Page 53 of Babe's Bounty

“I already packed for both of us.”

“What about the stuff in Scorch’s office?”

“Shit. I forgot. I’ll grab everything. Just get here. Keep the doors locked until I get outside. Whatever you do, don’t come inside. Got it?”

“Okay,” she replies, drawing out the word. I know she’s confused, but I don’t have time to explain. “What about Fenhua?”

I let out a curse. I forgot she didn’t know he had escaped. Shit, I’m losing it. She’s out there with that asshole back in public, and I didn’t warn her. “Shit, fuck, damn. I should have called you right away. Fenhua escaped. We think the rat called for help. They ambushed Trigger and Scorch. The guys here think you’re working with them,” I finally admit. She needs to know about all the danger she’s facing.

“Oh. Well, that sucks. Okay, I’ll be there shortly and we can head home. Fuck. I need to call Ghost and tell him that Fenhua knows he’s in San Diego. He also knows that his parents died there. I’m sorry, I might have dropped the Demon Dawgs into a war with what’s left of the Triad.”

“I’ll call Ghost. You just pay attention to your surroundings and get here quickly.” Ending the call, I head down the hallway to Scorch’s office as I dial Ghost’s number. I have to pass Chrome’s and hear him and Scorch arguing.

“You’re not just letting them go, are you? What if they’re the rats?” Scorch demands.

“Neither Babe nor Min are the rat. Neither were here when Mode was attacked. It’s better if they’re gone while we go hunting. I don’t care if you spread the word that Min betrayed us to her cousin. That might give the rat a false sense of security,” Chrome says.

I’m fuming at the idea of Chrome besmirching Min that way, but I have to agree with his motivation. He needs to keep the rat from discovering we still suspect someone in the clubhouse. It’s the only way for the Nomads to discover the truth. I wanted to stay to talk to the Nomads, but Min needs me to put her first. So that’s what I’m going to do. I duck into Scorch’s office just as Ghost answers his phone. Giving him the rundown of Min’s fight with Fenhua and how he might be on his way to San Diego. Ghost assures me he’ll be ready for him. Packing up Min’s stuff, I return to the common room. My plan is to wait for Min outside, however, Rush waylays me.

“What’s going on?”

I debate telling him, but after the confrontation in Chrome’s office, I’m uncertain of Chrome’s next move. I nod for him to follow me outside. “Look, I probably shouldn’t say anything, but you’ve got a rat in the house. Scorch thinks it’s Min or me, or both of us working together, but I swear to you that isn’t the case. Someone attacked Mode while we were both out of the clubhouse. Someone alerted Jordan about Min rescuing those women from the church and about our finding their second location. Then there’s Fenhua’s rescue. Maybe they’re watching us, but that doesn’t explain the attack on Mode.”

Rush glances back at the clubhouse. “Fuck, that isn’t what I wanted to hear, but I thought it was something like that. I’ll see what I can uncover.”

“Just watch your back,” I tell him.

“We’re going to take Jordan down. We weakened him. I’ll make sure Chrome goes for the kill.”

I hear a car arriving and look up to see Min driving through the gates. “I gotta get going. If you need my help, just call.” We grasp arms and slap backs before I jog over to meet Min. She stops and opens the door for me. I don’t bother having her scoot over so I can drive. Instead, I drop in the passenger’s seat. “Let’s go.”

CHAPTER THIRTY: MIN

The flight home was tense. We barely caught the last flight out. Babe was too angry to discuss what happened with Fenhua and at the clubhouse. After we accept a beer from the flight attendant, I update him on what I discovered at the hospital.

“Those assholes didn’t have time to rape Jessica. This was more of an adventure and less of a traumatic event. But it all might hit her later. Her parents showed up as I was leaving. Thea was lucky, too. She was at the community center, but they moved her to the office building but didn’t hurt her. I wish I could say the same was true for the other girls. But they’d been in the church basement. Each will need counseling, but I don’t know if it will help.”

“I’m sorry,” Babe says, taking my hand. “I know you’ll beat yourself up about not rescuing them sooner, but you rescued them. The damage was already done.”

“I know. Fuck, they’re so young. That fucker Jordan has a lot to answer for. I know you don’t want to talk about the club, but do you think Chrome and his men will still hunt down Jordan?”

Babe nods. “They will. I saw Rush before we left, and he assured me they’d keep hunting him. Besides, the Nomads will be in Chicago for the foreseeable future. Dante instructed them to stay as long as necessary to find the rat and Jordan. How did it go with the cops?”

“Fine. Schwartz was there. He was the one who took my statement. I told him I took out Billings in order to rescue the girls. But I didn’t mention Blankenship. The girls backed my story. They told Schwartz that I led them out of the building and got them to the hospital. Each one said they didn’t see anyone during the escape. Schwartz wasn’t happy when I couldn’t give the exact address, but he thought he knew the location based on the information I gave him. Just hope the fire had enough time to burn the evidence.”

“It should. They found some gasoline in storage and doused the place. It was engulfed in flames by the time we pulled out.”

“What happened tonight after I left with the girls?” I ask.

Babe tells me about finding Scorch and Trigger on the side of the road and Fenhua’s disappearance. Knowing Fenhua escaped pisses me off, but not as much as Scorch’s accusation. Not his accusation against me, but against Babe. These guys are supposed to be brothers. Families by choice rather than blood. They’re supposed to have each other’s backs. Not stabbing them in the back. I can tell Babe’s not only angry, but hurt, too.

“Maybe Scorch has a concussion and wasn’t thinking straight,” I offer. “He might rethink his accusation once he’s had time to rest.”

Babe snorts. “Maybe. I hope so. Doesn’t explain Chrome not coming to our defense.”

“Scorch is his VP. He may have been placating him. But, hold on. If Scorch and Trigger planned to drive Fenhua’s SUV, what were they going to do with their bikes? I thought the plan was to clear out before the cops arrived.”

“Scorch called the prospects to come with the crash van to take the bikes back,” Babe explains. “Scorch and Trigger ended up riding back in the van along with their bikes.”

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