I stroke up and down her back and over her ass until she relaxes. I tilt my head back to lean against the wall reinforced with concrete. It’s smooth against my shoulders, so I force myself to take my own advice. I shut my eyes and listen to the ocean. We know from experience that Joaquin takes the first shift for lookout, then me, then Jorge. We never intended to go by age; we just always have.
“Maddy?”
“I’m awake.”
“It’s my watch. I need to move closer to the gate.”
It’s been an hour, so I need to take my turn.
“It’s fine. Stay there.” Jorge nudges his chin toward Maddy as he stands.
“Jorge—”
“Madeline, don’t worry. He’ll make it up to me.”
“I’m not giving you my Porsche.”
“You have two.Mamásays you need to learn to share.”
“You can have last year’s Lego set.”
“You must really love me.”
Maddy looks up at me and grins. She knows I’ve always liked fast cars, but giving up any of my Lego sets is the ultimate sign of devotion to my brother. I just have to remind him he’s the little brother, so I’ll only give him one I’ve already assembled.
Jorge exchanges places with Joaquin, and I keep my arms around Maddy. Having her in my lap calms me. I can physically shield her if need be, but having her close reassures me she’s unharmed despite the attack. With the suit coat around her, no one can see her hand slip under my shirt. She grazes her nails up my abs before resting her palm on my heart. She kisses behind my ear before she whispers.
“Daddy, your mind might be a little relaxed, but your body’s still tense. I feel completely safe here. I’m not scared anymore. If you won’t let me blame myself for what’s happening, then I won’t let you do the same. Your legs are like steel plates under my sore ass.”
I gaze down at her in the dim light, and I inhale as I make my body soften as much as it can.
“Mmm. Still rock hard.”
Maddy’s soft breath against my ear tempts me to shiver. She could be talking about my legs or the way my cock can’t helpbut react to her being near me. If this weren’t life or death and my brothers weren’t a foot from us, I could fuck her while she straddles me.
“Later, Daddy.”
She must have felt me twitch. She settles back against me, and I don’t notice the time passing until Joaquin whispers to us.
“It’s time.”
That rouses the rest of us, and I lean to my right to see the sky more clearly. The sun is farther to the west than it was when we came down here. Jorge unlocks the gate while Joaquin, Maddy, and I push the Zodiac forward. The four of us drag it into the water. The inflatable boat is heavy. It would be a struggle for any of us brothers to move it alone and nearly impossible for Maddy. If she were alone, she’d have to wait for the tide to come in.
With four of us, it slides into the waves easily. I point to the hull, and Maddy crouches before curling into a tight ball. My brothers draw their guns and sit facing out while I go to the outboard engine. My gun rests on my right thigh while Jorge and Joaquin sweep their gazes over our surroundings. I steer the boat as close to the shore as I can without running aground.
We enter the cave on a wave that drives us into the depths without the motor’s help. We’re nearly to the back where we can step onto a ledge when that telltale whir echoes. I go full throttle while my brothers each take out a drone. I fully expect to hear an explosion when they hit the water, but there’s not even a fizzle.
“Did you see any others while we waited?” I look at Joaquin and Jorge, but they both shake their head.
If there had been, they would have told me, but the question tumbles out as my fear ratchets up. Being in such an enclosed space with Maddy and machines sent to kill us has me speaking before thinking.
I maneuver us to where there’s a natural ledge that’s also reinforced with concrete. My brothers and I pull the boat out ofthe water and drag it to an enclosed area where the tide can’t reach it and drag it out to sea. Past another secured gate with a code and biometrics, motion-sensor lights illuminate our path to a hidden location.
At the end of what feels like a long hallway, we come to a set of stairs. Once more, Jorge leads, and Joaquin follows. We enter what looks like a garden shed, but it’s a garage. We have one of our armored SUVs that’s a veritable tank parked here. I open the back passenger side door for Maddy, and she climbs in before I go to the trunk and grab additional rifles for all four of us. As I pass the open door, I look inside to Maddy, who nods before I hand her one stock first.
I give two to Joaquin before he climbs into the front passenger’s seat. Jorge goes around to the driver’s side. We’re all fearless with just about everything, or at least we can appear that way. We all have a lead foot and love fast cars, but Jorge drives like a pro. It doesn’t matter what kind of vehicle he’s in; you’d think he’s trying to win the Indy 500 or the Paris-Drakar Rally. He hits a button on his visor, and the garage door opens.
“Maddy, these windows are bulletproof, just like the Kutsenkos’ SUVs, but stay low.”
