Jay rattled them off, then added, "At least take some backup. Prospects are on standby."
But Blade was already moving, the adrenaline temporarily masking the worst of the pain from his reopened wound. He'd deal with that later. Right now, only one thing mattered.
Getting to Lily.
The clubhouse was largely empty, most able-bodied members having joined the operation at the quarry. Only a few prospects remained, lounging in the main area until they spotted Blade emerging from the tactical room, blood soaking his shirt, murder in his eyes.
"You," he barked at the nearest one, a young man named Jordan who'd proven himself reliable. "With me. Now."
To his credit, the prospect didn't hesitate, falling in behind Blade as he stalked toward the exit.
Outside, the promised motorcycle waited, a Harley Road King, not Blade's preferred ride, but powerful enough for what he needed. Beside it, a second bike for the prospect.
"We're headed to the quarry," Blade informed him, swinging his leg over the motorcycle with a grunt of pain. "Stay on my six, do exactly as I say, and don't ask questions."
"Got it," Jordan replied, already mounting his own bike.
Through the tiny comm unit still in his ear, Blade could hear the sounds of battle intensifying. Gunfire. Shouts. The distinctive whomp of flash-bang grenades as the club's rescue force presumably emerged from the tunnels beneath the quarry.
"Lily, status!" Savage's voice, urgent and commanding.
No response.
"Lily, do you copy?" Savage again, more insistent.
Still nothing.
Cold fear gripped Blade's heart as he fired up the motorcycle, the engine roaring to life beneath him. Had her comm been damaged? Had she been hit? Captured?
Worse?
"All units, be advised," Lucky's voice cut through the chaos. "Primary package is down. I repeat, primary package is down."
The world seemed to stop spinning. Primary package. Lily. Down.
"Status?" Savage demanded, the single word carrying the weight of the question they were all asking.
A pause that stretched into eternity.
"Unknown," Lucky replied grimly. "Area still hot. Cannot reach her position."
Blade gunned the engine, the motorcycle leaping forward as he tore out of the clubhouse lot, the prospect scrambling to keep up behind him.
Hold on, baby girl. Just hold on. I'm coming.
The journey passed in a blur of speed and pain, Blade pushing the motorcycle well beyond safe limits as they raced toward the quarry. Each mile was a battle against his injured body, against the blood he could feel soaking his shirt, against the fear threatening to overwhelm his tactical mind.
Through it all, he kept the comm channel open, listening to the sporadic updates from the battlefield.
"North ridge secured."
"Two tangos down by the equipment shed."
"Jose spotted moving toward the eastern exit."
"Marcus secure, en route to extraction point alpha."
But nothing about Lily. No updates. No confirmation of her status. Just the terrible silence where her voice should have been.
