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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

I stared out the window of the SUV, my mind still back at how lonely Vince had looked when he stared after the cars.

Rationally, I knew this was the best decision. The safest one. But it broke my heart. I didn’t want to be apart from him, didn’t think I was safer without him and he without me. The warmth of his hands cupping my face lingered on my skin, a stark contrast to the chill settling in my chest.

Isa and Mira sat quietly beside me, their presence both comforting and suffocating.

My fingers absently traced the zipper of my coat—one of the last things Vince had touched—and his words echoed in my head.

“You’re stronger than you think, and remember, you’re a Salvini now. Gotta represent.”

Even in a situation like this, he was still joking. The only problem was I didn’t feel strong. I felt hollow like I’d left a vital part of myself behind .

The tense atmosphere in the car was palpable. Hawk’s gaze constantly flicked between the road and the rearview mirror, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. Birdie, in the passenger seat, had her hands on her semi-automatic, scanning our surroundings with laser focus.

Their vigilance should have made me feel safer, but it only heightened my anxiety. The reality of our situation was ever-present, but it settled in deeper with every breath, with every thought. Fee was still fighting for her life while we were running—not unlike I’d planned to do before all of this began.

Only now, Vince was a part of my life—a part I didn’t want to be without.

I caught Isa’s eye, seeing my own worry reflected there. She reached out and squeezed my hand in silent support. Mira, on my other side, leaned her head on my shoulder. “He’ll be okay, and we’ll be, as well.”

I side-eyed her and wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince me or herself. But I smiled and nodded, not trusting my voice. My gaze drifted back to the window, watching the foggy landscape flying by. And with each second, each mile that passed, the ache in my chest grew.

The car hit a bump, jostling us. Hawk muttered a curse. His eyes narrowed as he checked the mirrors again while he sped up.

“Spike strips,” Birdie muttered, and the tension in the vehicle suddenly ratcheted up another notch.

My heart leaped into my throat as our SUV suddenly lurched and died, all the electronics going completely dark.

The convoy screeched to a halt, leaving us vulnerable on the open road .

“What the fuck was that,” Birdie said, her tone of voice as calm as if she had seen some unknown wildlife on the side of the road.

Hawk tried to start the engine again—but it didn’t even stutter. “EMP,” Hawk muttered, his voice tight with tension. “Stay calm, everyone.”

I stared through the window.

Masked figures in all-black tactical gear materialized from the misty shadows of the surrounding trees. They moved with military precision, surrounding our vehicles in seconds.

Birdie turned to us, her face a mask of controlled urgency. “These are bulletproof vehicles. We’re safe in here.”

I nodded while my heart beat fast enough that it felt like it would bruise my rib cage from the inside. I unlocked my seatbelt, then grabbed Mira and Isa’s hands.

We huddled close, muscles tense.

A movement ahead caught my eye. To my horror, I watched as they filled Dante’s and Dom’s SUV up front with some kind of gas.

The doors sprang open and Max and Milli made a run for it—only to be immediately detained.

My stomach dropped as I glanced behind us. The same scene was unfolding at the rear vehicle where my father was. More gas, more masked men—Rey and Phantom made it out of the back vehicle and full-on ran toward our vehicle until they were both hit and dropped to the ground.

My heart pounded as I watched my father take down two attackers with swift, brutal efficiency. But even he wasn’t invincible. A third assailant caught him off guard, and Dad crumpled to the ground, unconscious .

I cried out.

We were trapped in the middle, helpless as everyone around us was being neutralized one by one. We needed to get out. Right now. “Hawk?”

Birdie got up and crawled into the backseat and squeezed in between Mira and me. “Get ready to exit on our signal. Stay low; don’t stay together. The trees are your friends. If someone shoots at you, don’t run in a straight line. Zigzag as if you’re a freaking bunny on steroids.”

The sound of metal scraping against metal filled the air as someone wrenched our SUV door open with force. I flinched, expecting the hiss of gas, but none came. These attackers seemed to have different plans for us.

I tensed, ready to spring into action.

“Make a run for it!” Hawk’s voice cut through the chaos, urgent and commanding.

We didn’t hesitate. Mira was the first out, but her freedom was short-lived. A taser crackled, and she fell to the ground, twitching.

Birdie erupted from the car like a force of nature. In seconds, she had two attackers on the ground, creating a narrow path for Isa and me.

This was our opportunity.

Isa used my shoulder as a lever, catapulted into the air, and kicked one of the men, her foot connecting solidly with the attacker’s chest as if she were some kind of superhero.

When she landed, I grabbed her hand, sprinted past the man as fast as I could, and dragged her along with me .

I focused on the space between two trees ahead. If we could make it there, we might have a chance.

I sucked in air as we ran in a zigzag, just as Birdie had instructed. I didn’t hear anything besides the blood rushing in my ears.

We needed to make it.

I clasped my hand tightly around Isa’s as I pushed myself to my limits. And Isa did the same.

The trees were so close now—just a few more steps…

I stumbled as we reached the tree line, my lungs burning with each ragged breath. Isa yanked me forward, her grip on my hand vice-like.

We dodged between trees as did the men following us. And suddenly, all I could focus on was the sound of footsteps close behind us.

“Keep moving!” Isa hissed, her eyes wild with determination.

Suddenly, a figure loomed before us. I lashed out instinctively, my fist connecting with a solid jaw. The attacker stumbled back, surprised by my unexpected resistance.

Isa capitalized on the moment and delivered a swift kick to his midsection.

We sprinted past him.

But our victory was short-lived.

More masked figures emerged from the shadows.

They surrounded us and stopped our forward momentum.

I felt a surge of desperate energy, throwing elbows and knees at anyone who came close. Beside me, Isa fought like a cornered wildcat, her movements a blur of controlled chaos .

“Damn it, they’ve got some fight in them,” one attacker grunted, narrowly avoiding Isa’s swinging fist.

Another voice cut through the melee, authoritative and annoyed. “Remember, the boss wants them unharmed.”

The words sent a chill down my spine, but I didn’t have time to dwell on their implications. Our resistance was impressive but ultimately futile. I saw a flash of metal and heard the distinctive sound of a taser crackling to life.

“Sorry about this, ladies,” the voice said, not sounding sorry at all.

I braced for the shock, but instead, I felt a sharp sting in my neck. My hand flew up, fingers brushing against a small dart. The world began to tilt and sway around me.

“Isa…” I mumbled, my tongue suddenly thick and uncooperative.

My vision blurred.

Isa slumped to the ground, a similar dart protruding from her shoulder.

And then darkness claimed me.