Chapter Eleven Babe
CHAPTER ELEVEN: BABE
Watching Min walk into the enemy camp was the hardest thing I've ever done. My mind and heart scream for me to stop her, but knowing she'd kick my ass keeps me from following through. However, I have a death grip on the handlebars as I watch her disappear. After taking several calming breaths, reason kicks in. Min can take care of herself. Hell, she's probably a better fighter than I am, although I'd never admit it to her or anyone. Where I rely on strength and my brothers to take down an enemy, Min's only ever relied upon herself.
Putting my faith in her intelligence and skill, I drive down the street and around the corner before pulling into the club's garage. Business is good. Cars occupy all three bays. When I enter, I nod at Scorch, who's bent under the hood of a metallic blue classic Mustang. Torque has a minivan up on a lift. I can only see a pair of boots sticking out from under an older model sedan. Scorch pops his head out long enough to point me to his office.
Setting up the laptop Mode provided, I breathe a sigh of relief when I see Min walking down the hallway toward the offices. She has one camera up. Good girl. When she enters the office at the end of the hall, I impatiently wait for the second camera to go online. I track Min's progress through enemy lines with each camera she installs.
I glance up when Scorch enters the office.
"How's it going?"
"She has seven cameras up. Four in what looks to be an office building. She has the entrances covered and then two inside an office," I reply, pointing at the screen. "She's installed two more inside a kitchen."
"Smart girl. There's another camera. Looks like she's in the rectory and setting up cameras in the rooms. That will help us figure out who is staying onsite."
We watch in silence as more cameras come online. Once she's finished all the buildings but the church, Scorch gives a nod. "She's almost done. You going to pick her up, or is she walking back here?"
"She'll walk up the street and around the corner. I'll pick her up there," I tell him.
"Sounds good." Scorch leaves while I watch Min turn on the cameras inside the church. Not only does she have cameras set to capture those entering through the doors, but she's covered the inside of the church as well. She even has a camera inside the priest's dressing room.
She's almost done, which is a relief. Although, I'm confused about why she hasn't run into anyone yet. Chrome said they saw men arrive, but no one leaving. So where are they?
I watch Min approach two doors. One leads outside. However, when she opens the second door, all I see is darkness.
Min calls me over the mic, so I ask if she's almost done.
"Almost. I have the cameras setup. I haven't run into anyone yet, but there is a door leading into a basement. It wasn't on Sammy's map. I'm heading down, but wanted to touch base first."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"Won't take me more than a few minutes."
I want to argue with her, but since I can't come up with a reason other than fear for her safety, I don't. No reason to piss her off. She must hear my hesitation, because she presses her point. "We can't take the chance of missing an entrance. Some cities have a tunnel system. I'm just going to look around."
"Okay, but if I don't hear from you in five minutes, I'm coming over there."
"Fifteen."
"Ten."
"Done."
The minute she's through the door, I hear a scream. "Min?"
"That wasn't me. Hold on."
Easier said than done as I strain to hear what's happening on her end. The rumble of voices tells me she's not alone in that basement, but I don't think they know she's there. Pulling out the gun, Chrome leant me, I double check it before sliding it back into the holster under my kutte. I need to be ready to run to Min's rescue if they discover her. At least I can still hear the transmission. I'd be climbing the walls if she went radio silent.
When I hear Min speaking in soothing tones and someone replying, I can't remain quiet.
"What's going on? Who are you talking to?"
"There's a girl down here. She's hurt. I'm helping her escape. There's another woman I need to help, too."
"What the fuck? Min, you can't do it on your own. I'll come help you."
"No. They'll catch you. I have an idea. I'll shout out if I need the calvary."
"Fuck," I reply, not happy with the plan, but knowing I'm close enough to jump in and help. "Okay, I'll wait for your signal. Just be careful."
So, as hard as it is for me, I remain silent and focus on the sounds coming from Min's end. Movement on a screen grabs my attention. I see a man stepping out of the door that leads to the basement in the church. He's carrying something slung over his shoulder. Fucker. He moves across the room and out the exit. I finally take a breath when I see Min leaving the basement, her arm around a girl with a blanket wrapped around her slim body. Flashes of skin and the lack of shoes tell me the girl is naked under the blanket. Min and the girl follow him out.
Standing, I rush outside to get a visual. Scorch and Torque drop their tools and join me.
"What's happening?" Scorch asks.
"Min found a young girl inside the basement of the church. She's bringing her out. She's following a man who I think is carrying an injured woman. Min's likely planning to take out the guy and steal his ride."
The three of us position ourselves across the street. I spot a black SUV with its back open in the parking lot. I see the SUV bounce once before spotting the girl wearing the blanket dive into the passenger seat. The sound of the car door slamming shut echoes across the empty street. It's followed soon after by another. I hold my breath until I see Min step into view and climb behind the wheel.
Min spots us when she reaches the street. When we think she's going to pull over, Scorch takes charge.
"Tell her to drive through to the back of the garage," he says, and I repeat his instructions to Min. She gives me a nod and takes off for the garage. By the time we're back, she's parked the SUV and is climbing out. The three of us rush forward as she puts herself between us and the SUV.
"What the fuck were you thinking?" Scorch yells.
"I was thinking I wanted to rescue a woman from being murdered and a young girl from more abuse," she angrily whispers back with a concerned look at the SUV's passenger.
Scorch scowls, but before he can respond, I take over.
"Tell us what you found. I heard some of it, but not everything."
"I'd love to, but we don't have time. The guy in the back may wake up and the woman needs medical help right away. Physically, the girl seems okay, but I don't know what they've done to her. Plus, I think she's underage. We need to take both of them to the hospital and call the police."
I share a look with Scorch before turning back to Min. "We can't call the police, at least we can't," I say, gesturing between my brothers and me.
"But…," Min starts, but then Scorch raises his hand to stop her.
"You can take them," he says. "We have a loaner car over there. Torque can move the woman into the backseat."
Min opens her mouth to argue, but takes the keys from the prospect who ran inside to get them. Torque opens the SUV and gently lifts the woman out before laying in the backseat of the loaner car. The man inside remains unconscious.
"Don't tell the cops where you found her," I tell Min. She gives me a look that I interpret easily.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm going to tell them. I'll discuss it with her on the way," Min says, gesturing between Kristi and herself. "You just take care of the asshole."
"We will," I tell her, tapping the hood of the car.
Stepping back to the SUV, I'm in time to see Scorch and Torque drag the man out of the SUV. They let him drop to the ground. Scorch turns to the prospect.
"Get this SUV to the chop shop and strip it down. We don't know if they have a tracker on it and we don't want it leading them to our door."
The prospect nods and takes off. I turn to Scorch. "What are we going to do with him?" I nod at the ground.
"He's going to the Shed. We have some questions for him."