Chapter Twenty-Three Babe

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: BABE

Leaving Min behind to follow Blankenship while I chase after her cousin wasn't a difficult decision. Fenhua kidnapped Min when she was a child. He intended for his brother to kill her as part of some sick initiation into the Triad. But the man I now call brother, Ghost, outsmarted him. He saved Min's life. Ghost believed his brother lost his life that day. Looks like he was wrong. Knowing that Fenhua is still alive and therefore a threat to Min makes following him a necessity.

When they enter the elevator, I dash down the stairs and catch up to them in the lobby. Once outside, I straddle my bike while they stand waiting at the curb. A black SUV pulls up and they all pile inside. Keeping my distance, I follow them through the busy streets of Chicago until they turn toward Whiting. I consider calling Chrome for assistance, but I'm wary. I'm certain he has a rat, and until I figure out who it is, I'm on my own here.

I keep larger vehicles between the SUV and me. That way, maybe they won't spot me tailing them. The longer I stay behind them, the greater the chance they'll see me, but I have little choice. At least we're on a busy highway. Min calls me just as we pass Whiting. I have to split my attention between avoiding detection and her update of a young girl at risk from Jordan and Blankenship. The reminder that we can't call the club for help twists like a knife in my gut. But that's nothing compared to the pain of knowing we have to rely on the cops instead. This is not how we work. But the girl's life depends on me swallowing my pride and going with the safer option.

Ending the call, I return most of my attention to the SUV several cars ahead of me, but I can't stop worrying about Min and what she's facing back at the hospital. I debate abandoning my pursuit and returning to give her support. Calculating the time I'll need to get back to Chicago, I decide to give it another fifteen minutes before I turn back.

Just south of Whiting, the SUV turns off toward the docks. Soon they're driving up to a warehouse. I pull into the parking lot and park behind a delivery truck that looks like no one has driven it in at least a decade. Taking out my phone, I capture the GPS coordinates to send to Mode. However, I pause just before hitting send. I don't think Mode is the rat, but I also can't cross him off the list. I'm not used to having to censor my communications with my brothers. This fucking sucks. Growling with frustration, I send the coordinate to Byte and ask him to do the digging.

Before I start my bike to return to Mountebank and Min, Byte calls me.

"That was fast," I say after accepting the call.

"I'm still working it, dumbass. Dante's here. He wants to talk to you.

"The Nomads are on their way to Chicago. Should be there in the next day or two," Dante says. "I only told them you suspect a traitor in their midst. Any thoughts on who?"

"No idea. Someone who knows Min rescued the two women from the church basement and who knew we found the assholes holed up in the community center. Most of the club knew about the community center. Chrome held a meeting to discuss whether we would go on the offensive or inform the cops of their location. However, I don't think as many knew about Min rescuing those women. Scorch, Torque, and a prospect were working in the garage. However, Mode also knew since he was monitoring the cameras Min installed in the church. I'm guessing Chrome knew, too. Not sure if either told anyone else."

"The Nomads will figure it out. It's what they do best. How are you and Min doing with the hunt?"

"Min and I tracked Blankenship down to Mountebank Medical Group, used to be Chambers Medical Group. She stayed to watch Blankenship while I followed the three men we saw talking to him."

"Did they lead you to Billings?"

"No. The men are Chinese. Min recognized one as her cousin, Fenhua."

"No shit?" Dante asks. "Does Ghost know his brother is still alive?"

"I haven't told him. Maybe you should. I think they're working with Jordan to track down former employees who worked with your father-in-law." I explain about lip-reading Blankenship's discussion with Fenhua, which reminds me of Nurse Oswald. "May have another incident with the rat," I tell him. "Min met a nurse at the hospital when she took in the two victims. Nurse Oswald. She used to work at Chambers and knew the other victims. The next day Foster and Baumbach tried to grab her. I can't say for certain that someone from the club fed them her info, but it's possible."

"Risky," Dante says. "The rat is facing exposure. Makes me interested in knowing the motivation. He has to know the consequences if he's caught."

"He either has an escape plan or he's confident he won't get caught," I say.

"Need to do a deep dive on all the members," Dante says. I know he's talking to Byte.

"Good idea," Byte responds. "I'll start one right after I finish this search. Which is right now. Okay, got the info on who owns the building. It belongs to an import/export business out of China. That business was owned by Qianfan and Genji Yan. Ghost's parents."

"Figures," I reply. "While I have you, do another search." I give Byte the name of the nurse who Blankenship was talking to Fenhua about. "I'll call Detective Schwartz and suggest he put a guard on her. She's likely in danger."

"Do that," Dante says. I consider ending the call, but Dante's tone tells me he's not done. "This would be an excellent opportunity to test Mode. Contact him and ask him to check who owns the warehouse. Tell him you're on your way back to the hospital, but that you're reaching out to Schwartz because you think these guys are the ones kidnapping and torturing women for information. See what happens."

"Okay," I say, ending the call. After punching in Mode's number, I explain the situation and ask him to run the address.

"I thought you and Min were at the hospital looking for Blankenship?" Mode asks as he starts the search.

"We found him. Min's watching him while I followed the three men he was talking with. I think they're the ones responsible for the attempt on Cicely. Blankenship was telling them about a nurse coming back from holiday soon. I followed them to this address. I'm going to call Detective Schwartz and update him. But I want to know more before I do. See if I can get a name." I don't tell him about my target being Min's cousin. If Mode is the leak, that knowledge would draw Fenhua's attention to Min.

"So, Min's just watching Blankenship? No sign of Billings?"

I feel a pang of guilt as I consider Min facing off against Blankenship and Billings on her own. I weigh the risk of telling Mode about what Min is facing at the hospital, but realize that if Mode is feeding Jordan information, telling him what Min knows might keep them from kidnapping Jessica. We can always catch up to Blankenship and Billings, but Jessica would never be the same if they got their hands on her. So I tell him what Min's up against.

"She's called Schwartz, and he promised to inform the Chicago PD to provide backup. Hopefully, they'll capture both Billings and Blankenship."

"That's good news. Hold on," Mode says. I can hear a muffled voice coming from Mode's end. "It's Babe. He has a lead on the assholes who kidnapped and killed Angie. The nurse Min tried to rescue. Yeah. Okay, Babe, I have the name of the company who owns the warehouse." He gives me the same information that Byte provided. So that's a good sign. "Need any backup at the hospital?" Mode asks.

"Just watch the security feed, maybe give Min a heads up when you see Billings enter?"

"Can do."

"I'm heading back to the hospital. We'll hopefully have Blankenship and Billings in custody within the hour. Talk to you later."

Ending the call, I start my bike and ease back onto the street. I feel something whizz by and glance over my shoulder. The black SUV is barreling towards me with a guy hanging out of the passenger seat. He's holding a gun pointed right at me.

Revving my bike, I increase my speed. The road I'm on is devoid of cars, so weaving and taking sharp corners is how I keep from getting shot in the back. Spotting a busy street up ahead, I turn right, left, left, and then right again before diving right into traffic. After a few near misses, the whiz of bullets stops. I spot the SUV behind me, but there are two cars between us. The shooter is no longer hanging out the window. I'm guessing they don't want to attract the attention of cops. Taking advantage of the bike's mobility, I weave in and around cars, blowing through lights until I finally lose sight of the SUV.

Once I'm no longer riding for my life, my focus shifts to Mode. The bastard sold me out. He told the Triad I was outside, and they came for blood. My blood. However, now that the immediate danger is no more, my thoughts are on Min. I have to get to her. If Mode sold me out to Jordan, then he likely did the same to Min.