Page 67 of Freeing Lark

Lark looked between them. “Do you guys always communicate like this?”

“Pretty much,” Eggs said.

They brought the equipment inside, and within minutes, the apartment was filled with tools, wires, sensors, cameras, and enough technology to make Lark wonder whether she was securing a storefront or a small military installation. She watched as they installed cameras at the entrances, reinforced the locks, added motion sensors, and connected everything to a central security system.

“You’re going to be able to monitor everything from your phone,” Spark explained while showing her how the app worked.

Lark glanced at Cormac. “So this is what your company does?”

“Among other things.”

“You’re really terrible at explaining your job.”

His blue eyes met hers. “I’ve been told that too.”

She smiled. Maybe there were still a lot of things she didn’t know about Cormac, his past and work being the biggest. As well as whatever connection existed between him, Calloway, and the strange symbol she’d found on the island.

But she knew something else now. She knew what it felt like to kiss him. And she had a feeling that was going to be very difficult to forget.

CHAPTER 20

The sky was barely beginning to lighten when Lark slipped out of bed. She’d been awake for nearly an hour anyway.

Storms were coming. The forecast called for heavy rain, thunderstorms, and enough wind to make getting stranded on an island a particularly stupid life choice. Naturally, that meant she needed to go to the island. She needed to finish the Liberty Bell.

Besides, she told herself, she’d be back before the worst of it arrived. Definitely. Probably.

The new security system Cormac’s team had installed had made her feel safer. It had also made it unnecessary for him to spend the night again. She wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing. She’d liked waking up knowing he was there.

At least there’d been that dinner. Their first date. At least, that’s what Lark was calling it. Cormac hadn’t officially called it anything. Neither had she.

But they’d eaten together, talked for hours, and he’d kissed her afterward until her toes curled inside her shoes. That sounded like a date to her. So she was going with it.

Now she needed to focus. She loaded her tools and supplies into the boat and headed toward the island. The river was unusually quiet. The air felt heavy, charged with the promise of the approaching storm.

When she reached the island, she tied her boat securely to the usual tree. She tugged on the rope twice. “Not making that mistake again.” The memory of being stranded here still made her cringe.

She gathered her supplies and started toward the bell. But she stopped after a few steps. Something felt wrong. Again.

Lark frowned. She’d felt that same sensation before, when she’d discovered the disturbed earth and broken crate. Something about the island had changed.

But today, she blamed the atmosphere. The air felt electric. The wind had picked up. Thunder rumbled somewhere in the distance. She shook off the uneasiness and kept walking.

Then she heard something. Lark froze. Voices. Her brother had always called it her “super hearing.” He’d complained about it for years. You can hear everything, Lark. It’s creepy.

For once, she was grateful for it. She slowly turned toward the sound. Someone was on the island. Several someones.

Her pulse quickened. No one should be here. Not today. Not with a storm bearing down on them.

She should leave. Immediately. Instead, curiosity won. Of course it did. Too stupid to live, she thought. Every romance novel heroine who wandered into danger despite every screaming instinct telling her not to came to mind.

She shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Then she crouched and slipped into the brush. She moved carefully. Slowly. The voices grew louder. She could make out four distinct male voices.

Lark lowered herself behind a cluster of bushes. She couldn’t see them yet. That was fine. Not seeing them meant they couldn’t see her. She just needed to figure out why they were there. Then she could leave. Get back to town. Call Cormac. Call the police. Call someone.

“Come on,” one man grunted. “Help me with this.”