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Monster raised a fist, and everyone stopped. They heard a gunshot, and Jackhammer's heart stopped. Ghost took off running. “Fuck,” Hammer spat as he took off running after him. “Ghost!” he shouted into the darkness.

There was no response. He kept running and caught up with Ghost. When they reached the barn, Ghost slammed through the door, and Jackhammer followed with his weapon raised. The smell hit him first—gunpowder, dirt, pumpkins, and blood. Then he saw Angel. She was standing beside an old tractor with a gun in her hand, and she was alive.

“Angel!” Hammer shouted.

Her head snapped toward him. “Hammer?” Relief hit him so hard his knees almost gave out. Ghost reached her first, and he grabbed her. Angel collided with his chest and for half a second, Ghost just held her. Then Jackhammer reached her, and he wrapped both of them in his arms.

“You're okay,” he breathed.

“I am,” she agreed.

“You're fucking okay,” Hammer said again.

“Hammer—” she started.

He grabbed her face. “Don't ever do that again.”

Her eyes widened. “I didn't exactly volunteer to be kidnapped.”

“I don't fucking care,” he growled.

“Hammer.” He kissed her—hard and desperate. Everything he'd been holding back for the last three hours went into that kiss. When he pulled away, Angel stared at him. “Wow.”

Ghost grabbed the back of her neck. “Move,” he ordered. Angel turned, and that was when Jackhammer finally looked past her. An old biker was on the ground, and blood stained his shoulder. Razor and two Nomad Knights stood near the opposite side of the barn. One Knight was down. He was either dead or wounded; Jackhammer couldn't tell, but he really didn’t care. Monster and the others came through behind them with their weapons raised.

Razor looked at the Toxic Monsters surrounding him. “Well.”

Monster smiled. “You must be Razor.”

“And you must be Monster,” Razor countered.

“Unfortunately for you, I am,” Monster said.

Razor looked at Angel. “You brought an army.”

“I didn't bring anyone,” she insisted.

Ghost stepped in front of her. “She didn't have to.” Jackhammer moved to her other side, and Razor's gaze shifted between them.

Understanding dawned on his face, and he laughed. “Both of you?”

Ghost raised his gun at Razor. “Want to keep laughing?” Razor immediately stopped.

Monster glanced at Crow. “Who's that?”

“Crow,” Angel said. Jackhammer frowned. He had remembered hearing that name somewhere before. Maybe Mouse had mentioned him. If he was correct, Crow was a former Nomad Knights Enforcer and was presumed dead.

“It’s a long story,” Angel added.

“Those are my favorite kind,” Monster said. Crow groaned, and Angel started toward him, but Jackhammer caught her arm.

“Careful,” he warned.

“He saved me,” she explained. Jackhammer looked at Crow. That complicated things—a lot.

Razor laughed. “Crow saved you?”

Angel turned to face him. “Shut up.”