The rest of the run went smoothly, as smoothly as possible for Angel at least. Soon enough he, Bishop and Coco were on their way back to Santo Padre. Stopping for gas and a cigarette, Angel and Coco spoke quietly while Bishop made calls. Their only topic, how to keep the peace without turning either of the girls over to the Sons.
"Tell em' you found her then it's out of your hands, carnal. I mean, it ain't on you if she's gone when they get there," Coco said with a shrug.
"I gotta get her first," Angel mused. "I'm not having them down here unless I know they're both outta sight."
Coco nodded, unsure if Angel was going about it the right way. "Guess were skippin' the homecoming?"
As he texted Katie, Angel nodded and said, "Postponing it."
"Bishop is gonna be back before me. I got some shit to handle on the other side with Coco. See you soon."
—
Katie was disappointed when she received the text but didn't let it show. She was still so used to burying her emotions that it was hard to let anything show even when she wanted to.
The disappointment crept up again briefly when Bishop arrived back he smiled, more subdued than usual, and silently pointed to the back office. Katie went in first, her heart beating out of her chest as he shut the door behind them.
"I talked to Angel," he said, his tone softer than she expected. "I'm gonna trust you but you know what happens if you betray that trust, Kate."
She nodded. "I do. You guys have been awesome. Thank you for trusting me, and Angel, with this. I'm sorry I roped you into my shit."
"It's fine," he said dismissively. "Don't make me regret it."
She smiled and nodded. "I promise."
"I didn't say this to Angel," Bishop explained, "He's got one thing on his mind and that's keeping you safe and with him, but you can't tiptoe around forever and you have a decision to be make. Alvarez, SAMDINO, there's too much risk. Mayans have your back," he assured her. "But just think about making it easier on us," Bishop added with a smirk.
"You're right," she agreed. "I actually think I know how I can do that."
He nodded and she scurried back to the front counter, pulling her phone from her jeans. Opening Google, she searched for the only person she knew she could reach out to.
Alec Clermont.
—
It was nearing dark when Angel and Coco arrived at the camp, their large truck covered in dust and sand. Angel moved with purpose toward Adelita while Coco waited by the truck, cigarette in hand.
"What are you doing here?" She asked him suspiciously.
Angel pressed his lips together and bit down hard on his lower lip before finally speaking. "I'm here for Charlie."
"Charlie?" Adelita wanted to glance back at the child as she played but she kept her eyes on Angel. "Why?"
"She's not an orphan, her mom's alive and she's been looking for her," Angel explained.
Adelita eyed him. "She told me she was dead."
"Kid's wrong," Angel shrugged.
"No," Adelita said firmly. "I don't know where you're taking her or who you think you're giving her too. She's safe here."
"Safe?" Angel scoffed. "She's in a camp, in the mountains being hunted by a drug cartel."
Shaking her head, Adelita held her stance. "No. We have no business anymore, you've made that clear, so I will not be doing you any favors."
"This ain't a favor, it's what's right," he said angrily.
"I will give you the child if you help me," she told him.
"You want me to pick my club or this kid?" Angel asked incredulously. "Fuck this," he spat. "Charlie," Angel called out. "Come here," he waved and smiled in her direction.
Charlotte trotted over. "Hi."
"Hey," he smiled sweetly. "You remember me?"
"Angel," she nodded.
"Yeah, that's me," he spoke softly and slowly to coax Charlotte into trusting him. "I'm friends with your mom, I wanna take you back to her."
Charlotte stepped back. "My moms dead," she said sadly.
"She's not," Angel said, pulling his phone from his back pocket. He quickly opened up the most recent photo of Katie and showed Charlotte. "See? She's alive, she's been looking for you."
Seeing Charlotte was going to bend, Adelita stepped between them. "Help us. One last time. Then you can have her."
"Come on, Charlotte, lemme take you back to your mom." He offered her his hand, ignoring Adelita, but Charlotte stepped back, taking her cues from Adelita. Seeing he was not leaving with her just then, Angel nodded and slowly backed away. "Lemme think on it," he grumbled. "I'll be in touch."
Angel swaggered back to the truck, climbing in, and once they out of view of Adelita he threw a few wild punches into the dashboard. "She's holding that kid hostage," he growled.
"What you wanna do 'bout it?"
"Only thing we can," Angel said, checking the damage to his hand. "You think Katie is gonna let Adelita, or anyone, get between her and her kid?"
"No," Coco said darkly.
Angel smirked, "Exactly."
--
"Jax," Juice pounded on the chapel doors. "Jax!"
"What?" He swung open the doors, Opie and Happy sitting in their respective spots at the table.
"The mercenary just called, the tip you gave him from that Mayan caught hit. Couple people said they saw Charlotte in some little border town." Juice handed him the paper. "He's emailing the details now, said we can meet him when he gets her."
Jax's face was stone, terrified of letting his hopes get too high, but there was a new light in his eyes now. "As soon as we get that email we're heading out."
—
Keep the comments coming! It's gonna get crazzzzy soon!
