As I watch the cabin smoldering in plumes of amber and crimson flames, I can’t help but think that the life Lily and I had begun to build here is now over. Sure, I knew we were never going to be here permanently, but uprooting this life now too, I can only imagine what kind of effect this is going to have on Lily. I hate that this is the only way. Another safe haven gone.

What the fuck are we gonna do now?

Axel steps up to my side and takes in a deep breath. “There goes your safe house,” he says.

I grunt. “Yeah, I guess we’ll have to go back on the road. We can’t trust The Agency’s safe houses or the assets that were on our side. Who knows who’s been turned under Camilla’s watch? I can’t fucking trust anyone other than you guys.”

Axel tilts his head. “There is somewhere you’ll be safe. Somewhere a little outlaw-ish,” he says raising his brow. I take in a deep breath understanding him completely. I don’t like the message he’s sending, but at this point in time this is probably our only safe-ish option.

“Call Luca, tell him to bring Noah and the girls and to meet us there.” I shake my head and exhale running my fingers through my hair hoping like fuck I’m making the right call.

 

 

Axel and I pull down the road on his Harley toward the destination of our new safe house. I spoke to Lily shortly before we both left just to make sure she was okay with Luca and Noah. She was fine, just a little freaked out from hearing all the explosions. She was anxious, but I made sure to tell her I was fine and that I’d see her at the next safe house. Although to be truthfully honest, I’m not sure how safe it will be. Sure, we will be protected from the outside, but I’m just as worried about those on the fucking inside.

I know most of the people, it’s just the people I haven’t met I’m not so sure on. But Axel has assured me everyone has had their checks, everyone is aboveboard, and wouldn’t be there if they didn’t belong. Now we’re the ones entering into their territory and we will be the ones being frowned upon. I just hope Lily will be okay. She’s already retreating into herself. I’d hate to see her withdraw altogether because of this.

We pull up at a set of ten-foot tall gates. They tower over us as I glance up. The height making me feel inferior as the heavy weight of the thick black wrought iron bars groan. They feel imposing, but they also make sure to let me know I’m most definitely not welcome here. The air smells of stale tobacco and the heavy thumping of bass vibrates through the air from rock music being played inside.

Axel glances back to me with the biggest of smiles on his face.

Glad he feels at home.

A car drives toward us and my stomach settles slightly as I notice Luca’s SUV. Knowing my life is inside that car and will be with me shortly helps me settle somewhat. But somehow I also feel worse knowing that I’ll be taking her inside this place soon… for her safety. Shaking my head, I swallow hard as Axel turns to look at me.

“Take a breath, Kace. Remember, they’re not the normal type,” he says and I nod curtly as the car pulls up next to us and Luca winds down his window.

“Glad you guys made it out,” Luca says as the back door opens to his car and Lily jumps out and hobble-runs toward me. I jump off Axel’s bike and rush to her, picking her up into my arms and holding her to me as her arms encase me tightly.

“Kace… oh God, I thought… when those explosions started going off… I thought I’d lost you… Kace, I can’t lose you,” she says, her voice cracking as she snuggles further into me.

“It’s okay, Lily. It takes a lot more than a few bombs to get rid of me.” I pull back bringing my hand up to her face, caressing her cheek tenderly and then lean in pressing my lips to hers. I don’t care who’s watching, I need to taste her, to feel her, to let her know I’m okay. Her tongue slides against mine and she kisses me back passionately as my fingers glide through her hair holding her to me.

“Ahem…” Luca coughs behind us and I slump, slowly easing the kiss and break free from Lily. I pull back looking into her eyes making sure to let her know I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.

Her hand comes up gently touching my forehead. “You’re hurt,” she says and I shake my head.

“It’s just a scratch. It’s nothing. I’m fine—”

“I’m sorry to interrupt guys, but we’re standing out the front of a biker club out in the open. We need to go inside if you two can stop making googlies at each other for two seconds, okay?” Luca asks.

Lily’s eyes open wide. “Wait? What? A biker club?” she asks looking back to Luca. “You said we were going to hang out with some cyclists.”

