Page 41 of Babe's Bounty
“That’s right. I got up and walked around the halls, too. I feel great. So, can I go home?”
“That’s the plan. I spoke to your mom and dad and they’ll be here to pick you up at three. In the meantime, try getting some more rest. I’ll keep the nurses out of your hair.”
“Great! Thanks, Dr. Bishop.”
“My pleasure, Jessica.”
When I hear him moving toward the door, I slip inside the empty room next door. Pressing my ear against the door, I listen as Dr. Bishop approaches the nurse’s station.
“I’ve ordered another MRI for Jessica at three.”
“Really? I thought she was doing better,” the nurse says.
“I just examined her and she mentioned that she’s still having headaches. She’s resting and I don’t want her disturbed. The MRI is just a precaution.”
“Yes, doctor,” the nurse says as he hands her a folder.
What is he up to? My gut tells me he didn’t make a mistake when he gave a different story to the nurse. He’s up to something. Something that doesn’t bode well for Jessica. I wait for Blankenship to walk past me before stepping out of the room and following him. He completes his rounds, but I hear nothing else suspicious until he ducks into an office. I wait a few seconds before opening it wide enough to hear him talking inside.
“Tell Jordan I have another girl ready for pickup tonight at three. She’s sixteen. Brown hair, blue eyes. She’s gorgeous. Got a concussion playing soccer. Yeah, she’s fit, and she’s a fighter. The guys will have fun breaking her. Tell Billings to come early to grab scrubs and a wheelchair and to meet me on the third floor. I’ll give him something to keep her docile. He can wheel her out while I distract the nurses.”
Walking slowly away from the door, I return to the empty room next to Jessica’s before taking out my phone and calling Babe.
“Are you alright?” He asks. I can hear his motorcycle and realize he’s on the road.
“I’m fine. Where are you?”
“Following your cousin. I’ll swing back and pick you up once I figure out where he’s hiding.”
“We may not have time,” I tell him before explaining about Blankenship’s plan. “We could grab both Blankenship and Billings while also saving Jessica. Should we call the club for help or Schwartz?” Considering his suspicion of a traitor, I have a feeling he’ll go with Schwartz. Our primary aim is to capture Billings and Blankenship so we can take them back to San Diego.
“This fucking sucks. Call Schwartz and tell him what you know. I don’t want to risk telling the wrong person and having them escape and taking the girl with them. I’ll stay on Fenhua’s tail for now.”
He ends the call, and I dial Schwartz’s number. After relaying what I overheard, he promises to contact the Chicago PD to have men in place to grab both Billings and Blankenship.
“Let them know I’ll be with Jessica. I plan on hiding out in her room to make sure they don’t get her.”
“I’ll tell them, but be careful.”
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?”