Page 98 of Baby for the Bikers

“They have Rowan inside.”

“I know.” His voice softens slightly. “She’s Cypher’s daughter. He won’t hurt her.”

“Tell that to him,” I retort, watching a Viper drag a struggling Rowan from the SUV. “She’s fighting them every step.”

Brick is silent for a moment. “Why would she come to the diner? She must have known it was a trap.”

“To warn us,” I realize. “She must have heard from her sister.”

“She knew we were walking into an ambush and came anyway.” The admiration in Brick’s voice matches what I’m feeling. “That woman…”

“Is ours,” I finish for him. “And no one takes what’s ours.”

Twenty minutes later, the dirt road leading to the warehouse fills with bikes—Teller and the Black Wolves, arriving like silent death. Ryder appears beside me on the roof, a duffel bag slung over his shoulder.

“Charges?” I ask as he unzips the bag, revealing blocks of C4.

“East and west walls. Emergency exits. They’ll funnel toward the main floor.”

“And Rowan?”

“Central office. Second floor.” He points to a window with bars across it. “Two guards inside with her.”

“How do you know?”

His lip curls in what might almost be a smile. “Thermal imaging. Cerberus sent toys.”

Brick joins us, Teller at his side. His expression when he looks at the warehouse reminds me of our Cerberus days—calculating, merciless, the face of a man who’s decided exactly how this will end.

“Perimeter’s covered,” Teller confirms. “My boys know the plan. No one gets out without going through us.”

Brick nods, his eyes never leaving the warehouse. “Cypher’s inside?”

“North entrance. Just arrived with three others.”

“So the family reunion’s complete,” I mutter.

“Not quite.” Brick checks his weapon. “We haven’t introduced ourselves properly yet.”

The plan is simple. Teller’s men will create a diversion at the north entrance. Ryder’s charges on the east and west will funnel the Vipers toward the main floor.

Brick will lead the direct assault through the loading bay, while I slip in through a maintenance tunnel Tank showed us years ago.

“I’ll get to Rowan,” I insist. “You guys handle the rest.”

Brick clasps my shoulder. “Bring her home.”

As the sun dips toward the horizon, we move into position. The first stars appear in the darkening sky, witnesses to what’s about to unfold.

I think about Rowan, captured by her own father’s men. About her sister, terrified in the diner. About the way Rowan screamed my name as they took her.

I check my watch. Three minutes until Ryder triggers the charges. Three minutes until the Vipers learn why Tank chose us as his successors.

41

ROWAN

My father’smen never saw me as a real threat. That was always their mistake.

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