I can’t hide my smirk as Luca chuckles. “Well, I didn’t lie, Lily. Just because I said cycles and left off the word motor… it’s not my fault. We’d just been attacked, we were in a hurry, and I had to get you here somehow didn’t I? It’s not my problem that you believed a club of cyclists could keep you and Kace safe. I mean really, Lily, did you not think that was a little weird?” Luca quips and Lily huffs as Molly giggles from the back seat.

“What not you, too, Molly? Why are you laughing at me?” Lily jibes.

Molly sticks her head out of the car. “Seriously, Lil? You really thought he meant cyclists? As in push-bike cyclists? Geez, even I knew it was going to be a biker club. I’d picked up the clues he was putting down, but I didn’t want to fill you in either. We all know you would’ve freaked out if he’d told you it was a biker club… true?”

“Yes true! Kace, we are not staying here,” Lily states emphatically, a firm look set on her face.

“Lily, these guys, these bikers, they’re not your typical run of the mill derelicts you hear about in the news. These are good people, Lil,” Axel tells her.

She slumps and furrows her brows looking to me for guidance.

I turn to Axel and exhale. “Axel… you sure about this?”

He nods. “I trust my family just as much as I trust you guys.”

My chest squeezes and a sense of relief washes over me. If Axel feels that strongly then I think we’ll be okay. I trust him, and if he trusts them, then I know we’ll be fine. Plus, I know some of them, and the ones I do know are great guys. I’m probably worrying about nothing.

“Okay. Axel, ask them to open the gates. We better get inside.”

Axel nods and looks up to a camera with his left hand down and his right hand up and gives the thumbs up. It’s clearly a signal to whoever’s watching. The gate creaks and shudders and then starts to open with a loud screech.

“Affirmative! All clear! Proceed to landing dock, Riot,” a voice calls out over a speaker.

I glance to Axel who smiles at me and nods.

“We’re good to go. Kace, jump in the car with Lil and I’ll meet you in the yard,” Axel says hoisting his leg over his bike and starting it up again. He hammers down as I lead Lily back to the car and slide in behind her. Luca pulls the car into the cemented yard.

It’s pretty bleak. There’s not much out here, it looks a hell of a lot like a used car garage. The main clubhouse to the left is a giant building made of tin, but it looks super solid. Like it could withstand anything.

We pull around the back to see a row of bikes lined up and glistening in the afternoon sun. All sparkling and shining like they’ve been freshly polished. A small grassed area to the side houses a cubby house and play area for children. I furrow my brows as Luca parks the car next to a stack of oil barrels. We all get out as Axel walks over and tilts his head toward the back of the clubhouse. There’s basically one red door and then two giant roller doors side by side taking up the rest of the space. I imagine it would be awesome for when they have their parties, the whole place will open right up.

The red door swings open with a thud and two Dobermans rush out. Lily smiles as Molly hides behind her and I grin that my girl isn’t scared of dogs.

“Riot! It’s been a while, lad. The club misses you, boy. Get your ass front and center and give your pa a man hug,” Falcon calls out.

Falcon is Axel’s dad. An ex-fighter pilot and President of the Malice MC. He’s a good guy, he’s been decent to me the few times I’ve met him.

“Dad, ease up, we have company,” Axel says walking up to the salt and pepper haired man who walks with a slight limp, but other than that looks incredibly fit.

“I can see that boy. I’m not blind, still have my twenty-twenty vision. Eyes of a fox, libido of a rabbit—”

“Geez, Dad!”

“I like him,” Molly chimes to Lily as Luca chuckles.

“And who are these fine young WAF’s?” Falcon asks.

I shake my head as Lily and Molly scrunch their eyebrows taking in Falcon’s strange gibberish talk.

“Stop talking in jargon, they’re not women in the Air Force, Dad. They’re just people who need our help... and protection.”

“Well then, you’ve come to the right place. Help is easy, but protection… well, we specialize in that. Keeping people out of here is our forte. We’re not just some run of the mill MC, we’re the best. We’re bikers and we’re proud of that fact. Don’t be scared of us, we’ll keep you safe from whatever threat is out there. Riot brought you here, so if he wants you protected, his word is our bond. You’re safe. You have the club at your back, no questions asked.”

