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Striker pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t mean to be an ass, but—”

“You were born that way.” Cleo huffed out a breath. “I understand. We’re all wound tight over what happened.”

“We have to find a way through their shields,” he said.

“We will, but not by going in all guns blazing with no plan.” Cleo patted his shoulder. “If we do that, Wren could die. So could Eden and Daisy. No one wants that to happen. Right, Rexx?”

Rexx staggered into the room. Angel caught hold of him and lurched to a chair, pushing him into it.

“This stubborn giant isn’t fit for anything. He’ll behave.” She jabbed a needle pen into his neck. “Take the time to heal. You heal faster when you’re asleep, and you need to be ready for when we kick those idiots’ butts.”

Rexx slumped forward, his muscles slowly relaxing as the drug Angel gave him got to work.

“We can’t leave Wren with the Gente,” Striker said.

Blaze glanced at Cleo. “Give us a minute.” He walked Striker to the back of the lab, out of earshot of the others.

“You’re not talking me out of going after Wren,” Striker said,

“I’m not going to. I want them all back. But I get it. You care about Wren. We care about them all. And we don’t want to see any of them get hurt. We’re getting them back.”

“I don’t see any action being taken,” Striker said.

“It’s happening. We need to make sure everyone is ready for action before we move.”

“I’m ready. I’ll go now. Do whatever’s needed.”

Blaze’s expression hardened. “You have skin in the game. I get why you’re fighting so hard.”

“Of course I have skin in the game. It’s Wren. I can’t be without her.”

The sliver of a smile crossed Blaze’s face. “You two are finally together, huh?”

Striker rubbed a hand across his forehead. “Yeah, we’re together. I have no clue what she sees in me, but she’s finally let me in.”

“And you’ve finally let her in? Wren’s a great woman. There’s no fucking around with her.”

“Nope, I won’t fool around. This is it for me.” Striker blew out a breath. He had let her in. He couldn’t be without her. She was so far out of his league it hurt, but he’d spend every day making sure she realized she’d made the right choice by being with him.

“If we’re going to get her back, get them all back, you have to follow the rules,” Blaze said. “No more maverick bullshit.”

“Whatever it takes, I’ll do it. This isn’t a game for me. Not anymore.”

Blaze glanced over his shoulder. “And Cleo knows what she’s doing. She’s a hundred percent behind a retrieval. Quit riding her ass.”

Striker glanced at Cleo. Her clenched hands, angry glare, and pale face told him everything.

“We’ll do this. We’ll get your girl back,” Blaze said.

Striker nodded. “I’m in. No more bullshit. Let’s go get her. Let’s go get them all.”

Chapter 17

“Are you sure nothing’s broken?” Eden sat hunched beside Wren in the animal cage.

“I’m good.” Wren scowled as she tested her wrist. It twinged every time she moved it and had throbbed with each beat of her heart over the last five hours. “I’m just covered in bruises and desperate for a shower. And I’ve got Gente blood under my nails.”

“At least you took his mind off of getting you naked,” Eden said.