“Whatever the fuck we’re doin’ here,” he breathes, “ain’t done yet. And you’ll do as you’re told, because you’re the one who made a choice to run with information that was never for you.”

“To be clear, Axel, it was never for you, either. It was for Raide, and because of you I never got to get it to...”

“Raide is dead, Cricket,” Axel snarls, cutting me off. “There is no Raide.”

“What?” I squeak, perplexed.

“He’s dead. Beast killed him. I’m the best option you have right now, because while that man is alive, you’re not safe. If you’re goin’ to run again, and give me hell, then give me some warning, yeah? So I can make sure to give Lady Matilda a good set of chains.”

“I hate you,” I whisper, in a pained, broken voice.

“No darlin’,” he murmurs, taking the back of my head in his large hand, and pulling me close. “You just hate that you can’t walk away.”

“You’re wrong,” I breathe. “I could walk away. You’re just not giving me the chance.”

His body flinches at my words, and he lets me go, stepping back. His stony expression returns, and he crosses his arms. “No, you’re right, I’m not. I won’t have your death on my hands. I don’t need any more shit in my life. So you’re goin’, whether you like it or not. We clear?”

“Crystal,” I spit.

“Good. Pack your things, we leave in an hour.”

With that, he turns and walks out of the room. And I push the burning sensation forming under my eyelids back.

If this is what he wants...so be it.

CHAPTER 14

MEADOW

Your monsters excite me, let them ignite me.

The ride to this “Lady Matilda’s” house is long, and draining. I sit on the back of Axel’s bike, leaning up against the backrest and trying to take my mind off the fact that all this has gone downhill so quickly. One minute I’m beginning to feel like Axel and I are connecting, the next he’s got me on the back of his bike, riding to the house of a woman I don’t even know.

I was worried about safety, being that the club was on lockdown, but Cobra and Jax had managed to secure Beast’s location before we went so we slipped away. It’s now late afternoon, and the sun is dropping down over the horizon. We’ve been on the road for two hours, and my backside is numb from the lack of movement. Axel hasn’t stopped, and something about his rigid position tells me he’s not going to.

So I suck it up.

We ride for another half an hour before he finally turns down and old, well-worn driveway. We ride through thick trees, until we come into a clearing, with a large, wooden, two-story home sitting right in the middle. It’s a faded white, with blue shutters, and a balcony running the entire length of the bottom. Out front is an old car, and a motorbike. Great. Is Lady Matilda someone’s Old Lady?

Axel comes to a stop outside the large home, and I slide off the bike, groaning at the sudden rush of blood to my ass. I unbuckle my helmet, and put it on the back of the bike before taking my backpack, and slinging it over my shoulder. I stare at Axel as he looks up at the old house as if he’s not seen it in a long time. Maybe this is his aunt? Or mother? I don’t know.

“Come on,” he says, walking toward the front steps without turning back to me.

I follow him with a grumble, and when we reach the front door, it swings open, revealing...oh...my...God. My mouth drops open, but I quickly close it, not wanting to seem rude. There in front of me...is the biggest...maybe even the prettiest...drag queen I’ve ever seen.

Lady Matilda is a drag queen.

Of course she is...or he...?

“Axel, sugar, well look at you,” Lady Matilda purrs, placing her hands on Axel’s cheeks, and looking at him with a soft expression.

“It’s been a long time, Lady.” He smiles.

“Too long, honeypot, too long. God, I’ve missed you. Come inside, tell me how you’ve been.”

Axel turns to me, and I step out from beside him and stare up at Lady Matilda. She’s tall, with thick yet elegant legs and a long, lean body. She has this golden hair that sits around her shoulders so perfectly I ponder for a moment how she does it. Her clothes are elegant and defined, and they make her look so...womanly. She’s wearing what could likely be the nicest pair of flats I’ve ever seen, and her toenails are so perfectly manicured I’m in awe. Her make up is utterly amazing, like she’s had it done professionally, only I have no doubt she did it herself.

“Well, I’ll say,” she breathes. “Isn’t she gorgeous?”

Axel stares at me for a long moment before turning back to her. “Yeah, she is. Can we come in?”

“Of course you can, sugar.” She smiles, and then stretches her hand out to me. “I’m Lady Matilda, but you can call me Lady. What’s your name, sweet thing?”

“It’s Meadow,” I say, in a small, timid voice.

“Well, that’s a darling name. Come in, let me get y’all something to eat.”

I step inside her huge home after Axel, and peer around. Everything is decorated brightly. She has pale blue walls, with a dark blue lounge. Her kitchen is stark white, but she’s got numerous pot plants, and pretty, colorful paintings filling the room to make it seem like someone threw up paint all through it. She leads us past the living area, and into a large dining hall with a long, wooden table. Again, with accessories that really do make you want to gag.