Page 119 of Vandal Unbound

I have no idea how the fuck we’re gonna stop them. All the things I’d usually do would put Elsie at risk.

Shoot out the back window? What if she’s not strapped in and she’s trying to climb away from them, and I shoot her in the head?

Shoot out the tires? The speed they’re going, that might make them swerve and crash or flip.

Take out the driver with a single shot? See above.

Ahead, the SUV finally jerks to the right. It’s not an official turn, more like an access road that disappears into the Florida wilderness. The tires kick up dust ahead of us as we follow in convoy.

But their speed has dropped significantly, and the single-lane road is hedged on both sides.

Even still, I hold my breath as Knox takes out his gun and takes out the right tire. Ridge follows suit and takes out the left. Ahead of us, the road opens out to a dock. And at the end of it is an airboat with a man and a woman on it.

Daisy follows behind. The SUV grinds to a halt right by the boat, and the door opens, but we’re able to surround them before they have a chance to stop us.

They’re trapped between the motorcycles and the swamp with nowhere to run.

“Wait,” the woman cries. “Don’t hurt her.”

The voice is shrill with panic, which isn’t the kind of response I’d expect from someone working for Alvarez.

Every bike around me goes silent as we cut the engines, and I see my brothers have weapons on the vehicle.

“Lock them down,” Knox shouts.

But all I can think of is Elsie. I leap off my bike, drag the passenger door open, and reach over the man sitting there to grab her. Tears stream down her little cheeks, but she screams my name.

“Vandal. I knew you’d come.”

The words are punctuated by sobs as she wraps her arms around me and I hold on tight. “You’re safe, sweetheart. No one is taking you away. I told you I’d always come for you.”

She buries her head against my neck.

“Elsie,” Daisy shouts, running from her car, and Havoc jumps off his bike to hold her back from the line of fire. I hurry to her.

“Els-bells,” Havoc says, stroking Elsie’s back when I get to them.

“Momma,” she cries and reaches out her arms for Daisy.

“Are you hurt?” Daisy says, checking her over. “Did they hurt you?”

“They scared me,” Elsie says between sobs.

“I know, sweetheart. I know. I’m so sorry. But momma’s here now.”

I pull the two of them into my arms.

When I look back, Knox and the rest of my brothers have everyone else locked down, kneeling by the SUV.

“Camila?” Daisy says.

“You know her?” I ask.

She looks up at me with an ache in her eyes that makes me want to kill someone. “My ex’s wife.”

Camila scoffs at that. “You don’t deserve to use that title for him. He was never yours. And that little girl isours.”

Knox shoves her back down when she starts to stand. “I’d think real careful about your next move. Did Mateo Alvarez send you?”