"No problem. Tyler, you still on the line?"
"I'm here," Tyler says from his phone.
"Your timing was perfect. Another two minutes and this could've gone bad. Real bad."
"What about the men?" Tyler asks.
"Irish got their plates. We'll make sure the law knows about this. But they took off the second we showed up. Probably wanted easy prey, not witnesses."
"Keep Emily safe."
"Always. She's under Watchmen protection now. Nobody touches her." There's a pause. "Emily, I need you to do something for me."
"What?" Her voice is still shaky.
"I need you to take a few deep breaths. You're going to ride on the back of my bike, and I need you calm enough to hold on. Can you do that?"
"I've never been on a motorcycle before."
"First time for everything. I'll go slow. Keep you safe. You trust me?"
A long pause. Then, "Yes."
"Good girl. Let's get you out of this parking lot."
I hear car doors. Movement. The rumble of engines starting up.
"Chloe?" Emily's voice is steadier now.
"I'm here."
"I'm okay. I'm safe. Rampage is... he's got me."
"I know. Call me when you get to their headquarters."
"I will. I love you."
"I love you too. Be safe."
The line goes dead.
I stare at my phone, my hands shaking.
Tyler immediately pulls me into his arms. "She's safe. Rampage has her."
"What if he hadn't gotten there in time? What if?—"
"But he did. Because we called immediately. Because you kept her calm. Because Rampage dropped everything and got there." His arms tighten around me. "She's okay, sweetheart. That's what matters."
I bury my face in his chest, tears finally falling. "I was so scared."
"I know." He presses a kiss to the top of my head. "But The Watchmen take care of their own. And Emily's connected to us through you. That makes her one of their own."
"I need to tell the girls."
"Do it. Let them know Emily's safe but her car broke down. She's with Rampage and The Watchmen."
I pull out my phone and text the group chat.
