Chapter Twenty-Nine Babe

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: BABE

As I watch Min drive away with the girls, Scorch comes out with Fenhua slung over his shoulder. Trigger follows him and opens the door to the nearest SUV. Scorch dumps our prisoner into the back and slams the door shut.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"Called the prospects to bring a hauler for the bikes," Scorch says. "Trigger and I will get this asshole back to the club and into The Shed. Want to get him out of here before the cops show up."

"Good idea. Don't kill him. Min wants a shot at him."

"Why?" Trigger asks.

"The fucker is her cousin. He tried to get Ghost to kill her before they escaped from China and came here."

"She'll get her shot," Scorch confirms.

They drive off and I go back inside to find Chrome. He's standing outside a door, down a different hallway from where the girls were imprisoned. I move next to him and see a pile of weapons.

"Shit, were they preparing for war?"

"Maybe. Could have been selling them. There's a stash of cocaine and fentanyl in the next room." He nods down the hall to a door just as Piston steps out carrying a gas can. Where the hell did hi get a gas can? "They had a gas generator with a supply of gas. Handy." Chrome answers my unasked question. "We're taking the guns but burning the drugs. Found some money, too. We're definitely taking that."

I help the guys carry out the weapons and then load them into the crash van once it arrives.

"We're good to go," Rush says, joining us outside. He stuffs some cloth into the gas can, but leaves a large section hanging out. Once he lights the cloth, he tosses the gasoline can back inside the open door. As soon as the flames take hold, we take off.

We've only gone a handful of miles when Chrome raises his fist, instructing us to stop. We pull over and that's when we see it. A black SUV stuck in a gully. The doors open and two bodies slumped on the ground. We can see the Demon Dawg logo on their backs. Chrome, Piston, Rush, and Stitch slide down the embankment first. The rest of us follow.

"Are they dead?"

"No, just unconscious," Stitch replies.

They carry Scorch and Trigger back up the embankment while I check the SUV.

"Fenhua's gone. Do you think he caused the crash to escape?" I ask Chrome, who is staring at the vehicle as if it's supplying him answers.

"Don't know. Doubt it. Your girl drugged him, right?"

"I think so. Saw her plunge a syringe into him. Don't know what was in it. He looked knocked out."

"Yeah, he did," Chrome says nothing more, but leads the way back up the embankment and to our bikes. Stitch and the others are placing their unconscious brothers into the back of the crash van.

We manage to avoid the cops and get back to the clubhouse without further incident. Scorch and Trigger are awake and getting out of the van while we park. Scorch storms over to Chrome.

"We need to talk," Scorch says.

Chrome nods. "My office."

Scorch looks at me. "You, too."

I frown but follow the men into Chrome's office. I take a seat next to Scorch and across from Chrome.

"We have a rat problem," Scorch says.

I glance between VP and President.

"We know. You were the one who didn't want to believe it. What changed your mind?"

"Someone knew we had that asshole. He woke up and attacked me just as two SUVs pulled up next to us. They drove us off the road and knocked us out."

"Who?"

"How the fuck would I know?" Scorch screams at me. "I didn't get a good look at them."

"You think the rat told someone and they came after you?" Chrome asks. "I can have Mode…" He trails off when he remembers Mode is still unconscious upstairs. Another victim of the rat. "Fuck this shit. I can't believe one of our brothers is a traitor!"

"Might not be a brother," Scorch says, staring at me.

"I hope to fuck you aren't accusing me," I growl.

"We didn't have a rat problem until you and your bitch showed up," Scorch snarls.

I jump to feet as does he. Chrome rushes around the desk and gets between us. "Knock it off. Scorch, go see Stitch. I think you have a concussion."

"I don't have a concussion. I have a suspicion. Did you know that fucker was Min's cousin? Maybe this was their plan. She pretends to knock him unconscious and then she calls someone to rescue him. Fuck, she could have been the one to warn Jordan about our having eyes on the community center. Maybe she left those girls behind in the church on purpose. Did you think of that?"

I reach around Chrome and push Scorch. "You fucking take that back. Min isn't the traitor. She risked her life to save those girls."

"Well, someone contacted them. Who the fuck else had the opportunity?" Scorch demands, poking me in the chest. I raise my fist to knock some sense into him.

"Fucking enough!" Chrome shouts, pushing between us again when I raise my fist to pound some sense back into Scorch. "You punch my VP and I'll take your patch."

"You can both go to hell. As soon as Min gets back here, we're leaving. You can find the rat on your own. Good luck."

I spin and leave the office, ignoring Chrome's demands for me to come back. Rushing upstairs, I pack up my stuff and Min's. With our duffle bags in hand, I pull out my phone to call Dante to tell him we're on our way home.

"He and Scorch have accused Min of being a traitor." I bring him up-to-date on what's happened since we last spoke.

"I can see why they want to believe it's Min," Dante muses. He laughs when I growl at him. "I didn't say I believed it. But none of them are going to want to believe one of their brothers is the rat. Min, and you, make good scapegoats. I agree with your plan to head home. The Nomads will arrive there today. Let them figure out who the rat is. Once they do, Chrome and Scorch can ask for forgiveness."

"Okay, we'll head home on the next flight out."

"Good job on your first hunt. Tell Min I appreciate her finding those assholes and for taking out Billings. He's caused our club enough trouble. Nice to know he's no longer breathing."

I end the call and dial Min's number.

"Hey. I'm on my way back to the clubhouse. Should be there in ten minutes."

"Good. I'll meet you out front. We're leaving."

There is silence on the other end until Min finally breaks it. "Something wrong?"

"You could say that. Seems like we've worn out our welcome. I'll explain on the way to the airport."

"I have to pack," she protests.

"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."