Page 91 of Max's Mission

“Let me go!” Emily pushed against Berry’s hold.

“Em, it’s okay. Just hold still,” Max reassured her. He didn’t want her to get shot accidentally because she moved the wrong way.

But, in typical Em fashion, she ignored him. Like some sort of contortionist, she turned her upper body, wrapping her hands in the collar of Berry’s shirt. Using it as leverage, she raised herself high and leaned in. Her little teeth clamped down on his ear.

Berry let out a howl. The gun moved away from Em’s side, and Max pounced.

He took two running steps and was on the man, grabbing his gun hand and keeping it aimed at the floor. A shot went off, going through the deck.

Tad pushed to his feet. Hands appeared in Max’s field of vision, plucking Emily from Berry’s grasp.

With the girl out of the way, and not wanting to risk another shot going wild, Max palmed his pistol and aimed an open-handed punch at Berry’s face, striking him in the nose.

“Ugh!” Berry’s head whipped back and bright red blood spurted from his nostrils.

Max yanked on the man’s shooting arm, twisting it and putting pressure on the nerve that would make him drop the weapon. His hand opened, and the gun fell to the floor with a clatter. Pushing forward, he shoved Berry into the dash, pulling his arm up until his fingers were between his shoulder blades.

“Ow! Fuck, let go!”

“No. Don’t move.” Max leaned in, holding him there. He glanced at Tad. “Are you all right? Is Em?”

Tad sat against the far wall of the pilothouse, clutching Emily to his chest. He was bloodied, but alert, and she appeared to be fine.

“We’re okay.” A lopsided smile formed on his face. “Fred, you picked the wrong twin to mess with.”

Max chuckled. That was the truth. He motioned Tad over with a quick tip of his head. “Come slow us down.”

Tad got up, still holding Emily.

As he neared and reached for the throttle, Em tipped herself in his arms so she could look into Berry’s face. “You is a bad man.”

Berry groaned and closed his eyes.

Max laughed. “I’m gonna make sure it gets around your prison group that you got taken down by a two-year-old.”

The man groaned again.

As the boat slowed, Max took a deep breath. Relief made his hands shake.

It was over.

Forty

Margot’s heart pounded in her chest as Ford slowed, coming up behind the two boats. Max had already radioed them that Berry was in custody, but she wouldn’t relax until she had her baby in her arms.

Sam tossed several bumpers over the side of the charter boat as Ford came up alongside. Brooke threw him a rope, and they lashed the vessels together.

Once they were secure, Margot scrambled onto the bench seat on the deck and climbed over the side onto the other boat. Her feet hit the deck, then she was up the ladder and into the pilothouse.

“Emily!”

“Mommy!”

Em leaned out of Tad’s arms toward her. She took the girl and clutched her tight.

“Oh!” She buried her face in Em’s silky hair, breathing in her scent. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“I’m sorry, Mommy. I forgots about the bad man. I just wanted to surfs.” The little girl’s eyes watered.

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