“When are you leaving?” I ask Dani. It’s the next day, and we’re sitting at one of the picnic tables outside the club compound.

It’s a gorgeous summer day, and with fall approaching soon, I want to enjoy it. My hand absently strokes my stomach. I do it a lot, but more so lately. Dani and I have a complex relationship, but it is close in ways only the two of us will ever understand. We’ve been through hell together. When I needed a friend, and had no one, Dani was there. When she was actually trapped in hell, I helped to bring her out. Our secrets, our sadness bonded us together. So, the thought of bringing little Dragon into this world and not having Dani there to hold my hand, to be with me…it kills me. I can’t tell her that, but I know she feels it. I know that she is terrified to leave. I also know she doesn’t have a choice now, and that sucks. I hate Michael Kavanagh, despise him. I’d like to cut off his balls and deep fry… No, I want to deep fry his balls while they were still attached, then cut them off and feed them to him. That’d be infinitely better.

“Not sure. Soon though. Definitely way before my supposed meeting with the hubby.”

“Good plan. Hey, at least we got warning and he just didn’t swoop in and grab us,” I answer, trying to make light of it. I actually am surprised he didn’t take Dani forcibly, before we had some heads up.

“It’s his way. He likes to be dramatic and bigger than life.”

“Yeah, well.”

“I know…,” she says sadly, looking up at the sky. “I’m going to miss Kentucky. When you suggested I move here to hideout I thought you were insane, but I’ve loved every minute of it. Hell, even Ray likes it.”

“Will he be going with you?”

“No, he’s settled here. He’s actually met someone. My visit with him was an eye opener. I’d never seen him so happy.”

“That’s good, but I don’t want you to be alone. Maybe we should tell Dragon and face this head on. I know…”

“Not going to happen, Nic. I’ve thought about it and this is the best for all concerned. Once I’m gone, Michael will leave you guys alone, most notably you.”

“Dani…”

She reaches over, grabs my hand and looks me in the eyes. I can see the moisture there, and the deep sadness. It hurts me. I wrap my hands around hers and squeeze tight.

“One of the best things that happened to me was meeting you at Three Oaks Academy.”

“Dani…”

“I mean it, Nic. When you decided to bail out of that school and tell your parents to suck it, I was so in awe of you. I wanted that kind of courage. You’ve always seen me as the strong one, but it’s you…it’s always been you.”

I swallow, but the words I want to use to respond are frozen in my throat. Clogged up with emotion so deep, I’m afraid to let it out. I forget, years of living our lie has made it an alternate reality, and I just go with it. It’s completely untrue, this history I allow Dragon and everyone to believe. My history with Dani is much more twisted and confusing. I didn’t meet Dani in Kentucky, we didn’t grow up together. We didn’t go to school together, unless you count the month in hell my parents made me try out TOA (Three Oaks Academy), husband shopping. None of my carefully laid past is true, save one. Dani has and always will be my best friend, and a person who owns a large part of my heart.

“Dani, you’re strong, most women would have never survived what you did.”

“It was weak to ask you for help. It was weak to drag Ray into it.”

“No, it wasn’t. Family means being there for each other. If you don’t tell Ray that you’re leaving, you will hurt him.”

“Ray broke me out of the prison I was in. He put his life on the line to get me out of New York. He helped me set up a new identity and kept me safe. I think Ray has done enough.”

“He won’t see it like that.”

Dani shrugs, “He won’t know.”

“Damn it, Dani.”

“Just let it go Nic, it’s time I stand on my own. There’s no choice really. You have Dragon and little Dragon to think of. Ray has his new boyfriend and a settled life in Kentucky. I can’t stay here. You know what will happen if I do.”

“I…Will I hear from you again?”

“I’ll get a message to you somehow—when I know it’s safe.”

I nod. I’m not happy, but I know it’s all I will get.

“What about money?”

“I still have all that money Ray and I took out of Michael’s wall-safe, so I’m pretty much set for life. I just don’t like touching it. I’ll use it to get relocated and buy some new documents. I’ll be fine.”

“I want to be able to send you pictures of the baby…”

“We’ll figure it out. I want to see little Dragon, too.

“I know your mind is made up, but I wish you’d let me get Dragon involved.”

“You’re starting to sound like a broken record,” Dani says and I want to argue further, but I hear the door open behind me. I look up and see Crusher coming out of the main entrance. I can’t help but notice the way he’s looking at Dani; his eyes never leave her. I doubt he even notices I’m sitting here.

“Please tell me you didn’t go there, Dani.”

“Go where?” she asks, acting like she’s clueless. She’s sitting sideways on the bench facing me, but she keeps looking to her side at Crusher.

“Crusher?” I prompt.

“I had an itch.”

“They make shit for that, it’s called flea spray.”

She looks up at me and for a second, a small space in time, I see my old friend, the one I met years ago, when I tried to do as my parents insisted. Then with a flash, she is gone. It happens sometimes, I see her the girl I loved and who loved me—freely. The girl who had yet to be chewed up and spit out by the world. God, I miss her.

“This was more fun.”

“He’s not one of your boy toys, Dani. Crusher might seem laid back and easy going, but…”

“Spare me Nic, at this point, I think it’s safe to say I’m more familiar with Crusher than you are.”

“And you’re still going to do this?”

“Tonight, anyway.”

“Dani…”

“My vibrator batteries are dead, sometimes a girl has to do what a girl has to do.” With that, she walks off towards Crusher.

I do not see good things coming from this, but I’m too damn worried about everything else to think about it for now.