“It doesn’t add up.” I was sitting at the clubhouse bar, drinking whiskey from the bottle.

“No, it doesn't. I know we have a mole, I just never suspected it was her.” Jules took the bottle from me and took a swig.

We were both well on our way to getting shitfaced. Jenny walked through the kitchen doors and set two plates in front of us.

“Sorry, guys. I don't buy it. I think there is more here than what that piece of shit said. Oh, Mickey I almost forgot. Your new phone came in FedEx this morning, and I’ve been charging it. I’ll grab it.”

I hadn’t even thought about my phone. I’d been a broken mess. I never expected to fall for any woman, let alone one that would betray me.

“Thanks, Jenny,” I looked at the sandwich she set down. I didn't have an appetite. I didn't want to eat, but Jules and I needed to stop drinking and figure out a plan to go after Drake.

I had to end him, once and for all. Mentally, I was preparing myself for going in at night, and just slitting his throat. I motioned to Big Titty Rhonda who was tending bar.

“Get me a coffee; strong.” She nodded. “I think we need to come up with a solid plan, and we need to keep it quiet.”

“I agree,” Jules said, grabbing his roast beef club and taking a bite of it. Jenny came back and handed me my phone. It was powering on, as she placed it on the counter. I looked at it, and immediately saw the voicemail icon lighting up. I didn't even think to check my messages. I’d been so caught up in my heartache.

I hit the button seeing Marie's name as the caller. My hand trembled, I wondered what she could possibly have to say.

The message icon said it was three minutes long.

“Mickey, it’s me. I know that seemed like I was in on something with Drake. He made it seem that way. He has Talon. I had to go with him. I have to keep her safe. Don’t come after me. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you too. I love you. Thank...”

There was a small scuffle sound then I heard Drake say, “You love him? You fucking bitch.” I heard the phone land, and something hit it like it was being smashed. What I heard next killed me. Marie told him she loved me. Then there was some arguing, and some crying; and I knew he was raping her. There was no way she betrayed me and I just let her leave with him.

She was there enduring the hell I’d promised to protect her from, and it was all from the one man that I hated more than any other.

I believed his lies.

I roared in anger, and picked up the bottle and threw it against the wall. Jenny and Jules stared at me in shock. I didn’t fecking care.

I was falling apart, but I needed to be strong. I needed to get my girls. I had to go through the rest of my messages. I needed to make sure there wasn't another from Marie.

There was a simple and sweet one from Maura, “Hey, Daddy. Love you.”

The next was from an unknown number. I was most afraid to hear that one.

What if it was someone calling to tell me Marie was dead? My fingers shook as I pressed the button to hear the message, “Mickey?” It was Talon. “A few of my dad’s henchmen grabbed me, and they are driving me back to Florida. I’m in Georgia. I managed to get away from them. I need you to come get me. I have to go. Call me back at this number, Mickey. I’m... I’m scared.”

My heart was fucking broken. My girls needed me.

I quickly explained to Jenny and Jules everything I’d just heard. Jenny was crying, and Jules held her. The door to the clubhouse flew open, and Zeke was there. “Mickey!” he rushed to me. “Talon called me. She’s in trouble and hiding from some seriously bad dudes.”

“I just got her message. I’m calling her now,” I hit send on the unknown number and waited as it rang three times. Finally, someone picked up.

“Hello,” a lady with an older voice answered.

“Hi, this is Mickey McCafferty. Talon called me. Is she there?”

“She’s been pretty worked up, and finally fell asleep. You’re going to help her, right?”

“Aye. How did she come to be with ye?” I asked and motioned to Jenny that I needed a pen and paper. She quickly went to get me one.

“I was pumping gas, and these two huge men were in the gas station. I didn't think much of it. The backdoor on their SUV creaked open, and she crawled out. Her hands were taped together, and I knew she needed help. She climbed into the backseat of my car, and I took off before those men came back out.”

“Was she hurt?”

“No, she seems okay, more shaken up than anything.”

“Where are ye, now?”

“We're at my house. I’m just south of Savannah.” She gave me her address, and I wrote it down.

“Was it a newer or older gas station?”

“It was a newer one. One of those big superstores right on 95”

“Shite,” I mumbled. “There were probably cameras at the gas station. I need you to get out of your house right away. Those guys will track you.”

“Oh, dear. Shouldn’t I call the police?”

“They won’t hesitate to go after cops. Get her up. Get her in the car and take her to my friend's place.” I rattled off an address to a small chapter of Devil’s Crusaders that wasn’t far from Savannah.

“Is this a cell phone, or yer home phone?”

“This is my house line. I don't have a cell phone.”

“Alright, call me as soon as ye get there. It’s about an hour and twenty minutes from where ye are. Don't stop. If anything seems suspicious, it probably is.”

“I’m afraid.”

“Thank ye for taking her in. Thank ye for helping my girl. Ye’ll be in my debt.”

“No, need for that. Now, I must be going.” She disconnected, and I called my brothers in Georgia, and told them to be on the lookout, then I relayed my conversation with Jules and Zeke, who was shaken.

“She’s going to be alright? Right Mickey?” Zeke asked.

“I hope so,” I closed my eyes for a minute, taking everything in. Talon's hands had been bound, and Marie didn't feel like she had a choice, but to go with Drake. Marie had been raped, and I’d heard it. Marie didn't betray me. We had a different mole. I couldn’t trust all of my brothers.

“Looks like there is a flight in three hours to Savannah from Philly.” Jenny stared at her phone.

“What about to Jackson, Florida?” I asked.

“Flying into Tallahassee from Philly, there isn't one for eight hours.”

“Check every airport.”

She did more searching and said, “Okay, looks like that tiny airport in Bethlehem has one in two hours.”

“Book it.”

“Jules, need you to get to Talon. I need to get to Marie, before it’s too late.”

“I got you, brother.”

“I’m coming,” Zeke said to Jenny.

“Kid,” Jules started to say, but I cut him off. “Can you get two tickets, Jenny?”

“Yeah.”

“Let the kid go, then. I’ll pay for the tickets.” I gave them a chin lift and raced out the door. If I was going to make my flight, I had to gun it.