Page 74 of Omega on Fire

Joker grins back, cocking his gun. "Always, Motley. Always."

Teagan starts the countdown, his voice steady and sure. "Three. Two. One."

I squeeze Charlotte's shoulder, urging her to staylow. "Stay behind me, Harlequin. We're getting out of this, all of us."

The doors of the SUV burst open, and we pour out like a fucking avalanche. Bullets whiz past my ear, but I barely register them. My focus is on the enemy, the fuckers who dared to trap us, to threaten what's mine.

I feel Charlotte behind me, her breaths coming in quick bursts, her Glocks raised and ready. She's scared, but she's fierce. She's my avenging angel, and I'll be damned if I let anything happen to her.

We move as a unit, Teagan and Moses laying down cover fire while Joker, Charlotte, and I advance. We're a well-oiled machine, our movements synchronized, our aim deadly. We're the fucking Hudson Pack, and we don't go down without a fight.

I take out two hostiles with quick headshots, their bodies crumpling to the ground. Charlotte takes out another, her aim true despite the chaos. Fuck, she's magnificent.

We push forward, our advance relentless. Teagan and Moses join us, and together, we cut a swath through the enemy, leaving nothing but bodies in our wake.

But they just keep coming. For every one we takedown, two more seem to appear. Where the fuck are they coming from?

A bullet grazes my arm, a hot, searing pain that barely registers. I grit my teeth, pushing forward. We need to get to the other SUV, the one that rammed us. If we can take it out, we can clear a path and get the fuck out of here.

"Motley, left!" Charlotte shouts, and I spin around just in time to see a hostile charging at us. I take him down with a quick shot, his body falling at our feet.

"Thanks, baby," I say, flashing her a grin.

She smirks back, her eyes alight with adrenaline and determination. "Really, you're smiling and you've been shot. Geez, Motley."

We reach the SUV, and Joker tosses a grenade under it, cackling like a madman. We dive back, taking cover as the explosion rocks the ground, sending the SUV flying through the air. It lands with a deafening crash, blocking the path of the remaining hostiles.

"Now's our chance," Teagan shouts, his voice barely audible over the ringing in my ears. "Fall back!"

We retreat, our steps quick and sure. Charlotte and I reposition Brookes between us in the back of the SUV.

The enemy is regrouping, their numbers are dwindling but their determination is unwavering. We need to get out of here, now.

Teagan takes the wheel. He floors it, the engine roars to life as we peel out, leaving chaos behind.

I slump back in my seat, my breaths coming in ragged gasps. Charlotte is beside me, her hand pressed to Brookes' forehead, her eyes filled with concern.

"We did it," she whispers, her voice barely audible.

I nod, a small smile playing on my lips. "We did, Harlequin. We fucking did."

But the victory is bittersweet. We're battered, bruised, and barely hanging on. Brookes is in bad shape, and we're not out of the woods yet.

I look out the window, watching the city lights blur into a kaleidoscope of color. We're alive, but at what cost? Senator Blaine knew exactly what we'd do, and he tried to kill us all.

I shake my head, pushing the thought away. There will be time for questions later. Right now, we need to focus on getting back to the penthouse, on getting Brookes the help he needs.

I reach over, taking Charlotte's hand in mine. Shelooks up at me, her eyes filled with exhaustion and fear. But she's not giving up, not ever.

And neither am I. Not as long as she's by my side. Not as long as we're together.

We'll get through this, all of us. We'll heal, we'll regroup. They'll fucking pay.

Because no one fucks with the Hudson Pack. No one fucks with my family. And no one, absolutely no one, fucks with my Harlequin.

I squeeze Charlotte's hand, a silent promise. We're in this together. Always.

And together, we'll face whatever comes next.

---