He nodded, his lips firm. “If she’s in the house, Roarke won’t leave without her. Know that.”
“I do know that!” she wailed. It didn’t make her feel any better. Her legs buckled, and the ground rushed up to meet her.
Viper caught her biceps and hauled her over his shoulder. She didn’t have any fight left in her to protest. Instead, she hung in a ridiculous heap as he stalked toward the house mumbling something about staying far away but letting her get a little closer.
Moments later, he stopped dead in his tracks.
Her chest squeezed. “What is it? What’s wrong?” She wiggled, and he lowered her to the ground.
She wheeled around to see Roarke approaching. Empty-handed.
“Emmy!” She dove past Roarke for the house.
His warm, strong arms hauled her into a bear hug from behind and took her to the ground. Her knees hit the cold, wet earth, and she screamed louder than the cackling flames.
Smoke filled the air.The taste of soot was thick in Roarke’s mouth. He spoke next to Laine’s ear, but she didn’t respond.She knelt on the grass sobbing as she watched the flames lick over the rafters. He held her from behind, afraid she’d bolt into the fire at any second. The siding was gone, and the beams and plywood were exposed. Rain fell heavily around them, but the steady drizzle was no match for the blaze.
“Emmy wasn’t there!” Roarke said, loudly enough to make her scrunch her shoulders. But at least she’d heard him. “I went through the place, Lainie. Neither Cameron nor Emmy was inside.”
Laine froze and inhaled a sharp breath as she turned to look at him. “I-I don’t understand.”
“Hostile, eleven o’clock!” Wraith’s warning echoed in his ear.
Roarke snapped his gaze to his left as a man approached, fifteen yards out. He leapt to his feet and stood between Laine and the enemy, gun trained on the guy’s chest. “Stop!”
The man slowed, his hands raised. He seemed unarmed.
Laine tugged at his leg. “That’s Rayan.”
“You sure?” He’d killed Amir after he set the fire, rightfully calling his bluff on the bomb.
“Yes, he helped me.” She got to her feet but stayed at his side.
Roarke jerked his head toward Rayan. “Move slow. Keep your hands up.”
The guy closed the distance between them, his demeanor calm. He stopped a few feet away. “I saw Cameron leave. He took Emmy.”
A cry burst from Laine as she clutched Roarke’s bicep. Cautiously, he lowered his weapon and wrapped his arm around her waist. She sank against his side. “What direction?”
“North.”
Fuck. They’d have to get back to their car, which would take a good five or ten minutes.
Rayan produced a set of keys and tossed them to Roarke. “Take my SUV.” He nodded toward the detached carport, which hadn’t been touched by the flames.
Hesitation swept through him. He didn’t know this dude and, as far as he was concerned, couldn’t trust him—but right now they didn’t have time to waste. “Thanks,” he said with a grunt.
With his arm wrapped tightly around Laine, he rushed her to the vehicle. He opened the front passenger door and lifted Laine into the seat. Viper jumped into the back.
“Where’s Wraith?” Roarke asked, as he started the engine.
“Wraith, what’s your twenty?” Viper said into his mic.
“Conducting a three-sixty. I’m on the west side of the house. Negative contact.”
“Cameron left with Emmy. Head south for the driveway.”
“Not waiting,” Roarke barked, as he reversed out of the carport and swung onto the gravel laneway.