Just as he finishes another couple of the club members walk outside. They’re wearing their cuts and their guns are hanging visibly from their belts as they take us in, looking us all up and down. Their bodies are tight with tension—strangers in their home. They look to Axel and Falcon, but Falcon nods letting them know we’re not to be harmed and they visibly relax as they lean up against the bollards next to Luca, who’s watching every move they make.

Giggling echoes from inside the clubhouse and a couple of club girls run out from inside and they slip into the arms of the two men. No, actually they throw themselves onto the two burly men and are wearing practically nothing. I’m sure one of them is only wearing a mini skirt and nipple tape as I glance to Lily who’s chewing on her bottom lip with her arms wrapped around herself tightly. A clear display of how uncomfortable she’s feeling. This is not the type of place she would ever want to be associated with, but desperate times and all that. She doesn’t have a choice, and I will do everything to keep her safe even if it means spending time with outlaw biker club members.

“Don’t worry guys, this is my family, this is who I am,” Axel says trying to reassure us.

“This,” he waves his hands around, “… the guys with the artillery, the girls… it’s all a part of the club. But don’t worry about the girls, they will stay away from you lot and keep their mouths shut,” Falcon directs mainly to Lily.

“I’m more worried about them staying away from him,” Lily replies looking toward me.

Furrowing my brows, I shake my head slightly in shock. She should know by now I wouldn’t even look at them. “I have to stress to you how important it is that being here doesn’t get out to anyone,” I say to Falc.

He nods with a laugh. “After years of Agency protocol’s, you’re still questioning me?”

“Just part of the job.”

Falc chuckles shaking his head and slaps my shoulder pulling me toward the clubhouse. “C’mon let’s get ya’ll inside. You’ll be safe here, no worries about that. We have a guard on post at all times. A security system is in place around the clubhouse and plenty of brothers on standby for your protection. No one is getting near you guys without going through us first. Riot wants you protected, you gonna be damn well protected! Feel free to ask for anything you want or need any time of day or night.”

“I need to talk to my team for a bit,” I say and he nods.

“Sure thing. Your crew can use the media room.”

“Thank you. The girls need somewhere to stay while I talk to my te—”

“No, I’m leaving,” Molly interrupts.

I shake my head as Noah slumps his body and visibly looks annoyed at her.

“Molly you can’t go back.”

“But what about Daisy?”

My anger flares and my chest squeezes tight thinking about my dog and how she’s been left behind in all this. “Well, maybe you should have thought about that before doing something so damn reckless and stupid!”

“Kace, leave her alone,” Lily barks at me.

Groaning, I turn with a heavy sigh running my hands through my hair and shake my head. “I’ll call Eli. Send him around to your apartment to grab Daisy.”

“But he won’t be able to get in,” Molly answers and everyone rolls their eyes. “What?” Molly asks and I simply huff out a grunt.

Luca grins at Molly. “Got two words for you sweetheart… secret agent.”

She frowns back at him and sticks her tongue out like a spoiled child. “Okay, okay. I'm catching on.”

I nod to Falc, and he lifts his chin in response, letting me know he’ll watch the girls as I walk off toward the media room with Luca and Axel.

“I guess we can safely say that we were right?” Luca asks.

“Yep, you’re right, looks like the Sinclair brothers have a hard on for us,” Axel says.

“We need to go on the offensive instead of the defensive,” I suggest.

“We’re gonna have to talk about it later because with us all going off the grid, and with Blair being hurt, Camilla’s gonna start asking questions. We’ll come back tomorrow or later tonight and sort it out. But for now you guys get settled into your new digs,” Luca suggests. “Axel can stay with you guys, and Noah and I’ll go cover our asses with queen bitch.”

“Okay, we have a plan… sort of. Well, the start of one. We just need to find something more concrete on Camilla. But we need to get settled in here for tonight, we’ll reconvene tomorrow and start afresh.”

“Affirmative. Right, I’ll grab Noah and head. If we don’t go back Camilla will know we’re on to her and shit will turn south quickly. I’ll see you tomorrow, no biker orgies while I’m gone. You know I live for this shit,” Luca says and I roll my eyes as Axel laughs.

