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“NO! I’m not going to lose her!”

My relief dies when I hear those words. In an instant, I realize that this could get much worse.

Do they have guns?

Of course they do, they’re cops.

“Get out of the van!” Tucker barks and I almost sob at the sound of his voice.

“Where’s Emma?” Trey demands and the low rumble of the motorcycles dies down as everyone turns off their bikes.

“You had better start talking, asshole,” Nix says and this time a cry rips out of me.

“Nix!” I scream, hoping that he can hear me through the walls of the van.

“She’s mine. I’ll die before I let anyone else have her,” Ryan says and Nix laughs.

“Sounds good to me.”

“Nix!” I yell again. When he doesn’t respond, I scoot over to the side of the van.

“Where is she?” Nix yells. Using my good leg, I slam my foot against the side of the van. “Emma?!”

I kick again.

“Hold on, baby. I’m comin’. Tucker, keep an eye on this douchebag.”

“Got him.”

Light floods the back of the van as the doors fly open and I see Nix standing there.

Finally able to fully relax, I release a breath and sob. “Nix!”

“Shhh, baby. I’m here. Can you scoot toward me?”

“N-no, my leg is broken.”

“Okay, Em. I’m comin’ in to get you. Which leg is it?”

“Right.”

He nods and crawls into the back of the van with me.

“Hey, baby,” he coos when he reaches me and cradles my face in his hand.

“Nix,” I breathe. “I love you.”

“Oh, Emma, I love you, too.”

“I thought I was never going to see you again,” I say and fresh tears spill down my cheeks.

“I would have spent the rest of my life searching for you. I never would have given up.”

My sobs grow louder and I bury my head in his chest. He strokes my hair and rocks me back and forth.

After a moment, he wipes the tears from my cheeks. “Ready to get out of here, sweetheart?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”