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“Why didn’t you just come to us directly about the motorcycles?” asked Ghost.
“I was foolish enough to believe that he had a relationship with you. He said he could get me a deal,” he said shaking his head. “I believed him and should not have. I appreciate that you are allowing my men to have such fine motorcycles.”
“I wish we could convince you to change your business,” said Ian. “We’ve done it before.” Ferdinand laughed, nodding his head.
“Yes. I know of all the men that you have reformed. I wish I could tell that I would be one of those men. I didn’t lie. I give money to the church, a lot of money.”
“Buying your way to heaven?” asked Gaspar.
“Maybe,” he nodded sadly. “Maybe.”
“When the bikes are ready, we’ll let you know and find a way to deliver them on neutral ground,” said Skull.
“What do we do about him?” asked Ferdinand pointing to the body of Harry Clayton.
“The gators are hungry,” said Trak.
Ferdinand smirked at the mysterious man, then realized that he was not kidding. Nodding, he turned toward the young women.
“I give you my word, we will get them home,” said Ferdinand.
“It’s alright,” said Ian. “We’ve got this. We’ll get them home and make sure that they’re safe. They’ll need help. Counseling. And someone will need to tell the Mother Superior what happened. I think we should do that.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Ferdinand looked at Jenna who was still standing protectively around the young novices. “You were very brave tonight. Perhaps you should reconsider your life as a nun.”
“I think I’m past that now but thank you.”
With Ferdinand gone, Killer giving the gators something to chew on for breakfast, and Sister Frances carried home for a proper burial, the world seemed to be righting itself somewhat.
Unsure of what her next move would be, Jenna seemed to be lost at Belle Fleur. The place that had given her great comfort these past few weeks now felt as if it were a prison.
“She’s going to leave,” said Nash.
“Maybe,” said Ghost, standing with Kane.
“No. She is. She told me this morning that she wanted to go back to Arizona for a while. She needed to visit the graves of her family and remember who she was.”
“You could go with her, Nash,” said Kane. “We’d provide whatever you need to go. You’ve got the trackers on you, the comms devices. You’d be safe.”
“I don’t think she wants me to go with her,” he said.
“Have you asked her?” smirked Ghost.
“No.”
“Ask her stupid,” laughed Kane. “You never know what she might say. You’d at least know how she feels.”
“She only sees me as a friend and protector,” he frowned.
“Right now. Right now she sees you as a friend and protector, Nash. Give her some time to figure out her new normal. That woman has been through a helluva lot in the last few months. Brutally attacked, raped, and beaten. She reevaluates her life only to realize that being a nun wasn’t what she wanted at all. That’s a lot for anyone to take in, then realizing that another nun was placing you in danger.”
“I’ll see,” he said nodding.
People were running around, racing toward vehicles as they started to leave the property.
“What’s wrong?” asked Ghost as AJ and Hiro ran by them.
“Stephanie. She’s been in a car wreck but we don’t know how bad yet.”
“Shit. We gotta go,” said Ghost looking at Kane. He nodded, then turned back to Nash.
“We support you no matter what, Nash. Figure it out.”