“Piss off, get out of here before I tell them to block you at the gates.”

“Yes sir, boss man.” He fake salutes and rushes off as I glance to Axel and slump my shoulders.

“Will the girls be safe here?” I ask him man to man.

“You have my word, Kace. We’re not that type of club.”

I take in a deep relieved breath and walk back out with him to where Molly and Lily are standing with Falc, and he’s talking to them nicely.

“Prez, where’s Jinx?” Axel asks and Falc looks around and shrugs.

“Dunno… Jinx?” he yells at the top of his lungs making me, Lily and Molly all jolt back in surprise.

“Fuck Prez, I coulda done that myself,” Axel says.

“Then why didn’t you, Riot? Making your old man do all the hard work around here, geez… Jinxy?” he yells again making Lily and Molly bit their lips in an attempt to hold in their smiles.

 “Why do you keep calling Axel, Riot?” Molly asks.

“Axel? Ha, ‘cause he makes one hell of a riot when he’s drunk. Fucker won’t shut the hell up, and he’s as fun as shit, like a riot. It’s his road name. It’s what we call him here. Everyone has a road name. Fucking hell, Jinxy babe, where the fuck are ya?”

“I’m right here, no need to yell, you bossy beast.”

Jinx is really pretty for her age, her silver blonde hair sits half way down her back in waves and her bright red lipstick never fades. No matter what time of day, it’s always the same shade of red. She’s well built for her size, she’s short but has a voluptuous body, one that in her hay day I’m sure men would have died for. Not that she isn’t stunning now, she’s just a little older than me.

“There she is… my beauty. Come here, you,” Falcon says pulling her to him and he plants a kiss on those bright red lips. She kisses him back and I glance to Lily who’s looking away and down to the floor like we’re intruding on an intimate moment.

“Okay, really, your son is right here guys. Aren’t you too old to be kissing like that?” Axel jabs and I chuckle.

“Riot, have some respect. And no, your mother is a wild cat, why do you think she’s a jinx.”

I furrow my brows.

“That doesn’t make any sense, Prez.” Axel chuckles.

He furrows his brows. “How can it not? Wildcat… cat… jinx?”

Lily bursts out laughing and leans in closer to Falcon. “I think you’re thinking of a lynx.”

He frowns as everyone laughs and Jinx pinches his ass. “Shit! Man down, man down. Mayday. Mayday. Must terminate this conversation,” Falcon says as he leans in kissing Jinx’s cheek and walks off.

“He’s a keeper,” Jinx says and looks to Lily and Molly. “So ladies and germs how ‘bouts I show you to your rooms. Get you all settled in for the night. Looks like you’ve all had a big day,” Jinx says and I nod reaching my hand out for Lily’s. She takes it and leans into my side as we walk through the clubhouse down past the pool table area then through a hall where the bedrooms are situated. It’s seems like it’s a hotel type spread where there’s bedrooms next to each other. Luckily we’re situated adjacent to each other in the hall.

“I’ll help Molly get set up,” Axel says, as he takes Molly into her room next door and I nod leading Lily into our room.

Opening the door it’s definitely like a motel room. The big double bed in the middle and a chest of drawers on the opposing wall at the end. The bathroom is next to that and the one window looks out onto the playground for the children. The sun is setting in the dark sky and Lily sits down on the edge of the bed with a “humph.”

“How long are we gonna be here for?” she asks.

“Are you really that worried?”

“I’m not stupid… I’ve seen Sons of Anarchy.”

My lips turn up in a slight smile. “But the difference is I have you. I don’t need those club girls. We’ve been through too much shit for something so little to get to you.”

“Maybe it is getting to me. All of this shit we’ve been going through. I’m just exhausted, Kace. This is all crazy. Fake deaths, government agencies, syndicates, biker clubs… where does it end?” Her eyes glisten as her bottom lip quivers, she looks completely broken.

No, she looks done.

This is all taking a real toll on her. I need to finish this shit with Camilla before losing her to the darkness completely.