The Bad Boy And His Baby

Chapter 43

"Gang?" My mom's attention isn't on the tv anymore but on me, her body twists to face me. "Rattlesnake Raid was made years ago and has been going on until now. Every son of the leader would take over at the age of 21. But the gang consisted of men in their thirties or forties. Now it seems young boys have taken over and become the front lines of the gang." Buck explains and I think about Holt and Leo.

"But have they committed any crimes?" I question as my heart pounds in my chest. I don't want to imagine Koda committing any crime. Not when he has Lumi in his care. "Many. From murder to theft. Every crime you can think of has been done."

"Well shit." Mutters my mom and I feel as if the wind has been knocked out of me. I sit back against the couch staring blankly ahead. Every crime I can think of... "They've been caught but they always have enough money for bail to get out. Not to mention the way they hide their evidence. No detective is able to hold anything against them." I remember how Kofi got Koda out of jail after he beat Corbin up. That must mean Kofi is in on it too.

"Quinn?" My mom calls softly as she places her hand on mine. I don't know what to say or even think. How does one react to this news? The boy I've been falling for is in a gang and he's dangerous. What if one day he snaps and decides to hurt me or even Lumi?

"I'm sorry, doll." Buck says and I swallow the lump in my throat. My vision goes blurry as tears well up in my eyes but I don't let one fall. One of the dogs whimper and nudge at my hand and I sigh softly. "But it's okay, right? They never hurt me." I try to give it the benefit of the doubt. I need to talk to Bronwyn desperately. She'd know what to do.

But then I think of Tobias. She said he and Koda were close so what if Bronwyn knows too? "Sure they haven't now. But they're in a fucking gang. And I'll be damned if I let any of them near you again." My mom says.

"This young lot of gangsters aren't as heartless. It's something I've noticed." My mom rolls her eyes as she glares at Buck. "Really now?" I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket and see Lucky calling me. My finger hovers over the answer button but I ignore the call.

"It is. The older generation used to beat their women." My mom sighs in frustration. "My daughter has been staying at a house with a bag full of guns." Buck places the dish of lasagne back into the oven. "Handguns are a necessity to have and they're not that dangerous."

"They weren't handguns." I murmur before my phone rings again. "Now do you see? Just because he's a handsome fellow, doesn't excuse what he's done and is doing."

"But he never hurt her, did he?"

"Don't take his side."

"I'm not taking anyones side. He looks at her the same way I look at you, doll." My phone rings for a third time and I decide to answer it. "Hey, what is it?" Buck and my mom go silent. "Quinn, where are you?!"

"I'm with my mom."

"It's Ji-" The line breaks up a bit and I can hear Lumi crying on the other side. "Huh? What did you say?" I ask, starting to feel bad. I left her all alone with Lumi and she probably doesn't know how to handle her. "Ji's been shot!"

My body goes tense and my heart pounds so loud that I can hear it in my ears. "What?" The line goes back to normal and Lumi is still crying. "Ji's been shot. A member in the same gang as Corbin has gotten to him. I called Kofi but it seems their gang has been beating the people in ours. Kofi, Nevan, Holt, Leo, they can't get to Ji and Tobias is on his way but he won't make it. I have Ji's location and hopefully he's all alone but he needs to get to a hospital, Quinn!"

I almost choke on my words. I was angry at Koda and I didn't want anything to do with him until my head was clear but he's bleeding out in the rain and I need to get to him before it's too late. "Send me his location, please." I tell her before I stand and hang up.

"Koda's been shot." My mom's eyes widen. "Oh no."

"I need to get to him." My mom shakes her head and stands up as well. "No you don't. I can call an ambulance and give them directions but you're not going."

"I have to, mom. He's all alone."

"I understand, but he's a gangster. He's dangerous and he only has himself to blame for getting shot." I rummage to put my shoes on. "You can't go out on foot in the rain." Buck says and I see him grabbing his coat from the rack near the door. "Buck, you're not going to take her, are you?" He shrugs. "It's either that or she goes by foot and gets soaking wet." My mom sighs in exasperation and he walks over to her before pressing a kiss to her temple. "I'll look after her." He says softly and her eyes meet mine.

"Should I call an ambulance?" I nod. "I'll send you the location." I can't help but go over to her and pull her in for a hug which she gladly returns. "Now go before I change my mind."

I pull my hoodie over my head and follow after Buck to his small red truck. I get in the passenger side and the inside smells like musk. I get the location from Lucky and send it to my mom before telling Buck. "It's a bit far but we'll get there in time." He tells me and my heart hasn't stopped pounding from anxiety since. "I hope so." I mumble.

When we stop at a stop sign, he reaches down under the seat and pulls out a handgun. My eyes widen and I try not to look at the weapon as he opens it to check for bullets. I pray he doesn't shoot me.

"My friend was in Rattlesnake Raid a few years ago. A rival gang sought him out and shot him for no reason." He cocks the gun and places it in the waistband of his pocket before driving. "I learnt a few things from him and kept his gun. Ji might be alone but there could be someone standing in the shadows, waiting for his men to find him. I can't let you go alone and risk something bad happening. Charlotte is my woman and you're her daughter. I'll do everything I can to keep both of you out of danger."

There's that stupid lump in my throat again as my eyes well up with tears. I've never known anything about my dad except that he's a dick. I don't know Buck that well but in this moment, I think this is what it feels like to have a dad. One that looks after you and protects you.

"Thank you."