I fumble a little with my words. “Well, uh, it’s a long story but, uh...I’ve got no where else to go, Lady.”

She smiles right away. “Come in, love, it’s freezing out, and we’re about to get rained on.”

I step into her house, and I feel a little shiver pass over me. I try not to think about what went down here, because I know it’s the only place I have to go right now.

“You look hungry, sugar. Let me give you something to eat.”

Lady rushes into the kitchen, and I sit on the couch, trying to think of anything but the fact that I just told Axel I loved him over a text. I mean, come on, seriously? I shake my head, disgusted with myself for losing my temper.

Lady comes out a moment later with a sandwich and a cup of tea. She places them down in front of me, and looks at me sadly.

“This can’t be good if you’re here, and not with Axel.”

I give her a weak smile. “I found out about his dad, and all the things that happened with mine, and when I asked him what happened to him he still refused to tell me. I love him, Lady, but I can’t keep coming second to his demons.”

She nods, understanding. “Axel is a hard man. I wish there was something I could say to make this better for you.”

“It’s okay, I’m not here to feel better. I just needed somewhere to go.”

She smiles, and taps my hand. “I have to go out now, love. But you’re welcome to stay. Go back up to your room, and make yourself at home.”

“Thank you, Lady. I can’t express just how much this means to me.”

She beams. “I’m sure I get it.”

I’m sure she does, too.

CHAPTER 24

MEADOW

Come back to me, my love, let me give you all I have.

I flop down onto the bed in Lady’s guest room, and contemplate turning my phone on. Part of me wants to know what Axel said; the other really doesn’t. I decide that leaving it off is my best option right now. I roll to my side, and stare out the window. The storm is rolling in, crackling in the distance. Rain is thundering against the window, making splatting sounds. Most times I’d love lying here, listening to the rain, but right now it’s making me uneasy.

I get up, deciding to go and make myself something to eat. Really, it’s just to try and take my mind off all the information Raide gave me, mixed with what Axel gave me. My heart is constantly aching, and it’s taking all my strength not to run to Axel and just forget the past and find the future. But that’s not so easy to do right now. I just need some time, some space, to figure out how this is going to go down.

I spend the next two hours reading in Lady’s library. I’ve picked up an old Virginia Andrews book, and I’m flicking through the pages.

That’s when someone raps on the door, loudly, frantically. I get to my feet, staring at the entryway. I didn’t hear a car. I walk slowly toward the door, wondering if it’s a good idea to answer it. I mean, what if it’s one of Lady’s cases, and he or she is on a rampage? I scrunch my nose up in contemplation, and continue toward the front door.

It bangs again, louder, more desperate.

Swallowing, I take the handle, and open it. In front of me stands a very drenched, panting Axel. My eyes widen, and a little squeak leaves my throat. What the hell is Axel doing here? I never expected him to come, I was sure he’d send one of his guys. His eyes are wild, and he must be soaked to the bone. Before I can open my mouth to say something, he rasps out, “Beast took me, and he tortured me.”

My mouth snaps closed, and I say nothing.

Axel shoves past me, and I can almost feel the emotion radiating off him. This isn’t easy for him; I can tell by the way his shoulders are tensing, and untensing. He’s dripping water all over the floor, but I don’t bother to say that. I just watch him as he walks over to the window, staring out. His fists are clenched, and when he speaks, his voice comes out ragged and tight.

“He took me the day your father and my father set me up at that dock. I went alone; I didn’t expect him to be there. He outnumbered me, and he took me. He was hoping to use me as leverage, but then he just decided he liked the idea of torturing me. And that’s what he did.”

He pauses, and then continues.

“Every day, for nearly six months, he tortured me. He beat me, he burned me, he starved me—you name it, he did it. Those things weren’t what broke my spirit. It was the girls...”

The girls? I swallow, feeling my heart speed up, but I don’t say anything. Axel doesn’t turn.

“He used to bring them in daily, bound and shackled. He would make them get on their knees, and suck me off until I came. They were there against their will, crying and gagging as they were forced to shove my cock into their mouths and suck until I came.” He spins around, panting. “Do you have any fucking idea how hard it is to come when you know you’re basically raping a woman?”

I shake my head, and tears tumble down my cheeks.

“The first day, he made the girl suck me for over two hours. My dick didn’t want a bar of it. I was so mortified I was gagging, but eventually, after experimenting further, she got me there. It’s hard not to come when someone is sucking you. Even if you know they don’t want it, it’s so fucking hard.”

I make a strangled sound, and press my hand to my head. Oh God, the poor thing.

“This continued on, every fucking day. Eventually, I got used to it. I knew the quicker I got it over with, the quicker they would get to leave. They came to trust me, flashing me smiles before they’d leave. They knew I wouldn’t hurt them, and we grew an understanding.”