Chapter 9 #2
“Raven, you stay with the black-market sale. I’ll take STRIKE. Liam, continue to analyze the email threats.” Rafe gave the orders like he owned Charlie Team.
Liam raised a brow and narrowed his gaze at his second in command, who gave him a cheesy grin. He rolled his eyes and instantly regretted it. “Xander’s report still bugs me.”
“On it.” Rafe stared at the opposite wall. “Charlie Three, Charlie Two.”
“Go ahead, Charlie Two.”
“Extra eyes on the perimeter. Check in with Five and peruse the wildlife.”
“Copy that.” A few minutes later, Dax exited the back door of the cabin.
Liam appreciated the addition to the patrol, but it couldn’t last indefinitely. His men required rest. In fact, Rafe was running on fumes. “Rafe, you’ve been at this for hours. You need rack time.”
“I’ll power down in a bit. I’ve hit my second wind with this new path to follow.”
“Fine. But don’t get sloppy.”
“Promise.”
Keys clacked, and intermittent chatter filled the comms.
Liam focused on his task. Several of the emails made him cringe. The blatant threats and vulgar words twisted his stomach. How could anyone do this to Raven? He had to look away for a moment. “Rafe, you got anything interesting yet?”
“I’ve got a couple of STRIKE members that make me itchy.”
“What?” Raven pushed from the table and stood.
He clasped her hand, worried that somehow Rafe’s comment triggered her.
She smiled. “I’m just grabbing a snack and water bottles for all of us.”
Liam nodded.
“So, who?” She called over her shoulder as she ambled to the kitchen.
“CIA Agent Noah Stone sent a few interesting emails to Deputy Director Walsh. Then there’s Harry Bateman from Homeland Security, who has had a few expensive purchases lately.”
“How do you know that?” Liam pinned Rafe with a glare. “You aren’t doing anything illegal, are you? We need the evidence to stick.”
Rafe waved a dismissive hand. “Pfft. No. Found it online. No hacking involved.”
“Good.” They couldn’t mess this up. Raven’s life depended on it.
“That covers the CIA and DHS. What about the rest of the task force? DEA and ATF? We also pull in others as needed that aren’t part of the core group.” Raven’s voice drifted from the kitchen.
Liam pinched the bridge of his nose. “So, enlighten me. My head is still foggy. STRIKE is headed by FBI Deputy Director Walsh. You’re FBI and the task force analyst. Stone is the representative from the CIA. Bateman is Homeland Security’s.”
“Griffin Hale is DEA, and Tessa Lang is ATF.” Rafe’s gaze bounced from Liam to the kitchen. “Didn’t mean to overstep.”
“I just wanted the information. I don’t care who answered.”
“Fine by me, too,” Raven called from the other room.
Rafe chuckled.
“The task force is small and encompasses multiple agencies. We reach out to others when necessary for specializations.” Raven set three water bottles on the table and took her place in front of her computer.
“Tessa is married with two kids. Her brother died in action several years ago. She’s determined to avenge his sacrifice.
Her words, not mine. Harry is a special forces veteran who saw action overseas.
I highly doubt either one would compromise our troops. ”
“Got it.” Liam considered her words. “Let’s not leave anything to assumption. I want a full report on each member.”
“Copy that.” Rafe gave Liam a chin lift and returned his attention to his screen.
The throbbing in Liam’s head chose that moment to double its assaults. He lowered the laptop screen halfway and removed his sunglasses. Pushing his fingers into his eyes, he prayed the intense pulsing would stop. “I’m snagging more Tylenol. Be back in a minute.”
“Liam, you should take a break and close your eyes for a minute.” Raven’s caring voice did funny things to his heart.
“Maybe in a while. I want to get through those threats.” He made his way to the medic kit, found the packet of medicine, and swallowed the pills dry. He checked his watch. The three others had been out too long. One of them needed rack time. “Charlie Four, Charlie One.”
