Chapter-51

The Hideout was a dingy place, the kind that had seen better days. The smell of stale cigarettes and cheap whiskey lingered in the air along with an underlying tension. The counter was crowded with what I assumed were regulars. I recognized Tonya from my days at the Raven’s compound, Rook spotted her as well, his eyes narrowing as he took in her nervous glances. He leaned closer to me, speaking into my ear so only I could hear, "She knows something."

I nodded, my eyes flicking over Tonya. She had always had a soft spot for Rook, and I knew she would be willing to help if she could. As we approached the bar, Tonya slipped away from the group and met us halfway, her eyes pinned on Rook.

"What's going on, Rook?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

He didn't mince words. "We have a snitch. Someone's been selling us out to the cops."

Tonya’s eyes darted about the room before she spoke, "I think I know who it might be," she said in a hushed tone. "But I need to be sure before I say anything."

Rook nodded, his jaw clenching. "Be careful, Tonya. We need to handle this quietly."

The bartender, a burly man named Big Larry, slammed a beer down in front of Rook without asking. His expression holding a grim look. "You guys okay?" he rumbled.

Rook took a swig, his eyes never leaving Tonya. "We will be," he said. "We're just waiting for a friend."

Tonya disappeared into the back room, and rook and I took our seats at the bar. The music was loud, the conversations around us uttered in whispers and hushed tones. It was clear that everyone in the bar knew something was off.

A few minutes later, the doors of the Hideout opened and Jax walked in, a smug smile on his face. His eyes swept the room, and when they landed on us, a sneer curled up the edge of his lips as he sauntered over, his boots echoing on the sticky floor.

"Marlowe, darling," he drawled, "What brings you to this delightful little establishment?"

Rook's hand tightened around his beer bottle, but his voice was even. "We’re just looking for a little peace and quiet," he said, his tone deceptively casual.

I studied Jax’s face, looking for any sign of guilt or nerves, but he was as cool as ever. "Well, you've come to the right place," he said, his eyes sliding once again to me. "Good to see you Marlowe. Maybe we can pick back up where we were interrupted since you no longer have your knight in shining armor protecting you." I knew exactly what he was referring to, but before Rook could respond, Tonya emerged from the back, her face pale. She looked at him and nodded almost imperceptibly. Rook's gaze flicked to her and back to Jax, and in that moment, I knew in that moment Jax was the traitor.

"I need to talk to you," Rook said, standing up. "Alone."

With a smirk, Jax followed Rook out the back, leaving me to sit nervously at the bar. The music seemed to grow louder, the whispers more frantic. Some of the patrons, who had been huddled together were now dispersing, returning to their posts with forced smiles painted on their faces. Big Larry looked over at me, his expression a mix of concern and wariness.

"You know the guy with Rook?" he asked, nodding towards the door where Rook and Jax had just disappeared.

I nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, he's a slimeball."

Larry leaned closer, his voice low. "You should get out of here," he said. "When shit hits the fan, it's gonna get messy."

I nodded again, knowing he was right. 

The door to the back room flew open, and Rook stormed out, his fists clenched at his sides. He didn't look at me as he strode over to the payphone in the corner and dialed a number.

Seconds later he appeared at my side. "We need to get you out of here before things get out of hand."

I slid off the stool, adrenaline coursing through my veins. "You going to be okay?" I shouted over the music.

Rook's eyes met mine, and I saw the raw determination in them. "We'll deal with it," he said. "But first, we deal with you."