Page 92 of Shattered By the Currents

She checked the nearest window, fear settling in her belly. “Who?”

“Not sure. He’s hooded.” Ethan lifted his walkie. “Anyone close to base?”

One by one the guys reported their locations, and by the frustration on Ethan’s face, they weren’t close.

“Is something wrong?” Connor asked.

“Some guy’s lurking around the firehouse. Possibly the same guy we caught on camera.”

This time Connor cursed. “Heading there now.”

Who would be out there? It couldn’t be Xander, could it? He wasn’t stupid enough to threaten a group of former SEALs on their own territory.

“You should go out there and check,” Raven said, almost under her breath.

He shook his head. “I’m not leaving you in here alone.”

“Lock the doors and stay between him and the building. I’ll be fine.”

Ethan’s brows flickered, and he followed her gaze to the trees, then looked back to his surveillance on his computer screen. He wanted to go. She could see it. And if this was Xander, she wanted Ethan to find him.

“Go,” she pushed.

Someone flashed in the security footage. Ethan cursed. “Lock the door after me and do not open it for anyone. Got it? And stay away from windows.”

She nodded and watched him move outside, pistol raised. She flicked the lock, but instead of waiting in the main area, she headed down the hall. There were too many windows out here.

She’d just stepped into the old apparatus bay when her phone rang, Ferris’s name on the screen.

Good, she needed a distraction.

She put the phone to her ear. “Hey, Ferris.”

“Hey, Raven.”

Something in his voice made her pause in her pacing. After Lottie’s death, he’d asked her to put a hold on all community center activities. Did he want her to extend that hold? Or was this something else? Something worse? “Is everything okay?”

“Actually…I need to speak to you about your position at the community center.”

Her stomach dropped, her brain going to worst-case scenario.

No. He couldn’t be firing her. She hadn’t done anything wrong. “What do you need to speak to me about?”

“Lottie had a lot of friends, who are now putting pressure on me. Her killer still hasn’t been found and, well, you’re top of the suspect list.”

She shook her head, even though Ferris couldn’t see her. “They haven’t found anything to link me to her death. The blood on my shirt and shoe wasn’t hers, Ferris. That’s why Ward hasn’t arrested me.”

“I just need you to take a step back from the position. At least until the investigation is over.”

She closed her eyes. She should probably feel sad or frustrated, or maybe even angry at Ferris. She wasn’t any of those things.

Shewasfurious—but it was all aimed at Xander.

The asshole was taking everything from her, and it was intentional.

“I’m sorry, Raven.”

She just nodded, because any words were stuck in her throat.