Page 87 of Emmy's Ride

Riot cut through the shackles with a bolt cutter. Luke hissed as his arms fell free, but he didn’t collapse. Stubborn bastard.

I pulled a canteen from my pack, pressing it to his lips. “Drink slow.”

He drank, then rasped, “Raven?—”

My stomach turned to stone. “She’s near?”

Luke gave a weak nod. “Next… next room.”

Riot was already moving. He slammed into the next cell, his knife drawn. I followed—and my gut clenched at what we found there.

Raven was curled in the corner, her long, jet-black hair tangled around her shoulders, her skin streaked with dirt and bruises. But her dark eyes were sharp, burning with defiance.

The second she saw Riot, something inside her cracked. “Riot?”

He fell to his knees, pulling her into his arms. “I got you, baby girl. I got you.”

She clung to him, her small body trembling. “I knew you’d come.”

I scanned the room, looking for any sign of guards, but it was empty. Too easy.

Jax’s voice rang through my earpiece, urgent. “Austin, you need to move. Now.”

“Talk to me,” I murmured, already helping Luke to stand.

“They know you’re there. Reinforcements are inbound. You’ve got maybe five minutes before this place is swarming.”

I cursed. “We’re getting out. Have an exit route ready.”

I slung Luke’s arm over my shoulder, Riot lifting Raven in his arms. “Tank, take point. Riot, you stay close. We move fast.”

Then, from down the hall, a slow clap.

I turned, and there, stepping from the shadows, was The Ghost.

“Now this,” the man drawled, “is a fucking sight.”

My grip tightened on my rifle. “You son of a bitch.”

“Took you longer than I expected. Thought you’d be here days ago.” His gaze flickered to Luke, then to Raven. “Not exactly in prime condition, are they?”

Riot snarled, shoving Raven behind him. “You’re dead, motherfucker.”

The Ghost tsked. “Now, now. Is that any way to treat an old friend?” His eyes locked on to mine. “We both know how this ends. So why don’t we make it easy? You walk away with your wounded little family, and I—” His smirk deepened. “I get to keep my empire.”

I took a step forward. “That’s not how this ends.”

The Ghost’s expression darkened. “No. I suppose it isn’t.”

Then—gunfire.

I stepped in front of Luke, firing as The Ghost ducked behind a pillar. Tank and Riot were already returning fire, bullets sparking against the concrete walls.

Jax’s voice was frantic in my ear. “Austin, get the fuck out of there!”

My instincts screamed at me to chase The Ghost, to put a bullet between his eyes and end this. Fuck bringing him in alive. But I didn’t have time.

“Move!” I barked, dragging Luke toward the exit. Riot carried Raven, Tank laying down cover fire as we sprinted through the halls.

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