There was only place I could think to look for Angel, and that was where I’d met her.

The last time I was in Alabama, I’d been reduced to the resources that my tour had provided me with. Namely, we were given access to a sleek pair of fresh but ultimately cumbersome jeeps.

Not this time.

This time, I rode in style.

It was just the way I liked it.

I revved the handlebar of the motorcycle, feeling the engine rumble with satisfaction between my thighs.

This was the way to do it.

As I whizzed between cars on the interstate, whipping from lane to lane, I kept an eager eye out for the proper exit. At my last stop, I’d paused to re-evaluate the directions, and I knew my turn was coming up soon.

But not just yet.

Which gave me time to think.

Steven had crossed the fucking line. He had been a self-righteous loser and a pain in my ass from the start, but now he had interfered with my personal life.

And now, here I was.

Cleaning up his fucking mistakes.

Taking back what was rightfully mine.

And there had been co-conspirators.

After everything that I’d done for them, half my band had turned on me. Everyone from the manager to the drummer had been a part of this.

But not my bassist.

Nice to know there was someone I could trust.

I shook my head, clearing it for what was coming next. Because there were more pressing matters to attend to…

There it is.

Riverton.

When we’d left in one of those silly jeeps, I thought that was the last time I’d see this backwater scrape of a town. Nestled serenely between the sticks and the ass-crack of nowhere, I figured that was that.

Funny how life turns out, I guess.

As I found my way onto the main highway through this boring little town, I felt my mind wander. I remembered what it felt like, feeling like I was covered with filth all the time. Dirty. Disgusting. A hideous creature, relegated to the shadows.

The filth, burned off by the light… Angel was my light.

I was drowning in brightness. Why the fuck did I leave her behind?

You’ve changed me so much, I whispered in my head to her. I don’t care what it takes. I’m going to find you, and I’m going to bring you back.

After a few minutes, the ramshackle bar came back into view. It looked even worse with no darkness to hide its decrepit nature.

I crunched gravel beneath my tires. Stabilizing the motorcycle, I brought it to the side of the building, kicking down the support stand.

Pulling off my helmet I heard the door creak open, then a pause. I could only imagine what was going through his head as I had my back turned.

After a moment came the sound of mirthless, angry chuckling. “Of course it was fucking you,” rang out the defeated mutter of Old Greg.

I hung the helmet from the handlebar, turning to face the crotchety old man. As I did so, I heard the click of his rifle, and gazed upon his furious, wrinkled form.

“You have some fucking nerve coming back here, boy.”

“I need your help,” I responded.

He laughed, spitting into the grass. “My help? You took her away! You swooped out of fucking nowhere and you stole her away from me!”

“She’s gone,” I replied, ignoring his rifle.

Angel’s lost.

I can’t die now.

Maybe when I know she’s safe.

“She’s…gone?”

“You’re the only person who knew her,” I answered, holding my hands up – out of respect, rather than any fear. “I care about the girl. I’ve come here to find answers. I need to know what happened to her, and I think you know more than you’ve told her.”

Old Greg’s eyes quivered with fury, but he slowly lowered the rifle. “I’ve told her everything, asshole. The problem is that she can’t remember any of it.”

“Help me find her,” I pleaded. “Someone near me sent her away, alone and afraid. I’ve come to keep her safe. But I can’t reach her. Do you know where I can look for her?”

He planted the head of the rifle against the floor, leaning on it disdainfully. He stared at me angrily for a moment, and finally sighed and shook his head.

“You love that girl?”

“More than life,” I replied, not a moment of hesitation in my voice.

“I guess you’d better come inside, then. We have a lot to discuss if you want to find my granddaughter…”