Page 102 of Shattered By the Currents

Raven helped him to a nearby couch.

At the feel of eyes on her, she looked up to see a familiar elderly man across the room, staring. Herbert.

She shook her head. She needed to focus on her dad. She knelt in front of him. “Have you taken your medicine this morning, Dad?”

He shook his head.

“Okay, I’ll get it.” She studied her father’s eyes. “Do you need anything else? Water? Food?”

“No, dear, I’m okay.” Then he lowered his head into his hand.

He wasn’t okay.

She pressed a kiss to his head before rising and striding down the hall.

Her footsteps were fast, her head a foggy mess. But she hadn’t been lying to her father. Connor and Zacwouldfind her mom. This was what they were trained to do. This was their job. And her mother was an elderly woman. She couldn’t have gotten far.

At her parents’ door, she keyed in their code and stepped inside. Quickly, she rushed over to the medicine cabinet and pulled out what she needed.

Her back was turned when the soft click of the door closing sounded.

She spun, gasping slightly when she saw Herbert in the living room.

“I was hoping you’d be back, darling.”

Crap. “I’m sorry, Herbert. I really need to go.”

She moved to the door, but he met her halfway, blocking her way out.

“Darling, it’s Dad.”

She shook her head. “No. You’re not my dad. My father’s out there, and he needs me. I’m Raven.”

He frowned, likeshewas the one forgetting things. “They did something to you, didn’t they?”

“Who?”

His voice lowered. “Whoever is behind this Lotus.”

Lotus…he’d said that before. She didn’t have time for this. Still, she asked, “What’s Lotus?”

“Why don’t you remember? What did they do to you?”

She spoke slowly, quietly. “I don’t remember because I’m not your daughter, Herbert. My name is Raven Price. And I have to?—”

“Tell me what they did.”

“Herbert—”

“It’sDad. I…I tried to tell you not to come here. I warned you. But you didn’t listen to me.” Tears filled his eyes. “Then I lost you. But not this time. This time I refuse to lose you.” His fingers clamped down around her arms. And just like last time, his strength was like an iron grip.

Connor’s bootssank into the dirt as he jogged through the trees, scanning every inch of forest he passed.

Where are you, Gene?

This wasn’t like other search and rescues. This was Raven’s mother. He needed to find her and he needed to find her fast.

His walkie crackled as Zac’s voice came over the line. “Anything?”