Page 13 of My Protective Biker

I'm geared up in five. Check my weapon, extra mag, knife. The others are ready fast.

At one-thirty I step outside to check the bikes and pull out my phone. Stare at Carina's number for ten seconds before I hit call.

She answers on the second ring, voice thick with sleep. "Hello?"

"It's Roan." My voice comes out rougher than I mean it to. "Zoe's missing."

I hear her sit up, the rustle of sheets. "What happened?"

"Marrow took her. We know where. We're going to get her."

"What can I do?"

The question hits me harder than it should. What can she do. Like she's already part of this, already in it with me.

"Stay safe. I'll call when she's home."

Silence for a beat. Then: "Bring her back."

"I will."

I hang up and Tate is standing in the doorway watching me, doesn't say anything about the call. We mount up and ride out at one forty-five, Tate's truck following behind the bikes.

The ride takes fifty-five minutes on empty roads and I spend it thinking about Zoe scared and tied up somewhere, about the fact that this is exactly what I've been trying to prevent for twenty years. About how preventing it was never actually possible.

We arrive at two-forty, leave the bikes hidden a quarter mile out, and approach on foot. The house is small and set back, one vehicle outside, lights in two rooms.

Tate coordinates with hand signals. I'm going in first and no one argues.

We breach at two fifty-five.

The door gives on the second hit and I'm through fast, weapon up. Living room clear. Kitchen clear. Hallway, two doors.

First door, bathroom, empty.

Second door.

Zoe is tied to a chair in the center of the room, duct tape over her mouth, eyes wide with fear that shifts to relief when she sees me. Sully is by the window with his phone. Garrett by the door reaching for a weapon.

Sully raises a gun.

Tate fires from behind me, center mass. Sully goes down. Garrett tries to run and Cain stops him from the back doorway, drops him hard.

I go straight to Zoe, pull the tape off gentle as I can, cut the zip ties with my knife.

"Dad—"

"I've got you." I pull her up and she's shaking, holding onto me so tight I can barely breathe. "You're okay. I've got you."

I pick her up and she weighs nothing, same as when she was six weeks old and I didn't know what I was doing but knew I had to do it anyway. Carry her toward the door.

Behind me I hear movement. The specific sound of a hammer being pulled back.

I pull Zoe behind me and turn to see Sully on the floor bleeding, gun raised and aimed at us.

He fires.

The impact hits my left shoulder from the front and spins me sideways but I don't drop her, don't stop moving, keep my body between her and the threat. Get through the door and across the yard to where Axel is waiting.