Page 57 of Blade

"I love that about you," he corrected. "I love everything about you, Lily Hart. Even the parts that terrify me."

"Like me going on this mission today?"

"Especially that," he agreed. "But I understand why you need to do it. Why you can't stand by while others risk themselves." His eyes held hers, serious now. "Just promise me you'll be careful. That you'll follow the plan. No unnecessary risks."

"I promise," she said solemnly. "I have too much to come back for."

A knock at the door interrupted their moment. "Lily?" Mak’s voice called. "We need you for final prep. Twenty minutes."

"Coming," Lily called back. She turned to Blade, regret in her eyes. "I have to go."

He nodded, releasing her reluctantly. "I know. Just... come see me before you leave? One last time?"

"Of course," she promised, pressing a final kiss to his lips before sliding from the bed.

She dressed quickly in the clothes they'd prepared for the mission, the fitted black pants and compression shirt she'd wear under the tactical vest until the final approach, when she'd throw a dress on over it, to maintain the illusion for Jose. She deftlybraided her hair into two side French braids. Not only would it help with the little persona, it would also keep her hair out of her face and make it harder to grab in a combat situation.

At the door, she paused, looking back at Blade propped up against the pillows. Strong even in his injured state. Fierce even in his vulnerability.

"I love you," she said simply.

"I love you too," he replied, no hesitation. "Now go be the warrior I know you are. And come back to me, baby girl."

She nodded once, drawing strength from his confidence in her, then stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind her.

Makenzie was waiting, already dressed in the same tactical gear, her expression businesslike. "Ready?"

Lily squared her shoulders, her mind shifting into mission mode. "Ready."

Together, they moved through the clubhouse toward the main area, where the rest of the team would be assembling. With each step, Lily felt herself transforming, shedding the softness of the woman who had slept in Blade's arms, becoming the fighter she needed to be today.

The little girl retreating, the warrior advancing.

Not gone, her little side was never gone, but protected deep within, where Jose and his men couldn't reach her. Couldn't hurt her. Couldn't use her vulnerability against her.

Today, she would be steel. Today, she would be fire.

And tomorrow, God willing, she would be Lily again. Whole. Safe. Home. Little.

In Daddy Blade's arms, where she belonged.

CHAPTER 9

Blade had never been good at waiting. As a SEAL, he'd learned to endure it when necessary. Patience was needed for surveillance operations, intelligence gathering, mission prep. As the club's enforcer, he'd perfected the art of the patient hunt. He tracked targets, studied patterns, choosing the perfect moment to strike.

But this, sitting helplessly in the clubhouse while Lily walked into danger, this was torture beyond anything he'd experienced before.

"Blood pressure's up again," Doc observed, checking the monitor Blade had reluctantly agreed to wear. "Need to keep that under control if you don't want to tear those stitches."

"I'm fine," Blade growled, not taking his eyes off the tactical display Jay had set up in the main room.

On the large screen, GPS markers tracked the team's progress toward the quarry. The main convoy consisting of Lucky, Irish, Savage, Arrow, and several trusted club members, moved along the primary approach route. A separate marker showed Rampage's position, already near the tunnel entrance they'd identified. And there, at the front of it all, the marker that mattered most.

Lily.

She and Makenzie had departed an hour ago, driving a nondescript sedan with Kylie at the wheel. The official story for Jose: two littles and a club secretary, coming to make the exchange for Marcus. Three women, no obvious threat, exactly as he'd expected.

Except Lily wasn't just a little anymore. She was a warrior now too. And Jose had no idea what was coming for him.

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