MELISSA'S POV I woke early and saw that Axel had never come home last night. I hoped that everything was okay at the clubhouse, but no news was usually good news.Since I was alone, I took the time to write some music. Axel had brought his guitar back inside after the funeral and it sat in the closet. I retrieved it and retired to my childhood bedroom, now the guest room, and sat on my old bed with a notepad and pen as I tuned the guitar by ear.I hadn't heard a single word from the music producer yet, and each day that passed made me believe more and more that I wasn't good enough.That wasn't going to stop me from still doing what I loved to do, though.A few notes in as I hummed along with the tune, I was interrupted when my phone rang. My heart dropped thinking that it was news from Axel or Careen, but when I saw the unfamiliar number on the screen, my thoughts went elsewhere."Hello?""Is this Melissa Dunkens?"It was a man's voice that I didn't recognize so I was hesitant to re
Gearhead turned and grinned at us. "We'll get him to talk one way or another, boys.""Jesus," I commented as I stepped up to the table and saw all the torture decives. A blow torch, pliers of all sizes, hammers, a saw, and chains. "How many movies have you been watching, man?" Gearhead laughed and shrugged his shoulders. "Like I said, we'll get him to talk one way or another.""I guess so..." I turned back to Vinny who was wide awake now but still battered the hell up. "How are you doing, Vinny?" I stepped in front of him as I looked down and crossed my arms over my chest."I've been better." Vinny laughed and then coughed. "Can I get some fucking water? Whiskey? Something?""We don't waste our booze on the likes of you." Gearhead stepped forward with a cup filled with an unknown substance. "Here." he brought it to Vinny's lips and helped him take a drink.Vinny coughed and gagged. "What the fuck was that?"Gearhead shrugged. "Rusty water mostly.""Mostly?" I asked."Mostly. Probably
MELISSA'S POVI was all smiles as I drove back to the clubhouse. How could I not be happy? I just signed a piece of paper that was going to change my life, the kind of change I had been waiting for for years and it was finally here.But pulling into the clubhouse, I lost my smile. The guys were running around with serious looks on their faces, some of them carrying guns, and my heart sank into my stomach. What the hell was going on? I flew into my normal parking spot and jumped out. Smokey and Danny were strapping AK's onto the back of their bikes."What the hell is going on?""Well, look who finally decided to show up," Smokey joked. "You've missed out on a lot, sweetheart. Gearhead came back last night with a member of the Skeletors and Alexander finally broke some information from him.""We know where Jimmy is," Danny piped in. "We're heading there now to blow those fuckers into outer space."I felt my heart drop again, knowing that I was a member of the club. Should I be going wit
I turned to Aaron and Smokey. "Aaron, go around back and check out the old chute and see how easy it is to climb. Smokey, go with him and check out the other side of the building while I stay here and keep this side secure." They nodded at me before they turned and ran off.Turning around to scan along the building, I was met with a man standing in the shadows. I pulled my gun up to shoot, but it was too late when the handle of his met my face with a crack. A sharp pain seared through my nose as I fell to the ground on my knees. The guy hit me once more as the rings of darkness closed in on my vision.AXEL POV"Why the fuck aren't they shooting yet?" I hissed over my shoulder to my men. "Something isn't right.""You're right."We jumped at the unfamiliar voice behind us as they raised their guns. Bright lights started clicking on one by one until the whole front of the building had turned to daylight.We stood there with our guns in the air, only to find ourselves completely surrounde
MELISSA'S POV I had been trying to keep my hands and mind busy while the men were gone. It wasn't working, even as I helped Careen out behind the bar. Cleaning and inventory weren't doing a damn thing for me. Neither of us spoke a word, but we were both constantly looking at the clock as the needle continued to move without a single word from anyone. It was late and I was beginning to panic.Angel was sitting at the bar, nursing a whiskey and staring at the clock too. Then we heard the music in our ears as several motorcycles headed into the parking lot.Careen and I ran around the bar as fast as we could with Angel right behind us. But as we ran outside, my heart dropped. The men looked battered, bloody, and torn up."What happened?" Careen was hysterical as she ran to Smokey, checking him over."Danny's hurt. We need to get him inside." Axel was a big man and had a hard time fitting on his own bike, let alone having Danny on it with him. But when a brother was hurt, you did everyth
ALEXANDER'S POV Damn, that woman is stubborn as hell! I can't win for losing with her! And now that she had walked away, I had a feeling in the bottom of my gut that we were truly done this time. Fuck, I'm sounding like a broken record, aren't I?I took a pull from the whiskey bottle again before I slammed it down on the counter and walked back to my bedroom. A hot shower was at the top of my list.As I stood in the steaming hot water, I watched the crimson-colored water go down the drain and couldn't help but think about Melissa all over again. I had lost her and I didn't have a clue on how to win her back. Anger filled me as I smacked my hands against the shower wall, leaning forward to press my forehead there.I had no fucking clue on how to fix things between us; if they were even fixable.MELISSA'S POVI knew I should have gone to my dad's house, but now that all of the Skeletors were dead, I didn't feel like I was in any danger. Instead, I headed back to my apartment and sat on
I stared at my leather cut in the closet for a long time before I pulled it from the hanger and slid it on. It would be the last time I ever wore it and I was feeling bitter-sweet about it as I ran my hands along the soft leather and over my patches.When I pulled into the clubhouse lot, I looked around and took in everything for one last time. I knew I had to get my shit together because Alexander would sense something was wrong with her. And if he did, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to lie to him.Entering the bar, I saw the normal neon lights. Careen was behind the bar, Smokey and Gearhead played pool in the back corner, and Danny nursed a beer at the bar. He looked like hell, but I was glad he was still alive and kicking.I walked up to Danny and wrapped my arm around his neck. "Hey, old man." I swallowed the emotion rising in my throat. I was going to miss Danny and his talks of wisdom.He turned and smiled. "Hey, kid.""How are you feeling?"He shrugged. "Like I got shot in the g
I felt the raging fuel inside again as I walked forward, but Alexander held out his arm to hold me back."She was always mine. You can't have what was never available," Alexander growled.Jimmy laughed. "But she was definitely available that night when you were off killing my brother. The night I fucked her over and over again beneath that tree that was your special spot as she moaned out my name... not yours."I immediately wanted to throw up. The memory from that night years ago still haunted my dreams and now my reality. I looked over at Alexander who clenched his jaw and wouldn't look in my direction."You can say all you want about that night, but we both know who Melissa truly wanted. She ran to me when I got back and not to you, am I right?"Jimmy snorted. "It's funny how out of everything I said to you just now, you pick out the least interesting fact of them all." Confused, I replayed his words in my mind, but Alexander was the one who beat me."You said I killed your brother