It took one ferocious kick from Adam, and then it was done. The door crashed down and he raced into the small room, and then stopped as he saw the chaos that waited inside. Two men struggled on the floor; Joey standing over them both with a knife, and Dakota slumped on the floor. Everything was covered in blood and Adam couldn’t tell where it had come from, who was bleeding.

 

“I’m okay and she’s okay,” Joey said, as his entire body sagged. There was a dull clatter as the thin blade he had snuck away from the Soul Stealers fell to the floor. He staggered and leaned against a wall and Mike and Ronnie rushed in, supporting him between their arms and taking him outside.

 

“Someone should call an ambulance,” Dakota said as she stood shakily to her feet. Adam looked at her stunned. Her clothes were splattered with blood, she was pale, but she didn’t look weak or scared; she looked brave and strong.

 

Adam nodded and then he couldn’t stop himself. In two steps he was on her, wrapping his arms around her, enveloping her in his strong embrace. He held her tight against his chest and he felt her body go weak beneath him as she muffled a sob into his shirt and when she began to shake, he only held her tighter.

 

“It was James,” she whispered.

 

For a moment Adam was confused, who was James, what was she talking about? From behind him he heard a grunt, still holding Dakota Adam turned and looked down. One of the men grunted and half sat up, holding his side where blood was pouring out. It took him a moment to recognize the handsome face and the perfect suit underneath the mess. But yes, there he was, James Hastings. The man who had told Adam he should never contact Dakota again. It had been him, the man who had hired Scarred Angels. James had been behind all of the attacks, everything that had happened. In a twisted way, it made perfect sense; no one was going to question the man who had hired the protection, the one who seemed so kind and caring.

 

“Take them out, clear the building, and call an ambulance,” Adam instructed as members of Scarred Angels roughly took the men by their arms and pulled them out of the room, ignoring their cries of pain. “You, too,” he whispered to Dakota, kissing the top of her head. She nodded and pulled herself away, hastily wiping the tears from her face. “You didn’t need to do this,” Adam continued. “You didn’t need to come here and pay for Joey’s release. I never would have hurt you or your father, and neither would anyone in Scarred Angels. They were mad, but they shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

 

“I know,” Dakota said with a nod. “I just wanted it to be over.”

 

“It’s over now,” Adam said, putting his hand on the small of her back and guiding her out of the room and out into the parking lot. The bikes were still a wall of light and the Soul Stealers were still hogtied on the ground in front of the building.

 

“Everyone’s out, boss,” Adam heard someone say and he nodded as he walked over to Joey, whose bruised and battered face somehow looked even worse than the picture.

 

“You look awful,” Adam said to his oldest friend.

 

“Really?” Joey responded. “I feel great. Let’s hit the town, make it an all-nighter,” he said, swaying on his feet.

 

“An ambulance and cops are on the way. They’ll be here in fifteen,” someone said.

 

“Let’s do this then. You get the honors,” Adam said to Joey.

 

Together, Adam, Joey and the members of Scarred Angels poured gas over the building, while other cleared the area around the building. The bikers and their hostages travelled farther down the lane, away from the clubhouse. In the end, it was only Dakota, Adam, and Joey standing in the gasoline soaked clubhouse of the Soul Stealers. It was as dilapidated and sad as ever, and no one regretted what was about to happen.

 

They walked out to the front porch and then down to the gravel walkway. Adam handed Joey a pack of matches. Without hesitation Joey lit the pack and tossed it into the clubhouse. The flame sat there for a moment, burning away, and then it caught the gasoline and the group watched as the flame spread from the floors to the walls to roof and then the entire building was aflame as they turned and walked away.

 

“Shame about that building,” Joey said. “Going up in flames for no reason.”

 

“It definitely wasn’t up to code,” Dakota said as her hand found Adam’s and together she and Joey filled him in on James's plan and Charlie’s place in it. Adam couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t believe the selfishness of a man like James Hasting. The Kanes had saved his company, and out of jealousy had tried to have them killed.

 

By the time they reached the rest of the gang farther down the dirt road they could hear the cry of ambulances and police sirens and soon enough the howl of a fire truck. Adam sent the members of Scarred Angels home, all but Joey and Bill, who were sitting next to each other on the ground comparing wounds.

 

“I’m so sorry I got you shot,” Dakota said to Bill, kneeling down next to him.

 

“Actually, it sounds like you saved my life,” Bill said. “According to Joey, that man was aiming at James Hastings’ head, which is at the same level as my head. It would have been a kill shot had you not tackled him like a linebacker.”

 

Adam watched as Dakota gave her uncle a grateful smile. True or not, it made her feel better and Adam was again surprised by his uncle’s kindness. As the police and ambulances travelled down the lane Adam reached down and ran his hands over Dakota’s back.

 

“Can we go back to your house now?” she asked, looking at him with those beautiful eyes of hers.

 

“Of course,” he answered, taking her hand in his.