I’ve got the cage over my head, and I have to walk at an angle to get through the door and outside. I put it down on the ground and stare at the old shed in front of me.

“Now what?” Devil asks.

I don’t answer him. Instead, I walk into the shed. The smell of dirt and musty odors hit me. It’s so small in here, I’m almost as broad as the building itself. It’s no wonder that Hayden panics at being closed in. There’s a light fixture half-ass hanging down off the ceiling. I reach up and yank the pull string and dull light floods the area. There’s different tools hanging on the shiplap covered walls—hoes, rakes, pick axes, shovels and even an old axe. The building looks as if it’s one stiff wind from falling over. I grab the axe and decide to help it along. I go retrace my steps going to the outside of the building and finding the wall I want—the one that has the small closet on the other side. The closet Hayden tried to hide in. Then I take the axe and begin swinging it into the old wood. With each hit, the rightness of what I’m doing seems to settle into my stomach.

“What are you doing?” Devil asks.

I continue ignoring him, and instead carry on connecting the axe against the wood, determined to bring the small building down.

“Rainbows and sunshine,” Devil grumbles, before disappearing. “This might do the job better, Sunshine,” he says. I stop mid-swing to look at him. He’s carrying a sledgehammer—one in each hand.

I grunt, dropping the axe as he tosses one of them to me. The minute my hand wraps around the handle, it feels better. One large hit against the wall causes it to collapse. Devil joins in and half the damn building has collapsed in no time. I’m about to start on another section when the sound of motorcycles fill the air.

“Fuck,” Devil growls, stopping his swing and his hand goes to his gun almost as if by reflex.

We look out over the parking lot and shock fills me when Crusher and Dani pull up, followed closely by Trace and Ice. When I see Hayden on the back of Ice’s bike I can’t fucking believe it. I’m going to kill Crusher, and then I’m going to tear Ice’s head off his body.

“What the fuck?” I roar when the last bike is turned off.

“Hey, man,” Crusher calls out.

“Don’t hey me, asshole. What the fuck are you doing here? What the fuck is Hayden doing here?” I growl, anger vibrating through my system. I stomp over to Ice’s bike, ready to rip him off the damn thing and choke the life out of him. One thing stops me.

Hayden jumps off the bike and wraps her arms around me before I get the chance.

“Hayden, what the fuck are you doing on the back of a bike?” I rumble, hugging her with my free arm. I turn to look at Crusher, tempted to take the sledgehammer to his fucking face. “Why?” I ask him, using just one word, because fuck there’s too much pushing in my brain right now to sort through it all.

“You were late. The women wouldn’t stop until I agreed to come check on you and…Fuck man, you know what women are like. I figured it was safer to have them with me than it would be for them to sneak out on their own.”

“I’m going to fucking kill you later,” I warn him. He shrugs like it’s what he expected—which it should be.

“Just don’t cut his dick off,” Dani says, helpfully, over his shoulder.

“I’m not touching his damn dick,” I growl.

“Thank God for that,” Crusher says and Dani laughs.

“We finishing this or what, Sunshine?” Devil asks.

“I’m going to rip your head off along with his, later,” I tell him, motioning over at Crusher.

“You can try. Let’s get this shit done, can we? No offense, but I’m getting sick of North Carolina. I’d like to get back to Tennessee.”

“He’s got a woman he’s mooning over there.”

“The fuck I do. I don’t moon over a woman.”

“You do when that woman would rather suck any dick other than yours,” Ice jokes, walking toward us.

Devil takes the handle of the hammer and shoves it into Ice’s gut. I think he got off easy.

“Ow! Motherfucker!” Ice yells.

I pull away from Hayden and move her to stand in front of Crusher’s bike. I look down at her, and dare her to move. “Stay here while I finish up,” I order. I’ve barely walked five steps away from her when I hear her following behind me. Crusher and the rest of them are laughing in the background.

“I’m not a dog you can order to stay, Michael. What are you doing?” she asks.

I stop walking, I lean my head back and look up at the sky. In frustration, I let out one long growl.

“Michael!” she demands, trying to get my attention.

“I’m taking out the motherfucking garbage!” I tell her, my voice vibrating in anger. I know it’s harsh because she jumps back at my angry reply.

“Michael…”

“This place almost broke you, Hayden. I want it fucking gone!” I remind her, giving her ultimate honesty. Then I spin around and slam the sledgehammer back in that fucking building with all my might.