Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 79~

~Colby~

I glanced back at the girls and the kids one last time, making sure they were all settled in the SUV. Katrina, Devyn, Tara, and Isa were doing their best to keep Aspen and Blake calm. Aspen, my little girl, looked up at me with her big, innocent eyes and said, "I love you, Daddy."

I leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I love you too, baby girl," I whispered, my heart aching at the thought of leaving her behind, even if just for a little while.

Blake, our brave little man, piped up. "I want to help, Colby! I'm a tough guy too!"

I ruffled his hair and smiled. "I know you are, buddy. But this is some tough guy stuff that Colby and the uncles have to handle. There will be another time for you to help, but right now, we need to focus on getting your mom back."

The girls were all on edge, trying to keep the kids occupied. I turned to them, my voice stern. "Remember, if shit hits the fan, you drive away and don't look back. Got it?"

They all nodded, their faces pale but determined. "Got it," they echoed.

I took a deep breath and turned to the boys. Sam, Jake, and Corey were all geared up, just like me, with bulletproof vests, knee-high boots, and thick jeans.

We had gone over the plan a dozen times, but I felt the need to reiterate it one more time. "Alright, guys. We stick to the plan. No deviations. We go in, get her, and get out. Quick and clean."

Jake nodded, his jaw set. "We got this, Colby. We're ready."

Corey clapped me on the shoulder. "Yeah, man. We've got your back."

Sam added, "We'll get her out. No matter what. We're not leaving without her."

I looked at each of them, feeling a surge of gratitude and determination. "Let's do this."

As we moved into the woods, the sun was setting, casting eerie shadows all around us. My heart pounded in my chest, but I pushed the fear aside.

We crept through the underbrush, every snap of a twig and rustle of leaves making my nerves jump. The tension was palpable, each of us hyper-aware of our surroundings. We were ready for anything, but the unknown loomed ahead, a dark, menacing presence.

I glanced back one more time, seeing the SUV in the distance. I knew that if things went south, the girls would do as I instructed. They would drive away and keep the kids safe. But I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't fail.

We reached the edge of the clearing where the cabin stood. I signaled for the guys to stop and crouch down. "Alright, this is it. Remember, quick and clean. Let's get her and get out."

They all nodded, their faces set with determination. We moved forward, every step bringing us closer to the unknown, but I knew we had to do this.

We made our way into the cabin, guns raised, ready for anything. The pack members gave us weird looks, their hostility palpable. Sam and Corey immediately started dealing with the more testy ones, keeping them in check. Jake and I had a different mission: Rescue Emily.

As we moved through the room, Jake got in Dallas's face when he dared to test me. "You got a problem?" Jake snarled, shoving Dallas back. "Sit the fuck down!"

Dallas glared but backed off, knowing better than to push his luck.

Meanwhile, Liam was helping Sam and Corey rally the men, trying to keep them steady. The tension was thick, and I could feel the hostility radiating off the pack members.

One of them, a scruffy-looking guy, made a vulgar comment about Raelyn's body that set me off immediately. "Hey, that's my goddamn wife you're talking about, runt! Shut your mouth!"