“Good luck,” Spike said, slapping Drake on the back and disappearing.

“Dad, don’t bother. Now I can either go hunting or stay here with you. Take your pick and do not touch me or shout at me. You won’t like the results,” Serenity stated coldly.

“If you weren’t armed, you’d be over my shoulder and locked up,” Drake snarled, giving up all pretence of cajoling Serenity.

“And you’d not sit down for a month!” Serenity retorted. “We’ve suffered enough from Fury. We’ve lived in fear and no more. Fury doesn’t get to take your life. No, Dad, no.”

Drake stared at Serenity and spotted the fear that she was hiding. His daughter was terrified, not of the war, but of losing him. His hand snaked out, and he yanked her in close. “Stick with me, baby girl. If I say run, promise me you’ll go.”

“I can’t make a commitment I might break,” Serenity replied.

Drake bit out a bitter laugh. He’d taught the kids alongside Phoe to be independent. He couldn’t complain when his daughter turned it back on him. Drake had never been prouder or more frustrated with Serenity until then. He dropped a kiss on her head.

“Remember how to shoot?” he asked.

“Yeah!”

“Stay with me,” Drake ordered, and then crouched behind a wall.

Serenity followed him as Spike, his sons, and son-in-law, all moved far away. Drake chuckled. Would do them some good to fear his daughter.

???

Drake watched as Fangs fell by the dozens. Ace and Fish had both taken bullets—not critical, but enough to send them both to hospital. Serenity had disappeared into a building after three Fangs, and the screams that sounded from it chilled everyone’s blood. When she came out grinning twenty minutes later, no one would meet her eyes that owned a dick. Jesus, his daughter made grown men cry.

“Axel, Ace, and Fish heading to the hospital,” Drake called in.

“What zone were you?” Axel demanded.

“Seven.”

“Wanna ensure I write on the correct board. Stay safe. Nobody has eyes on Fury yet, Prez. We’re all watching for him to make an appearance,” Axel boomed back.

“Axel, everyone’s engaged, right?” Drake asked.

“Yeah.”

“And no one’s seen Fury?”

“Nope.”

“Okay.” Drake felt puzzled.

RCPD was being hit the hardest. They’d already called for reinforcements. Drake thought that Fury was possibly in that direction, considering the number of men beingthrown at the RCPD. But he hadn’t been spotted. No way would Fury miss this shit show. He’d planned it for years. Where the hell was he?

Heavy return fire caught his attention, and Drake threw himself over Serenity as bullets pinged and ricocheted off things. Hunter grunted and collapsed alongside Gauntlet.

Gauntlet took one to the side, andHunter got a shoulder wound. Hunter rose, fighting, but Drake saw Gauntlet slump down and hold his side.

“Manny, get him out of there!” Drake bellowed as the attack lessened. Manny scarpered across, behind cover, and grabbed Gauntlet.

“Cover fire!” Drake commanded as Manny ducked into a low run and half carried, half dragged Gauntlet away.

“Hunter. Join him. Calling for an ambo,” Drake ordered.

“I can fight,” Hunter replied.

“I said go with him!” Drake yelled, and Hunter hesitated and nodded.