LOGINI stared at the words for a long moment, my fingers frozen over the screen. Trina noticed my silence and glanced over, her brow furrowing. “Everything okay?”
“It’s Jake,” I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. “He wants to talk.”
Trina’s expression darkened, but she quickly masked it with a tight smile. “Well, you better call him back then.”
LauraThe years had a way of smoothing the jagged edges. Turning scars into stories. But our story — Talon’s and mine — was far from over.It was a crisp autumn afternoon, and the air smelled like woodsmoke. Talon stood on the porch, leaning against the railing with a cup of coffee in his hand. The house was quieter now, the kids grown and gone, but the laughter and chaos of those years still echoed in the walls.I stepped out beside Talon and leaned into his side, my fingers slipping into the back pocket of his jeans as I took a sip from my own mug.“You remember the first day you brought me here?” I asked, my voice soft. “Wasn’t very long after you proposed.”
The clubhouse was quiet. Too quiet.Scarlett was still sound asleep, curled up under blankets with the kind of exhaustion only fear could carve into a kid.I should’ve been able to breathe knowing my kids were safe. But instead, I paced the hall like a caged animal, my ribs aching, throat raw, fists still itching for blood.“You’re gonna wear a hole in the floor.” Laura’s voice was soft but steady behind me. I turned, and there she was — hair loose, blue eyes watching me like she could see every crack in my armor.“I can’t shut it off,” I muttered. My voice sounded like gravel. “DeLuca’s face… Scarlett’s hands on that gun…”She stepped closer, her hand brushing my jaw. “Then let me shut it off for you.”
The roar of bikes split through the night as we pulled up to the clubhouse.Scarlett was safe, and relatively unharmed. Though the haunted look in her eyes told a different story.She clung to me, fingers digging into my cut as I helped her out of the SUV. Her body was trembling like a leaf. The boys dismounted behind us, their faces grim, movements slow as they checked wounds and exchanged quiet words.Shadow barked wildly, his tail a blur of excitement as he and Laura burst through the clubhouse doors with Logan trailing behind them.Laura’s face was pale, her eyes wide with fear and relief as she rushed toward us. Her arms were wrapped around Scarlett before the girl could even take a step, pulling her into a tight squeeze.“Oh my god,” Laura whispered, her voice breaking as she pressed a kiss
DeLuca was on his feet now, his face twisted with rage as he stumbled toward us. Blood was seeping out of his shoulder, but his eyes burned with a dangerous intensity.Jake pulled his trigger again, but DeLuca was faster, diving behind a stack of crates for cover. Jake’s shot ricocheted off the metal, ringing in my ears. Scarlett clung to me, her body trembling against mine as I shifted her behind me to shield her with my body.“Stay down,” I ordered, my voice low and urgent.Her grip tightened on my cut, but she nodded, crouching low as I stepped forward with my gun raised. Jake was already moving, circling around the crates to flank DeLuca.The rest of the hangar was still now. Viktor’s men had finished off DeLuca’s crew. There was blood everywhere, and bodies littered the floor. The plane’s engines roared to life in the silence, and Viktor
The choppers descended, touching down in a clearing just outside the woods. We piled out quickly with weapons drawn, our movements swift and silent.Viktor’s men fanned out, and their eyes scanned the trees for any sign of movement. Jake and I fell into step behind Viktor as we made our way toward the airfield.The woods were dense, but we moved with purpose. The crunch of leaves under our feet was the only sound, and even that felt deafening in the silence. My heart hammered in my chest, but I forced myself to stay focused.Scarlett was close. And I wasn’t leaving without her.Viktor motioned for us to halt, raising his hand in a fist. He crouched low, his eyes scanning the tree line ahead. I followed his gaze, and my fingers tightened around the grip of my gun. There, just beyond the trees, was a perimeter fence. And beyond that, the airfield.Jake leaned in, whispering quietly. “They’ve gotta have guards. No way they’re not watchin' the perimeter.”Viktor nodded, his expression gri
We burst into a small clearing, and I almost tripped over a man who was slumped against a tree. His hand was clutching the side of his chest where blood poured freely through his fingers.His face was pale, slick with sweat, and his breathing came in ragged gasps, but he was clearly conscious.“Hold!” I shouted, raising a hand to stop my men from approaching. My gun was trained on him instantly, my finger hovering over the trigger. “Where is she?” I snarled, my voice low.The man coughed, a wet gurgling sound. He looked up at me, his eyes glassy but defiant. “The little bitch shot me,” he rasped. “You’re too late. She’s gone.”A feeling of pride washed over me for a second. She’d shot him. My little hellcat. Then it was gone, and I was focused back on the task at hand. “Where?” I demanded, stepping closer. “Tell me, or I’ll make y







