“Got her,” he said.
I snatched the phone from him and looked at the location beeping on the map. “That’s where she is?”
“That’s where her phone is,” Freya said for clarification. “Whether she’s still with it or not, we don’t know.”
West nodded. “But, it’s a damn good place to start.”
I furrowed my brow. “That’s not far from here. That’s only one exit up.”
West patted Freya’s shoulder. “Come on. We’re gonna get you back, and then we’re gonna gather the guys. Stone would want to be part of this recon mission.”
We headed back to the warehouse filled with hope and a renewed sense of vigor. We burst through those doors, and I started yelling for the guys while Freya darted off to inform the women as to what was about to happen. West started gathering guns for all of us to suit up. He grabbed guns, and knives, and extra ammo. He even grabbed some of our bulletproof gear to put beneath our clothes.
And as the guys came charging down the hallway, West quickly filled them in while I simply handed them the phone that housed the blinking dot that had given us hope.
However, I should’ve known that Lexi wouldn’t have allowed herself to stand on the sidelines.
“I’m coming with you,” she said as she came around the corner.
I finished strapping myself to the bone with guns. “No, you’re not.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “This isn’t negotiable. I didn’t ask a question. That’s my best friend. That’s the only shred of family I’ve had all these years. I’m coming with you to help.”
Texas sighed. “You can help by staying here and comforting your daughter.”
She shot him a look. “You leave my daughter to me.”
But I took her hands within mine. “He’s right. If this shit goes sideways, I can’t have you caught in the crossfire. Natty needs you.”
“She needs you too, Dean.”
The guys snickered at her using my actual name, but I didn’t give a shit. I cupped her cheek and smoothed my thumb along her warm skin. I wanted to memorize every feature. Drink in every moment. Relive the love she had for me as it swam around in her eyes.
Because this all had a chance of going to hell.
Then, Stone patted my back. “Gotta go. It’s getting dark.”
I kissed Lexi’s forehead. “I’ll see you when we get back. And when we get back, I’ll have Chloe.”
“Please,” she begged.
“Let’s go, guys,” I said as I twirled my finger in the air.
We all headed outside to get to our bikes, but in the blink of an eye I heard Texas cry out. I whipped around long enough to watch Lexi rip the gun off his hip before she aimed it at the broadside of the warehouse, and she popped off three shots. One after another, without breaking a sweat. Her body barely jerked. Her face barely flinched. And after she slammed those bullets into the front outside wall of the warehouse, I noticed something.
She had shot them in such a tight formation that it left me breathless.
“All right,” Stone said as he took the gun from her and handed it back to Texas, “she can ride.”
“Thanks,” Lexi said flatly as she shot me a look.
I walked up to her and sighed. “Wanna go tell Natty where you’re going?”
She shook her head. “She’s enjoying the movie. Let her enjoy it. I mean, we’ll be back soon with her Auntie, and then she won’t give a shit. Right?”
I sighed. “Yeah, yeah. Right.”
She turned her back to me and headed for my bike. “Good. Now, let’s get on the road. We’re burning daylight.”
