot worse.”

Kash waved it off. “I’m fine. You just worry about Jordan…”

The room spun, and he bent over, emptying whatever was in his stomach into the bag. It took three bouts before he managed to stop, the ever-present jackhammer even louder.

Zain tsked when Kash tried to straighten. “Don’t even think it. You look like a damn corpse. Just… stay like that. We’ll be landing in a couple minutes.”

They were already at the hospital?

The machine shook, voices echoing around him, every word like a knife to his skull.

He blinked, blacked out, then came to lying on a stretcher.

He rolled his head enough to follow the rush of white coats past him.

One straddled the gurney, pumping on Jordan’s chest, yelling for more blood and to clear an operating room.

Kash grabbed the railing, but Chase leaned over him — got up in his personal space.

His buddy sighed. “I know it looks bad, but she’s in good hands. If anyone can bring her back from the brink, it’s this staff. And you breaking ranks and trying to stagger down the hallway will only add you to the critical list.”

“They can’t…” Why did talking hurt? Cause lights to flash behind his eyes as his stomach roiled, threatening to empty, again.

“I’ll make sure they do everything they can. You have my word. Just, keep your ass on this gurney.”

“I’ll make sure he stays put.” Foster appeared off to Kash’s right, arms crossed. Looking every inch the leader he’d always been. “So, don’t even think about testing me.”

Kash groaned. “Nyx?”

“There’s a twenty-four-hour emergency vet just down the road.

Zain insisted on getting her checked. The vet’s doing some x-rays and running a few more tests, but she’s pretty confident it’s nothing serious.

Just a few cuts and a pulled ligament in Nyx’s shoulder.

Zain said he’d call if anything changes.

I suspect he’s going to detour and grab her a cheeseburger once she’s cleared. ”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear she was cheating on me with him.”

Foster laughed. “You know he sneaks her bacon every night, right?”

“At least, he doesn’t rub it on my pants like someone I know. Who still thinks it’s hilarious when she won’t stop sniffing my ass.”

“It’s the little things in life, Kash.”

“Right.” He closed his eyes, wondering how the light simply followed him. “Jordan…”

“Is gonna pull through. The girl’s a fighter.”

“She needs to know…” More pain, stabbing through his skull, pulling him under.

“You can tell her you love her once you’re both stable. Assuming you haven’t already. Either way, rest. We’ve got your six.”

Had breathing always hurt this much? Like fire burning beneath her skin every time she managed a small inhalation?

Jordan blinked, slivering her eyes open only to close them against the punch of light. The resulting pain dragging her down. The pressure held her under, finally allowing her to resurface minutes, hours, maybe days later. The light still bright but not blinding.

It took a while for the scenery to sharpen, a steady beeping sound adding to the headache arcing across her temples. She shifted her gaze, groaning when the entire room dipped.

A voice tsked next to her. “It’s way too soon for you to be conscious. Sleep, sweetheart. I’ll be here.”

Kash.

She wasn’t sure she said his name or if it just materialized in her head. But it soothed the edgy feeling prickling her skin. Lulled her back to sleep.

The light seemed duller, the pain less intense when she pried her eyelids open, again, that steady beep still teasing her senses. She managed to gaze at some of the room without it spinning.

A wide couch occupied most of the available space, a couple pizza boxes stacked on top of a makeshift coffee table.

She looked to her right and froze. Kash sat in the narrow chair next to the bed, his hand lightly brushing her left arm.

Long lashes rested against creamy skin, a scattering of bruises marring his face and neck.

She must have moaned or mumbled something resembling his name because he jerked awake, his gaze snapping to hers. She smiled, or at least, she tried, only one corner of her mouth lifting before she bit back a grunt, pain pulsing through her chest.