Chapter Fourteen Min

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: MIN

Before returning to the clubhouse, I stop by the hotel where I made a reservation and check-in. Once that's done, I go searching for Babe. When I don't find him in the common room, I head for Mode's office.

"Have you seen Babe?"

"He's still with the man you took down," Mode says with a grin. "Nice work, by the way."

I grin and take a quick bow, making him chuckle.

"Any activity on the cameras?" This question wipes the smile off his face.

"Unfortunately," he studies me before continuing. "You won't like it. But, before I tell you, just know that you couldn't have done anything different."

"What?" I ask, taking a seat because I'm certain I'm about to hear bad news.

"Less than forty minutes after you absconded with the SUV, another SUV pulled up with four men inside. They went into the basement and carried up four young girls. Each naked and unconscious."

"Son of a bitch!" I explode. Pushing out of my seat, I pace around the room, angrily swiping at the tears cascading down my face. "I should have checked the other rooms. How could I have left them behind?"

"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself. You couldn't have known they were there and besides, you didn't have time to check. You had to get to the man before he left with the woman. He planned on killing her, right?"

"She died," I tell him. "If I had stayed behind with Kristi and searched the rooms, I could have rescued those girls."

"You couldn't have known she would die," Mode argues. "Did you think there were other girls? Because I didn't. Neither did Babe, Torque, or Scorch. They could have gone into the basement and checked while you were taking the others to the hospital. But none of us considered the possibility that they were holding more girls."

I pause in my pacing to consider his comments. He's right. The thought that there were other girls never entered my mind. Caught up in the danger of rescuing Kristi and trying to save the woman, I didn't think about the other rooms in the basement and what they might hold. If I had, I would have said something to Babe, and he and the others would have broken into the church to check. None of us considered the possibility. Nodding, I sit back down and wipe away the remaining tears with the tissue Mode hands me.

"You're right. I'm just angry that I didn't stop to think. I passed by those rooms. Never thought about what was behind the doors. Wasn't expecting to find Kristi either. I ducked into her room to keep from getting caught. Her moans drew my attention. They scared the hell out of me, to be honest."

"Fight-or-flight," Mode reminds and I nod.

"Okay, so any idea on where they took the girls?"

"No. I checked the traffic cams, but lost them in a residential neighborhood."

"Damn."

"Yeah. I have a program running to see if I can find any homes owned by Jordan. I'm checking his name, the name of his churches, and LLCs. Hoping to get a hit. However, the residential area is massive. It will take some time. But I'm also watching the cameras you put up." He points at his screen, so I move behind him to see what he's seeing.

The abandoned church is no longer abandoned. Crime scene technicians are processing rooms while police officers search through each building and the grounds. Police tape and uniformed officers keep the spectators outside the gates. I spot the two officers who questioned me at the hospital, Spalding and Wilson, and point them out to Mode. He, like me, snickers at their names.

"Do you recognize the third guy?" Mode asks.

Spalding and Wilson are talking to a man wearing a dark blue suit. He has blonde hair, that's cut short. He shifts his jacket to the side to place his hands on his hips. A gold badge sparkles in the sunlight.

"Probably a detective," I reason.

Wilson takes out his notebook and holds it open for the detective to view. The detective takes out his phone. Once he's finished, he lifts the phone to his ear just as my phone rings. Mode and I laugh as I pull out my phone to check the display. I don't recognize the number, but the call is local, so I answer.

"Min Yan?" I hear a man ask.

"Yes, this is Min. Who is this?"

"I'm Detective Mark Schultz with the Whiting Police Department. I'm currently at the church where you said you found Ms. Branch and the other victim. Would you and your partner be willing to meet with me at the station to answer some questions?"

"My partner?" I respond, watching the man on the screen as he speaks to me.

"Scott Beams, goes by the name of Babe. He's an Enforcer with the Demon Dawgs, correct? You two are partners in the DDMC Bond Agency?"

