Page 24 of Axel

I held Axel as he yelled, screamed, and cursed. He was broken and angered and with each emotion he projected, I felt myself taking on his hurt too. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

After a few minutes, a police officer came over to talk with the guys. He had politely given them time to grieve before questioning.

“I am so sorry about your loss. This bar has been a positive staple in this community for years. We have always appreciated the world the bikers who called this place home have done for our veterans. I know you are upset, but I need to ask if you would have any idea how this could happen?” the officer questioned.

Even he looked distraught by the smoldering ashes in front of us. It was true, over the time that I had gotten to know Axel and his brothers I had learned that the Twisted Kingdom Clubhouse was more than just a bar. It was a home where men and women who rode motorcycles came to chat and catch up. It was a place where they would meet before escorting a fallen soldier or officers body to its final resting place. It was a placewhere the bikers would arrange cross-country road trips to raise money for local children’s hospitals. It wasn’t just a place to drink. It was a home. And now, it is gone.

“The building was really old. Maybe the wiring sparked the fire?” Blaze asked, as he stared into the smoke. stood by his side, tears streaming down her face.

The young officer shook his head. “Hasn’t anyone told you?” he asked.

“Told us what?” I asked, my own curiosity and anger swirling.

Glancing at me the officer looked down at his pad of notes. “A group of men were seen running from the bar before people inside the bar called in the fire. Thankfully, everyone got out in time, but as you can see, it was destroyed.”

I didn’t need to ask any more questions. A gut-wrenching pain shot through me. Axel and Drake had been threatened by a lowlife and I wouldn’t put it past him to do something like this. From what the guys had told me, Chuck was a bad guy. Not only was he brutal toward women, but he had spent several years in prison on assault and robbery charges. He was a menace to the biker name.

“Fuck,” Axel yelled out. “I am going to kill those bastards,” he stated, as he looked over at Blaze.

Raging, Blaze pulled out his phone and began texting someone.

“Hold on boys,” the officer said, raising his arms to calm the situation. “We don’t have a suspect yet. Let us investigate this and interview the witnesses. Don’t try to solve this mess yourselves,” he warned.

Axel only stood there, his fists clenched at his sides. His jaw tensed and I could see the anger building in his eyes. He was beyond mad, this had become personal. Suddenly, fear began to settle within me and I was afraid for Axel. I had seen his anger take control once before. The last thing I wanted was for Axel to hurt Chuck and be taken away from me.

Turning to him, I cupped his face in my hands and forced him to look at me. “Axel, please. I know this is bad but don’t go do anything that would take you away from me,” I cried.

Axel’s eyes met mine as he leaned in and placed a kiss on my forehead. “Ivy, I just lost the last piece of my father and grandfather that I had left. My family and memories just burned to ashes. This is war,” he said as he let go of my hands and forced me to step away from him.

Tears streamed down my face as I struggled to breathe. He couldn’t walk away right now. He needed me. I needed him.

“Axel,” I cried, begging him to stop.

He began to run to his bike, ignoring my calls for him.

“Blaze, you have to stop him,” I yelled, grabbing Blaze by the arm.

“Blaze, you can’t let him do anything stupid. Think about what we went through,” pleaded with him.

I had heard stories about what Blaze and went through and hopefully, Blaze could stop Axel.

Shaking his head, no, Blaze turned to me with sad eyes. “We can’t let Chuck get away with this,” he said as he ran over to his bike.

The two brothers sidled up together and nodded at one another. As Axel jumped on his bike and kicked the stand back, he turned to look at me one last time.

“I love you, Ivy,” he said, as the bike roared to life and then he was gone.

I was left standing in the dark street, a heavy smoke hanging around my body as the man I love drove away.

Chapter 15

Axel

Walking away from Ivy had been the hardest thing I had ever done.

I wasn’t walking away because I was done with her or us. I wasn’t walking away because I didn’t love her. No, I was walking away because I couldn’t stand the thought of her seeing me with this much rage in my eyes. I had to do something. I was going to do something bad. And, I couldn't let Ivy see that in me. She had seen so much good in me and now, I didn’t want to tarnish that.

Even though my rage-filled fog, I tried to keep some form of my sanity as I went in search of Chuck. I knew where he would be hanging out. His dive bar with his worthless friends.

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