“Go ahead, Charlie One,” Boone responded.
“Grab some rack time.”
“Copy that. I’m—”
“Charlie Four?”
“Standby.”
The hair on the back of Liam’s neck stood at attention. “Charlie Four, status.”
“Charlie One, Charlie Five. Four is hunting.”
And just like that, the situation was like a bucket of cold water over his head. “Raven, lock yourself in your room!” He heard a chair scrape across the floor and sensed the movement behind him.
Rafe appeared next to him. “She didn’t hesitate. She’s secure.”
“Good.” He peered out the curtain, searching for anything off.
“I hate waiting.”
Rafe lifted an eyebrow as if to say, Really? I never knew that.
Liam closed his eyes and gently shook his head. He’d momentarily forgotten he wasn’t muted.
The comms erupted with gunfire. Sharp cracks and shouting filled his ears.
“Cabin Breach!” Boone’s warning came at the same time the back door exploded open.
He and Rafe spun. Their Sig Sauer M17s pointed at the point of entry.
A canister hit the floor a couple of feet in front of them.
“Flash! Get down!” Liam dove to the ground.
The thing detonated. A concussive blast slammed his head and chest like a sledgehammer. White lights streaked behind his eyes, stabbing a dagger into his brain.
Rafe’s hand clamped onto his leg.
He twisted, willing the contents of his stomach to stay in place.
Raven. Rafe mouthed.
Or Liam assumed he did. At the moment, he couldn’t hear anything but the incessant ringing.
They both lifted to their hands and knees when a second canister bounced across the floor.
“Second Flash!” Liam covered his head with his arms, bracing for the head-splitting explosion.
Pain flared behind his eyes, and his stomach lurched. Whoever had infiltrated the cabin knew what they were doing. The staggered detonations had rendered him and Rafe useless to protect Raven, giving the enemy the time required to capture and abscond with her without a battle.
He grabbed the couch and hauled himself to his feet, only to fall back to the floor. The room spun, and his stomach revolted.
“Liam?” Rafe’s muffled voice swam in his ears.
“Help Raven.” He closed his eyes and braced himself against his whirling head.
Rafe ran toward her bedroom. “Charlie team, Charlie Two. The package is missing.”
Silence filled the comms. Or at least Liam thought so. Who knew with his ears feeling like they were stuffed with bumble bees.
“Do you copy?” Rafe demanded.
“Lima Charlie.” Each man responded with loud and clear.
“Status.”
Thankfully, Rafe had taken command. He needed a minute or twenty that they didn’t have to keep his brain functioning.
“Four, clear.”
“Three, clear.”
“Five, clear.” Heavy breathing, like Xander was running, filled the air. “Charlie One?”
“Here but dazed.” Liam pushed to his feet, using the couch for stability. His gaze drifted to the back door. The thing hung on its hinges. Smoke hazed the interior. So maybe his vision wasn’t foggy.
Rafe rounded the corner. “Whoever broke knew what they were doing. They occupied our patrol and had Raven in and out in less than a minute. Her bedroom door was kicked in.”
Not hard to figure out her location in an open concept cabin with only three bedrooms, and with hers the only room locked.
“I found this on the floor.” Rafe held out Raven’s comm.
Liam’s heart sank. “Charlie Team, any sign of the people who took her?”
“Negative. They had us chasing our tails. All that’s left is a cloud of dust.” Boone’s tone held an edge Liam normally didn’t hear.
“Fall back. Regroup at the cabin.” Rafe gave the command.
“How did I allow this to happen?” Liam’s heart hurt as badly as his head. He’d promised to protect her, and he’d allowed her to be kidnapped—again.
“We are not done yet.” Rafe’s hand landed on his shoulder. “Don’t give up hope, brother. We will find her and put a stop to this.”
Acutely aware of Raven’s phobias and the danger she was in, Liam closed his eyes and prayed for her safety.
Don’t let me fail her. Please.