I turn without giving it anymore thought, and I run toward the other end of the alley. I’m nearly there when three other bikers step in front of me. I turn quickly, ready to go back, but I see Axel and the other guys standing, panting. Axel has a needle in his hand. There’s blood running down his face now, and dripping off one of his hands. I begin shaking my head, putting my hands up as panic fills my chest, and my legs grow wobbly.

“Please, Axel,” I implore. “Please don’t do this.”

He walks toward me, nodding at the men behind him. One reaches for me, and I dive forward. Axel catches me, and his large arms wrap about my body. I can feel his breath on my ear as he leans down, and plunges the needle into my arm. Warmth shoots through my body, and I reach up, taking Axel’s arms as my legs give way. I can smell the coppery scent of blood, mixed with his own manly scent.

“Easy,” he murmurs as everything fades to black.

~*~*~*~

AXEL

“She’s still out, boss,” Cobra says, walking into my office.

“She chained?”

He nods. “She’s chained, and the door is locked. She ain’t gettin’ anywhere.”

“You find out where she was stayin?”

He nods again. “I’m on it. I found her room and sent Jax and Pick over to get her stuff.”

“Fuck, she’d better have that USB there.”

“It ain’t on her,” he adds, lighting a cigarette. “I checked her body thoroughly.”

My eyes widen, and a cruel smirk appears on my lips. “Yeah? You stripped her, eh?”

“Yeah, boss. Nice pair of tits that girl has on her. Don’t worry I left the bra on. I’m not that much of a pig.”

I grunt, and nod, dismissing him. Lucky fucker got to be the one to strip-search her. I reach over, picking up a smoke. I light it, and inhale deeply. A moment of calm washes over me as the nicotine fills my veins—but the moment doesn’t last long. What the fuck happened out there earlier? I got a fuckin’ stiff, and she liked it. She liked the fight. I’ve never met a woman that liked it. Most of them pretend to like it because they want my cock. I close my eyes, and rub my temple. Fuck. This is all too fuckin’ hard.

My frustration fades for a second, replaced with complete exhaustion. This has been going on far too long. I get to my feet, shoving the chair back, and I walk out into the hall. I’m midway down when Miranda saunters up, stopping in front of me. “Hey you, I heard you got what you needed?”

I glare down at her. “Club business your business, Miranda?”

“Well, no, but...”

“Then mind your own fuckin’ business, or I’ll mind it for you,” I hiss.

I step past her, and head toward my room - the room where I have her chained. My body stiffens at the idea of her being restrained in there, unable to move, unable to get away, desperate...my cock flinches, and I curse under my breath. I’m a sick fucking bastard, because the idea of her not being able to escape me...no matter what she does...no matter what I want to do to her...it feels fucking good.

I reach the end of the hall, and turn left, walking into the only room in this section of the three-story house. I turn the knob and step inside the dimly-lit space. Meadow is sprawled out on the floor, her now brunette hair fanned out around her. She looks peaceful like that, almost as if nothing in the world could hurt her.

Except me.

I can hurt her.

I walk over and sit on the bed, staring down at her. She’s got chains around her ankles, and around her wrists. They’re chained to shackles on the wall. I have had to explain to many women why I have shackles on my wall, but most don’t understand. Miranda is the only one who plays my game, so she’s the only one I keep around.

Meadow stirs, and groans deeply. God damn her for looking as beautiful as a fallen angel.

“Axel?” she murmurs in her haze. “I’m sorry.”

Sorry? What the fuck is she sorry for?

She shifts, and goes to roll, only to feel that she can’t roll. She’s chained. Suddenly her body jerks and she bolts upright, screaming. I drop down to my knees, and I grip her shoulders, causing her to scream even louder.

“Enough,” I order, giving her a little shake.

“Axel?” she cries. “What have you done?”

“What I had to do,” I growl into her ear, and she tenses. “Now, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way. Where’s the USB, Meadow?”

“Why would I tell you?” she cries, her voice frustrated. “I can’t stand you.”

She notices then that she’s wearing different clothes to what she came in, and her face pales.

“Y-y-y-you stripped me?” she screams.

I meet her gaze, giving her a deadly smirk. “Needed to make sure you didn’t have the USB on you.”

“You fucking piece of shit,” she screams. “You’re useless!”

My body jerks at her words, and I shake her harder. “Don’t fuck with me. I don’t have time for this shit. You tell me where that USB is or so help me God, I’ll do whatever it takes to get it out of you.”

“I hope God helps you then,” she whispers.

“What?”

“I’m not giving it to you, Axel.”

I snarl, and slam my fist into the wall beside her. She cries out, and shifts her body away from mine.

“Fine,” I hiss, standing. “We’ll do this my way.”