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He gripped my hand. “I’ll take you.”
We left the house and hopped on his bike, taking it the short ride to the clubhouse. But instead of parking right in front, he parked in front of Rumble.
I dismounted the bike when he did and looked at him, confused.
“We made a makeshift triage area and shelter inside for the girls.”
My heart soared. “You did?”
He nodded and grabbed my hand. “We did. I take zero credit though.”
“Charlie?” I asked.
“Bingo. All her idea.”
I’d have to thank her later.
As soon as I walked in, Janelle, Sarah, and the other two whose names I never got rushed up to me.
“You’re okay!” Janelle said, hugging me.
She wore clean jeans and a pink T-shirt, a bandage on her neck. I looked over at the bar where a large box marked clothes sat. I hugged her back. “I am. Are you?”
“Thanks to you,” she said. “My mom and dad are on their way from Tallahassee. I can’t wait to see them!”
“I bet they can’t wait to see you, too.” I smiled at her.
“Thank you for everything,” Sarah drawled quietly. “My brother’s coming from Biloxi. He’ll be here any minute.”
“You were taken from there huh? So was I.”
“Yeah, you and I were at the Shark Bait club on the same night. They snatched me before they got you.” She shook her head. “Never going to a bar again.”
I laughed and hugged her. “I don’t blame you.”
I looked over and saw Leticia sitting at a table with Charlie. They were eating, and my stomach rumbled. Glancing at the bar, I saw Cutter setting out a big tray of foil-wrapped burritos. I excused myself from Sarah, went to the bar, grabbed a burrito with a thanks to Cutter, and sat down with Leticia.
She glanced at me with sadness in her eyes. She looked less stressed, of course, but she seemed defeated somehow.
“I’m gonna go grab a soda. You want something to drink?” Charlie asked, standing.
“No, I’m good.” I looked at Leticia. “You?”
She shook her head.
“Thanks,” I mouthed to Charlie.
She nodded, swiping some purple hair from her eyes.
I looked at Leticia’s half-eaten breakfast burrito and unwrapped mine enough to take a bite.
“Not hungry?” I asked her.
She shrugged. “I ate a little. My stomach doesn’t feel well.”
“Yeah, that’s normal. They didn’t feed us very much. We’re not used to big meals.” I knew I’d only be able to eat about half of this myself.
I glanced at the flip phone she had sitting on the table. I used my burrito to point to it. “Did you call your family?”
