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CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE

WE WERE CLOSE . I could feel it.

That pull in my gut, the itch crawling under my skin, I knew she was out there. Somewhere in this city. And every minute without her felt like another damn match held to my sanity.

Engines growled through the night as we rolled into a busted up lot on the edge of town. Asphalt cracked and stained with oil and overgrown weeds. Devil, Chain, Spinner, Thunder, and Bolt flanked me, every one of us locked in. We didn’t need to say shit. We were past that.

Kickstand and Oliver had been on their screens all night, running every trace, ping, and whisper tied to Drago. Jaycee, focused as ever, had found a pattern, Drago’d been circling a warehouse not far from their old clubhouse.

It was the best lead we had. And if it didn’t pan out, I didn’t know what the hell I’d do.

I killed the engine and stepped off my bike, my boots hitting the ground with more force than needed. My fists clenched at my sides, jaw locked so tight it hurt. I didn’t care. I was coming apart by inches.

Chain walked up beside me, watching me close. “You gotta keep your head, brother.”

I cut him a look. “It’s on straight.”

“You sure? ‘Cause you’ve been quiet as hell since we left, and you almost ripped Thunder’s throat out for breathing too loud.”

I dragged a hand down my face. “They’ve had her for days, man. Days. And no one knows what kind of shit she’s been put through.”

Chain nodded, voice softer now. “We’re gonna get her back. You gotta believe that.”

I gave him a small nod, but inside I was fire and wire, wound so tight I was ready to snap.

Devil motioned us over. “Listen up. No fireworks until the women are out. We don’t know how many of those assholes are inside, and we don’t know where Zeynep and Lucy are being kept. That means no hotheaded bullshit.”

He looked straight at Spinner, who looked like he was barely holding himself together. “Once they’re out we let hell unleash.”

“If they touched her,” Spinner said, his expression filled with rage, “I’m takin’ every last one of ‘em to hell personally.”

“Gotta beat me to it,” I muttered.

Devil turned to me next. “Mystic, you go in first. You know Zeynep better than anyone. You see her, you move. Fast. Clean. But don’t lose your shit.”

I swallowed hard. “I’ll get her out.”

Because I had to. No matter what shape she was in. No matter what it cost me.

Devil gave a nod and looked to Gatsby, still staring down at his phone.

“What’s it look like?” Devil asked.

Gatsby didn’t look up. “Security’s weak at the front. They’re either careless or think they’re untouchable. We’ve got a back route, old service entrance, no cameras. They won’t see us coming.”

Spinner cracked his knuckles. “Good. I want the element of surprise.”

Gatsby grinned. “You’ll get it.”

Devil rolled his shoulders, eyes hard. “Alright then. Let’s go remind them why you don’t fuck with our club.”

I didn’t wait.

As we moved toward the warehouse, everything else dropped away. All the noise in my head. All the fear.

Drago’s time was up, and I was the man who would stop his clock forever.