I can see him smirk on the camera, which irks me. So the detective did his homework. "We can come by later this afternoon."

"Sounds good. See you then, Ms. Yan."

I want to say something to knock the smug look off his face, but I don't want him to know that we have cameras set up.

Hanging up the phone, I share a look with Mode.

"He knows who I am, and he knows about Babe. Think we should call a lawyer?"

Mode shrugs. "I don't know. Let's go discuss it with Chrome."

I follow Mode into the common room to find that the place has filled up with bikers.

"I'll go find Chrome," Mode says, leaving me to push my way through the growing crowd.

I reach the bar and take a seat. Sammy sees me and comes over to take my order. "Beer?"

I shake my head. "Mineral water and a lime." I need to keep my wits for my meeting with the detective.

When Sammy slides the drink in front of me, I lift it to take a sip, but sputter when a hand caresses my ass. Turning, I find a stranger behind me. His kutte has the name ‘Trigger.' He's leaning to the side, still looking at my ass before his eyes shift to my chest. When he reaches for my breast, I grab his thumb and bend it all the way backwards. He grunts as his knees drop to the ground. I slide off the stool and apply more pressure as I lean in so I can look into his eyes. I want to make sure he's paying attention.

"Don't fucking touch me," I tell him. The crowd gives us a wide berth. When I hear angry mutterings from the men, I shift so my back is to the bar. After taking a quick look around, I return my focus to Trigger. He's grasping my hand as I apply more pressure. He scrambles to get purchase, but the pain keeps him from getting it. "I'll let you go, but you stay away from me. Nod if you understand."

When he rapidly nods his head, I release him. He scrambles away from me, but then jumps to his feet and lunges toward me, drawing back his fist.

Decades of training have me ready to counter his attack.

"Trigger!" Chrome shouts as he pushes his way through the sea of leather. Babe is on his heels along with Mode and Bush.

"She fucking attacked me!" Trigger shouts at Chrome. "I'm teaching her a lesson."

"No, the fuck you're not. What's wrong with you? She's a guest," Chrome shouts back.

"She put her hands on me," Trigger growls.

"After you put your hands on me. You touched my ass, and you were going for my boobs," I reply calmly.

Babe stands next to me and shoots Trigger a glare that matches mine.

"She's a bitch in our clubhouse. She's not wearing a kutte. So she's fair game," Trigger continues to argue.

"She's a guest," Chrome repeats. "Not only that, but she's family. Ghost's her cousin and she works in one of our businesses. She's off-limits. Got it?"

Trigger glares at me before nodding. "Got it."

"Oh, and Trigger, if I ever see you raise a fist to woman again, I'll take your kutte," Chrome snarls. "Or maybe I'll just let Min kick your ass."

The rest of the guys burst out laughing, which has Trigger reddening in anger. The glare he sends me promises retribution. I want to tell him to bring it on, but I refrain. Instead, I glance at Chrome and Babe. "I'm sorry if I overstepped, but I didn't want him touching me."

"You don't have to apologize. He was being an ass," Chrome assures me.

"Maybe we should move to a hotel," Babe says, studying my face. "Although I'm certain none of the other guys will touch you now."

"Not if they don't want their asses kicked," Bush chuckles. "Damn woman, I may need you to show me that move."

"You and Ghost share some serious skills," Chrome says. "I'm guessing your daddy taught you both?"

I nod. "He did. They're skills I teach others now. Every woman should know how to defend herself. There are too many assholes out there."

"Speaking of assholes. Mode said you got a call from a detective who wants to meet with you and Babe?"

I tell them about watching Schwartz and his team search the church and what Mode witnessed prior to the cops showing up.

"When I found Krista, I should have searched the other rooms," I say. The bitterness churning in my stomach.

"None of us considered it," Babe tells, squeezing my shoulder.

"We'll find them," Mode assures me. "I won't stop looking for them."