Page 14 of Ranch's Resolve

“I have more information about what happened at the ranch, but before we discuss it, we have other business,” Dante says. “As some of you know, Byte will be heading to Chicago to assist Chrome with locating the traitor who attacked Mode. The Nomads are already there and will be assisting Byte while watching his back. It’s been a few years since we’ve had to deal with a traitor in the club, but I trust Chrome to uncover the rat and end him.”

“Do you want me to go to Chicago and help sort out the traitor?” Chaos asks.

“Not yet. Not unless Chrome thinks it is necessary. Babe has stated he believes Bush to be loyal, and we know he’s more than capable of taking care of the vermin. Besides, if too many of us show up, it might hinder the search. For now, Chrome is letting the club believe Byte is only there to fill in for Mode, and the Nomads are there to help locate Theodore Jordan. Besides, we need you here. Fenhua, Ghost’s brother and a member of the Triad, is in San Diego. He’s searching for Ghost and his parents. Since his parents are dead and buried, he will focus his attention on Ghost. Do we know where he is?”

“Izzy and Cole are watching him,” Ghost says. “He arrived in San Diego only hours after Min and Babe. He booked into a hotel in downtown San Diego.”

“What’s the plan?” Babe asks.

“We’ll watch him for now. He may leave once he realizes he’s hit a dead end in his search. If he leaves the country, then we’ll leave him be. However, if he makes a move on Ghost or Min’s family, then we pick him up. Agreed?”

He gets agreement from the members before moving on to the next topic.

“Angela.” He explains what he learned from Angela’s visit and her request for assistance. Not surprisingly, every man is willing to help protect Angela and the people under her wing. Ultimately, Carver, Reaper, Babe, Feral, and I offer to meet with Manuel and Angela.

When Dante ends the meeting, I stop at my office to stash the notebook in my desk. I pass Dante’s office on my way to the common room and hear him on the phone with Caitlin.

“Hey, sweetheart, I’m calling to see if you have an opening at Crossroads for a woman who just had a baby.”

I can hear Caitlin’s sweet voice on the other end but can’t make out what she’s saying. Dante’s eyes flick to me.

“Oh, you heard about the incident on the ranch? You and Evie had lunch with Athena. They did. Is she okay?”

I step into the room at his question.

“Good for her. Ranch figured she was someone who could keep a secret. Yes, we need a home for her and her baby. She’s someone under Angela’s protection. The request is coming from her. Okay, thanks, Princess. See you later.”

Dante ends the call and tells me about ICE’s visit to Athena’s office.

“I’m going to go by and check on her. Tell her about Angelica staying at Crossroads and that we want her to develop a relationship with Angelica.”

CHAPTER EIGHT: ATHENA

“Killian, what are you doing here?” I ask my brother when I open the door. He’s not alone. My cousin, Deion, stands next to him. Deion has one arm wrapped around a young woman and a little girl in his other arm. The latter two grab my attention. The woman has a bruised face, and the little girl cradles a broken arm.

While my brother and cousin were once members of a violent gang, I knew they’d never hurt me. I also knew they would never hurt a child. When the woman looks at Deion with complete trust, I know he wasn’t the one to hurt her, either. Both the woman and the child are filthy. They look as if they’d been living rough for several days.

“Athena, this is Selena and her daughter Santina, Tiny,” Deion says. The warmth in his expression as he studies the woman and child would surprise everyone who only knew Deion as the former leader of the vicious gang, the Spades. However, I’ve known Deion since he was born, and while I’m well aware he has violent tendencies, I also know that women and children are his weak spots. Especially women and children who have suffered abuse. As these two obviously have.

“Hello,” I say gently, bending to eye level with little Santina. “Aren’t you beautiful? You look so much like your mommy.” And she does. They both have wavy black hair that they’ve tied into long braids. Their sun-kissed skin sports a combination of dirt and bruises. It’s their eyes that draw you in. They are like gold coins. Fear and hope shine out of their unique orbs. “Are you hungry?”

The little girl glances up at her mother, who nods in response. She looks back at me and nods. “I have a restroom where you can clean up some, and I’ll get you something to eat and drink.”

After showing the mother and daughter to my restroom, I emptied my refrigerator and cabinets of the snacks I keep stocked. Killian helped me carry the smorgasbord into the waiting room and pile it on the table near the kids' section. I keep books, games, and toys for children who might come with their parents. Deion stays in my office, close to the bathroom door. He’s either standing guard or ready to assist—probably both.

“Give me the story quickly,” I whisper to Killian.

“I don’t know her story. Not all of it. I know she’s on the run from somebody, probably Tiny’s father. They hid in Deion’s garage. He didn’t know they were there. Six well-dressed Mexicans driving flash cars arrived and asked if he’d seen a woman and a little girl. They told Deion that the two were in danger from a rival cartel. Deion told him he’d just arrived and hadn’t seen anyone, but he’d keep an eye out. He let them search the garage. They left when they didn’t find anything. Deion discovered Selena and Tiny in the service pit, under a car he had been working on the previous night. He lowered it before leaving. The two were small enough to slide under the car and into the pit. It’s how they got so grimy.”

“I take it the men searching for them aren’t the good guys?”

“No. Selena hasn’t told us everything, but she told Deion enough that he called me to smuggle Selena and Tiny out of the garage and bring them here. He left and drove home to check if someone was following him. They did. He snuck out the back and had me pick him up before we drove here.”

“What was the plan? What do you want from me?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I think Deion has a plan.”

A sound from my office draws our attention to the door. Deion is holding Santina’s hand in his left hand, with his right hand at the center of Selena’s back. “I do have a plan, but you should hear Selena’s story first.”

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