Page 52 of Archer (Dirty Misfits MC 3)
“Oh, my God. He needs a doctor. We have to get him back to—”
Summer knelt beside her. “Girl, you gotta keep a cool head. You’re being way too loud right now, and we’re still vulnerable.”
I helped Cole to his feet. “She’s right. We gotta get out of here, and fast. You guys follow us.”
But Summer shook her head. “Nope. I’m taking the girls to the police. I’m pretty sure they aren’t from around here, if ya catch my drift.”
Josie bucked up to her. “You have to come with us. All of you. It’s the only way you’ll be safe.”
Summer snickered. “Girl, we gonna be safe in a police station, too. But these girls need help ain’t none of us able to provide.”
I nodded. “She’s right. But I want you contacting Josie the second you guys are in that station. I want to know you’re all right.”
Summer grinned. “Sounds like a plan.”
I watched as she rounded up the three—no, now there were four—girls that had found their way out back. Summer rattled off some shit in Spanish and the girls perked up quickly, which both impressed me and confirmed our suspicions. And after Summer threw down some orders neither Josie nor myself understood, the five of them took off down the alleyway.
Booking it for the main road.
“All right,” Cole grunted as he stumbled around on his feet, “we gotta go. I don’t know why the fuck they haven’t come out here yet, but I have a feeling it’s because they know shit’s going down at the wharf.”
“Fuck,” Josie hissed.
I held Josie to my side with one arm and helped prop Cole up with the other. “We get a cab, we get on the road, and then we call Tanner for an update.”
We stumbled about two blocks down the alleyway before a door burst open behind us. And without skipping a beat, I dragged all of us into a pitch-black corridor. We raced over to an empty dumpster and I threw Cole in before helping Josie over the edge, and I barely managed to get in myself before footsteps blew by the opening of the corridor.
“Search everywhere. Find them. Make sure they don’t make it to the police,” Chops growled.
My hand gravitated to the gun at my side before Cole placed his hand against my wrist. “No. Not now.”
I peeked down at him. “What do you know?”
Cole sputtered as he tried to keep his coughing silent. “So much more than we would’ve ever assumed. Trust me, just lay low.”
I didn’t like how his words sounded, so I did as he asked. I flipped the lid closed quietly and held Josie in my arms as she trembled against me. Whether she was cold or scared, I wasn’t sure. But as I rubbed my hands up and down her back, I heard Cole murmuring to himself.
Until I realized he was on the phone.
“Tanner’s got an update,” he whispered.
He handed me the phone and I plucked it from his hand. “Talk quickly.”
“Can do. We ended up getting those two boys out of there and dropped them off at the police station. Porter’s with them to make sure they get into the hands of an officer that isn’t paid off by those assholes, and we managed to track down the shipping container filled with the girls.”
Josie whispered. “Please tell me they’re okay.”
“What’s their condition?” I murmured.
Cole shifted around while Tanner spoke, as if he were trying to get closer to hear himself. “Out of the fifteen that were back there, three are in critical condition. The rest of the women are fine, but Brooks made the call to bring them all back to the compound. Is Cole in good enough condition to deal with fifteen patients of varying degrees of fucked?”
Cole groaned, but spoke up. “You get them there and I’ll do the rest.”
“Good,” Tanner said, “you guys close to the clubhouse?”
I snickered. “Once Chops and his asshole buddies stop searching for us, we’ll climb out of this dumpster and make our way there.”
Tanner paused. “You guys need back-up?”
Cole grunted. “Wouldn’t hurt.”
I nodded. “If someone can get over here, that would be nice. But shots have already been fired in the club tonight, so just know they’re trigger-ready.”
“Fucking hell,” Tanner murmured. “Okay, Brooks and Finn are on their way. Brooks said he’s gonna call you in—”
My phone beeped. “That’s him now. Talk soon.”
“Talk soon,” Tanner said.
Then, I hung up the phone with him and opened the call with Brooks. “Where are you?”
Brooks panted heavily. “Leaving the wharf now. We’ve got the van and we’re coming to get you.”
I blinked. “How is everyone else getting back to the clubhouse with those girls?”
“You just focus on telling me where you are. I’m driving, Finn will hop out and get you guys out of the dumpster. Just tell me where you are.”
