I stand with my robe tight around my body, looking out the window for a while, unsure what to do. I’ve enjoyed having almost the entire day to myself, but now that night has fallen, I wonder what’s going on. The men outside that Kade left to protect me have no answers. Nothing that they’re willing to share with me, anyway. As much as I try to convince myself that I’m frustrated, deep down, it’s the fear that grips me. I’m still in the middle of a dangerous situation, and our lives are on the line. No game of submission or night of fucking each other’s brains out will change that.

I go still as men’s voices echo through the hallway. They’re quiet, but their rough mutterings and raspy tones reach me easily. Soon, I’m standing at the door with my ear pressed against it.

“There’s no way this can be connected to what happened back then,” Axe says. “How the fuck did Giovanni’s people end up joining forces with someone so deep inside the government? And why did that commander think that some fifty-year-old encrypted document about giving our grandparents a kill order would be such a risky exposure for his political campaign? I remember that night. Those armed men didn’t storm our house to question anyone. They were on a mission. Shoot to kill. No one was there searching our rooms. Now we know it was probably because my mother knew too much. So what do they want with you, me and Nancy now?”

“We still don’t know enough,” Kade answers.

“Was anyone tailing Nancy before I showed up? Or you?”

“I don’t know. I should assume they’ve been, as they were at my parents’ place. Look, we need to move everyone tonight. You, Nancy, my parents, the kids, and your girl. You’re going underground until we know more. Completely off the grid. Silas is on board, and Vincent’s already made all the arrangements.”

Kade’s voice sounds uncertain for the first time since we arrived. What does completely off the grid look like? It sure doesn’t sound like time at the Ritz.

“How long?” Axe asks, sounding exasperated. “Fuck. I can’t do this to Angel.”

“I don’t have an answer for you. Don’t assume anything yet, though. Giovanni’s a slick son of a bitch. This rumor about his association to a government contact could be complete bullshit to scare us. We’re taking precautions to protect everyone, but I wouldn’t put too much thought into offing him, not yet.”

“I’m not so sure I’m ready to fall off the grid,” Axe grunts out. “Silas may be agreeable, but he knows I’m better off at the clubhouse. I respect whatever you chose for your parents, and for Nancy and the kids. I’ll talk to Angel, but ultimately, where she and I are concerned, it’ll be my call.”

“I can respect that,” Kade says. “Where are you going now?”

The mention of someone leaving the room is my cue to close my door and make a dash for the bed, to at least try to act like I haven’t heard a thing.

I sit there for a second, processing what I heard. Whatever happened to his parents as a child is on his doorstep again, possibly threatening to finish the job of ending it for Axe and Nancy. And for Kade too? The whole thing is confusing. And why? God, can I even handle the answer? And Axe has to be kicking himself for dragging me into the middle of this chaos. I suddenly want more than anything to give him some sort of reassurance that it isn’t his fault, even if he’s standing in the eye of a hurricane.

While my head is a riot of emotions, Axe returns to the room.

“You heard us, didn’t you?” he asks.

“Heard?” I ask, but I can’t lie anymore, so I nod. “Yes.”

“How much of it?”

“Enough,” I admit. “Where is everyone going?”

“Get your things. I’m not sure. Neither of us should have that information at this point,” he says, looking away as he seems to contemplate the last few words.

“Are we all leaving together?”

“No. We’ll split up to improve our chances…” his voice drifts off, clearly unable to voice the risks.

I can’t help but study his face. He’s different, troubled, genuinely worried. “Did something happen while you were gone?” I ask in a whisper.

“Happened? Yes and no. It’s more… new facts came to light. Have you ever stood stock still in the middle of a city street when a Mack truck is headed right toward you at top speed? You know it’s coming, and you know it’s bigger than you. You know you need to do something…to get the hell out of the way. Yet it’s so ominous and intimidating that it freezes you in one spot?”

I give him a slow shrug. “Sorry, Axe. I can’t say that I’ve ever done anything remotely like that.”

He looks out the window, gazing out far into the distance. “Well, that’s how I feel right now. What I thought was a serious but manageable problem has just turned into something so big, spanning three generations in my family, and in Kade’s, we just learned. And now, it’s coming our way. Those lights on the horizon are way closer than they appear. They’re blinding us, threatening to demolish us, and no matter how fast we run, we might never get far enough to get out of the way.”

I step closer to him and pull his arms around me as I crane my neck to look up into his eyes. “Will you be upset if I tell you that you’re kind of scaring me right now?”

“I don’t know what to say, doll.” He clasps his hands at my back and kisses the top of my head. “I’m really sorry…for all of this, but most of all for being the reason you were pulled into the middle of it. Let’s pack our things and hit the road.”

“If it’s as big as you’re saying, and relates to your families, are you sure they’ll care to come after me?” I ask, resting my chin on his chest as I look up at the grave expression on his face.

“Pack up and get dressed. We’re leaving.” He pulls away and starts collecting his things. “Don’t ask me to take that chance.”

His message couldn’t be any clearer.

I’m in this with him until the bitter end.

Taking a breath, I scoop up the clothes I bought during my shopping trip with Nancy. I pick out a flannel red-and-black, plaid lumberjack shirt and black tights.

“Are we going to be okay?” I ask.

“Hey,” he says, reaching for my hand. He steps up beside me and pulls my into his arms. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”