“Beast took Axel?” I gasp, fear coursing through my veins. No, that can’t be right.

“Yes, we got there and Beast and Axel were already gone.”

“So, how did I come about running with that USB?”

Raide rubs his temples. “Axel came back on a rampage. He wanted revenge. He believed we’d set him up. He started tapping lines, finding out as much information as he could. I’d been transferred at this point, only your dad was left. The case had basically been declared a failure when we lost Axel and Beast, but then your dad started gathering information again. He was getting threatened, and it was becoming too dangerous for you and him to stay in town. A war was brewing, and you couldn’t be around.”

God, I clench my hands tighter together, trying to steady my pounding heart.

“Your dad had only one choice. The bikers knew what he was, what he’d done. He had to go into witness protection. He didn’t want to make you go. You were young and fragile, so he was going to take you out of town, and let you go. He put all the information on the USB, and he was going to drive it to me to continue with the case...then you know what happened after that.”

I feel my eyes burn with tears, and I swallow, shaking my head rapidly.

“So...you want the information to take down Axel, too?”

He shakes his head. “I know you don’t believe it, but I turn a blind eye to my son’s club. It’s not easy, but I do it. I’ve always found a way to protect him, even if he doesn’t believe it. I want the information to take down Beast and his club, as well as a chain of other outlaw clubs.”

“Taking them down would cause a war, wouldn’t it?”

He shrugs. “No, not if we have enough information.”

“The information on the USB,” I whisper.

“I swear to you, Meadow. I will not bring any harm to my son’s club. They’re careful; we have nothing on them. They don’t have to be involved in this.”

“You’ll understand that I need time to process this?” I whisper, lifting my eyes and meeting his.

“I understand.”

I stand, feeling my knees wobble. “Do you know what happened to Axel?”

Raide shakes his head. “No. I tried to find out, but I could never get a lead.”

I nod, walking to the door. “Can I ask you one more thing, Raide?”

He nods, looking exhausted.

“Do you love him?”

He smiles weakly. “I never had a chance to get to know my son, to love him, but every part of me aches every day to try. I want to love him, Meadow. He just won’t let me.”

“I know the feeling,” I mumble under my breath.

Raide stands, walking over. He places a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry about Mitchell...”

I swallow the lump that forms in my throat. “My dad didn’t deserve to die, but sometimes these things can’t be helped.”

“No,” he says. “They can’t. Do you have money to get yourself some accommodation?”

I smile, but it’s weak. “With all due respect, sir, but even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t ask you.”

He grins at me. “No, I suppose you wouldn’t. Let me at least pay for a cab to get you where you need to go.”

I won’t argue with that. “Okay, thank you.”

“Call me when you decide what to do, Meadow.”

I nod, and walk out of the room. My head is spinning.

~*~*~*~

MEADOW

I go to the only place I can think of. Even though it hurts to go back and face the memories that lay there, I have nowhere else to go. The cab stops, and I smile at the driver and get out. I stare up at the big house, and sigh. I hope Lady will let me stay a few days, because if she doesn’t, I don’t know where I’ll go.

I’m halfway up the drive when my cell buzzes. I stare down at the screen, and I’m surprised to see a text from Axel.

A – Are we goin to be runnin again?

I’m angry at him, but more than that, I want him to know that I’m done playing his little games.

M – I’m not running anywhere. I went to see Raide.

My phone is silent a long moment—too long. I lean against the tree, and wait for it to buzz again. It does, five minutes later.

A – Glad to see I mean so fuckin much to you, Meadow.

Oh, he’s not going to use that on me. No fucking way.

M – You wouldn’t give me answers. I had every right to go to him. Don’t make me feel bad about that. I don’t have to answer to you any more, remember?

A – No problem.

Ouch.

M – You know, I figured something out today...

A – And that is?

M – That I’m in love with a self-righteous pig who refuses to let me into his heart, even though I’ve fully accepted the darkness there. I’m tired of playing your games, Axel. We’re done here. Come and get your USB. To be honest, I don’t care what you do with it. I’m done playing with you, and it’s about time I moved on. I’m at Lady’s. Send someone to get it, or get it yourself. I no longer care.

I switch the phone off before I can see if he answers or not. A loud crack of thunder fills the sky, and I stare up at the angry gray clouds rolling in. I didn’t see them coming. I rush up the stairs of Lady’s front porch, and rap on the door. A moment later, it swings open, and Lady stands there, staring at me with shock.

“Sugar, what are you doing here?”