Page 107 of Rex

Ava gives my shoulder a slight squeeze as she walks away, and I turn back to the laptop. Inside, I’m scared for Rex and what might be happening to him, but I know I’m not alone in that. It helps to have others who feel the same way near and helping in every way they can. Even Axel has come to the clubhouse to help, and I know that’s got to be hard for him. Baily and little Charlie were only released from the hospital a couple of hours ago.

Maybe I’m overstepping my boundaries, but I stand from the chair and walk to Axel’s side. He’s studying a city map but looks up when I stop next to him.

“Hey. I appreciate you being here, but you should be home with your new baby. Rex would totally agree with me on that. Go home. Be daddy for a while. I’m sure Gunner will call you if he needs something.”

“Rex wouldn’t leave his desk if it was me missing. He barely did when we were looking for Chubs unless someone forced him to or he passed out from exhaustion. I can’t do any less for him. I have a lifetime of being a dad ahead of me, but I’m here to make sure that Rex has that same lifetime to be my daughter’s uncle.”

Nodding because I understand what he’s saying, I ask, “Is Bailey okay? Does she need anything?”

“Bailey’s probably happy as hell that I’m here and not at home hogging our newest member. She’s enjoying the time with the girls, I promise. She’ll call if she needs anything, and besides, Lucy is there with her,” Axel says with a grin.

I nod and then return to my seat. I get back to looking for anything that will help us find Rex.

It’s hours later when Gunner answers a call, and the room goes silent. It takes me a few minutes to clue in that everyone is listening to Gunner’s side of the conversation. When I do the same, I realize it’s my brother that Gunner’s talking to, and he thinks he might have something.

Gunner, phone to his ear, moves to my side and leans over the map that Freddy’s been marking. Running his finger along the route, he relays the address of the last sighting Pigeon and I have found of the SUV. He then disconnects before looking at Pigeon.

“Chubs thinks he knows what neighborhood they took Rex. He’s been asking around and finally found someone who recognized the mugshots. Said he’s seen them in this neighborhood,” Gunner explains as he points it out on the map. “See what you can find in that area. Reeves, can you do what Pigeon’s been doing with the CCTV and cameras?”

“I can. I’ve watched Pigeon, and I think I can do that part,” I say.

“Okay, great. You take over for Pigeon, and Reeves can do your part of things,” Gunner states, and Reeves nods in agreement.

“Horse, Pooh, Trigger, Cash, Vex, and me will head toward the neighborhood Chubs is checking out. Axel, take a break and go home. We’re good for now. Petey, you relay the information as they find it,” Gunner orders.

Bella walks through the kitchen door with Ava following. They have platters of food, and they set them along the bar. Ava disappears back into the kitchen, but Bella turns to Gunner.

“What can I do?”

“What you’re doing. Stick close, and be the runner when needed. Keep the coffee going and just be close enough to help when someone needs it. And thank you, Bella. Appreciate the help,” Gunner answers before turning and heading for the door.

Bella moves to my side and watches silently as I try to work my way into a business’s security system. I have to back out of what I did and try something different when Bella points at the screen.

“Click on that. Now this. Yeah, that’s right.”

I look up at her, shocked at her knowledge of hacking. She grins.

“I’ve been around Rex for most of my formative years. I’ve picked up a few things,” she says, and I instantly reach over and pull a chair close.

“Take a seat. We’ll do this together.”

Bella takes the seat, and we get back to the work of hacking half the businesses in Denver.

Chapter 16

Rex

I’ve been sitting here for hours. The pain in my body hasn’t lessened, and my head is beating harder than my heart. The bleeding in my thigh has quit, but my whole leg is numb. It still hurts, but it’s got that tingling feeling like when your foot falls asleep. I try to move my ankle to help with circulation, but it’s tied so tight I can only move my toes, and they’re so numb I’m not sure they’re actually moving.

I know I have a hell of a concussion because I feel nauseous and have double vision. I have several broken ribs, and they hurt every time I breathe in. As for other injuries, I’m not sure. Probably too many to name. As if that’s not enough, I’m thirsty and need to take a piss. I still when I hear a door open then boots thumping down the stairs.

“Nice to see you’re awake,” says a guy with the brightest red hair I’ve ever seen.

I instantly nickname him Carrot Top.

I remain silent and watchful. The second guy is short, with black hair that comes to a point in the center of his forehead. He’s got a nervous type of smile that flashes, then disappears, then shows again. It’s odd to see. I’m calling him Eddie because he reminds me of the kid on the old TV showThe Munsters.

“You’re here because we need you to use your skills for us. Do what we ask, and we’ll turn you loose when you’re done. If not, pain will become your best friend,” Carrot Top explains.

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