"There wasn't time. The girls were in immediate danger. When I arrived, one was about to be raped by Mud and the other was in the process of it. She'd also been beaten badly. I probably saved her life."

"Which one was of them was being raped and beaten?" I asked, wishing that I'd have had a chance to get my hands on the guy who'd done it.

"The blonde."

"She okay?" I asked, more worried about the baby than of Brandy. I wanted to feel guilty about that knowledge, but I didn't.

"Pretty shaken up. Obviously, she needs to see a doctor."

"Was it Mud?"

"No. It was Skull. They're both taken care of, though."

I sighed. "Well, thank you. We owe you big time."

"No you don't. It had to be done."

"How did you get out there so quickly?"

"Let's just say that I have friends in high places. Including, pilots."

"Lucky you."

"Just so you know, a woman drove the girls away from the building before I blew it up. In case you're wondering where she's at right now."

My eyes widened. "You blew up their clubhouse?"

"Yes. I thought it would clean up any evidence that linked the girls to their deaths. Now you don't have to worry about being implicated either."

"And you know for sure that Mud is dead?"

"If he isn't, then he'll be spending months in a burn ward and the rest of his life recovering. You know, I almost wish he survives. Instant death for a megalomaniac like that is too merciful."

I had to agree. Mud deserved a long, painful death.

"Oh, one more thing before I go, tell Slammer that this one was on me. Just make sure that my name is never linked to Mud's death."

"Did you cover your tracks?"

"What do you think?"

"You obviously know what you're doing."

"Practice makes perfect," he replied, a smile in his voice. "So, little brother, let's get together for the holidays. Get to know each other. Exchange gifts, maybe share a bottle of something smooth."

My eyes widened. "Really?"

"No."

"You don't have many friends, do you?" I asked, smirking.

He chuckled. "Look, it's not that I'm not interested in getting to know you, it's just that it's too dangerous. For both of us."

"I get it."

He was silent for a few seconds and then said, "Keep my number. Use it if you ever run into a situation like this again. I mean it."

"Thanks. No offense, but I'm hoping I never have to use it."

"Me too, kid."

Chapter Twenty-nine.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, staring at her in shock.

"I'm not pregnant," she said, her voice barely audible. "I never was."

I wanted to reach back there and shake the hell out of Brandy. "What?! How could you lie about something like that?"

"I wanted him back," she said, sadly. "I know it was wrong and everything, but "

"Didn't you think that he was going to find out?" I snapped. "I mean, what in the fuck were you thinking?"

"I was going to try and get pregnant before he figured it out. But, he kept refusing to sleep with me."

That bit of news made me smile. "He did?"

"I told you, he loves you. Not me."

"I can see why. You're pretty messed up," said April. "No offense."

"I know I am," said Brandy, tears springing to her eyes again. "But, at least I'm trying to come clean."

"About that, why have you had a change of heart? I'd told him to screw off, so it would have just been the both of you. You could have kept this information to yourself and tried to get back with Trevor. If he loved you once, he might fall for you again."

"Maybe it's because I feel guilty now," she replied, wiping her cheeks. "Especially after what you've done for me. You two deserve to be together. He deserves to be with someone like you. Not me."

I sighed.

"Do you still love him?" she asked.

"Yes."

She smiled. "Good. Then telling you the truth was worth it."

"Not to interrupt your conversation," said April. "But, where do you want to go? To the police?"

"No," said Brandy. "We can't. They'll ask us too many questions and I don't want that guy getting arrested."

"What about a hospital?" she asked. "Do either of you need one?"

"No," I replied. "What about you, Brandy? Is anything broken or are you cut, anywhere?"

She touched her nose. "My nose might be broken. It hurts like hell, but I'm afraid to see a doctor in this area. I want to wait until I get home."

"Where exactly are we?" I asked April.

"Hayward, Minnesota."

"Crap. How far from home is that?" asked Brandy.

"Where do you two live?"

"We live in Jensen, Iowa," I replied.

"I don't know how far away that is, to be honest. I suppose I can look it up on my phone. Do you two have any money to get back?"

"No," I replied. "I don't have my ID, either, so I can't have my mother send me cash. Look, if you can loan us some money, I'll pay you back and then some. I swear."

"I don't have much money myself" she said. "But, I can probably drive you home. Hell, I was on my way out of town anyway."

"What were you doing at their clubhouse?" I asked.

"To be honest, I was going to try and steal some money from Mud or Skull before leaving town."

"Why were you leaving?" asked Brandy.

"Do you really have to ask?" she said dryly.

"I think the better question is, why were you friends with him in the first place?" I asked.

"We were never friends. I mean, there was a time when I'd first met him that he actually swept me off my feet, believe it or not. He was fun and playful," her face darkened. "But then I found out what a true asshole he really was."

"How did you meet him?" I asked.

"I met him at a party, a while ago. Then, when his club moved out here to Hayward, we hooked up again." She frowned. "I thought it would be great, hanging out with Mud. But, I was wrong. He hates women. All of them."

"Hopefully Mud doesn't have to worry about them anymore," said Brandy. "I hope he's dead."

"I hope so," said April. "I really do."

I couldn't believe how nonchalant they sounded, talking about a man dying. But, if anyone deserved to be six feet underground, it was Mud.

Chapter Thirty.

After hanging up with The Judge, I called Tank and told him what had happened.

"So, Mud's dead. What about the girls? Where are they?"

"I don't exactly know."

"Don't you think that Adriana would call her mother, and let her know where she is?"

"Yeah. Good point. I'll call Vanda and see if she's heard from her."

"Why don't we stop somewhere and grab a bite to eat while we figure out what to do next?" said Tank. "I'm tired and need food before I pass out."

"Okay. Next diner or drive-thru we see, we'll stop and grab something."

"Sounds like a plan."

We hung up and I called Vanda. Unfortunately, she hadn't heard from Adriana yet.

"What? She's okay? How do you know?" asked Vanda.

"I just know," I answered.

"You just know," she repeated dryly. "Trevor, that answer isn't good enough for me. If you don't give me proof that my daughter is alive and well, I'm sending the police your way, since you know what's going on."

"Don't come down on me, Vanda. I wasn't involved in kidnapping her and I wasn't the one who helped her escape," I said, frustrated. "All I know is that someone called to let me know she was fine. You want more information than that, you'll need to talk to her when she comes home."

"And you trust this individual?"

"Very much," I replied. "Believe me, if he said she's safe, then she is. I just don't know exactly where she is at the moment."

"Wait a second, I have a call coming in," said Vanda, excitedly. "I have to go."

"If it's her, have her call me," I said.

"Okay," she said and then hung up.

I put my phone down and kept driving north. Less than three miles later, we pulled into a truck-stop diner and went inside. As the waitress was pouring me a cup of coffee, my cell phone began to ring. It wasn't a number I recognized, but the voice on the other end choked me up inside.

"Hello, Trevor," said Adriana softly.

I closed my eyes and let out a ragged sigh. "Hello, Kitten."