Marriage.
It seemed so strange to her; it still was.
She’d never considered getting married before, not even to Ethan. With Draven though, it was different, which was why she accepted. She’d truly thought Draven’s proposal was a joke. It wasn’t. He had people on hand that she could call to give direction on how she wanted her perfect wedding to be.
He’d even given her an engagement ring. She twisted it around on her finger as she tried to think about anything but the man she was walking away from.
When she made to pass the cells that she’d been locked in, the scent of cigarette smoke made her pause.
Every instinct within her was screaming to leave this place. The cells held a lifetime of memories she didn’t want to venture into. Not just for herself, but for the women who were there before.
She stepped inside, and Axel sat on one of the disgusting beds. His back rested against the wall, a cigarette between his lips.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
“I could ask you the same question.”
“This is where I come to think, or at least in the past couple of weeks. It had been years before that.”
She looked behind her and then entered the cells.
“Well, well, well, getting engaged has given you a backbone.”
“Why are you here?”
“Why are you not at home with your precious fiancé?”
“He’s got a meeting. Shouldn’t you be part of it?”
“Nope. I have no interest in that meeting.” He pulled the cigarette from his lips and billowed out a puff of smoke.
“I didn’t know you smoked.”
“There’s a lot of things you don’t know about me, Harper. A lot you don’t know about your soon-to-be husband either.”
“Then why don’t you tell me something?” she asked, stepping into the cell and staring at him.
Axel smirked. “It would be too easy to tell you everything. Some things you need to work out for yourself.”
“You’re being really cryptic right now.”
“I know. It’s the story of my life.”
She sighed. Glancing out the window, she stared up at the house. “You don’t like it here?”
“I’ve never liked it here. Growing up with Draven and the guys, I’d hoped we’d demolish all of this shit. Put it all behind us and never look back.”
“That didn’t happen?”
“Nope. It has never happened. You see, Harper, when you left, it set off an entire shitstorm of events. What we wanted, never came to pass.” He took another long drag on his cigarette.
“Did you find anything about that day?” she asked.
“Not a damn thing. Don’t worry though. I’ve got a couple of other places I can look. You’re still alive and kicking for now. Ready to fight another day and to see what that lovely husband of yours is up to.”
“You and Draven are not on speaking terms?”
“Draven and I have our own terms of conversation.”
“Have you been to see Stephanie?” she asked.
He laughed. “You’re all over the place in conversation. You’re terrified.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Axel smirked. “Oh, yes, you do. I bet you’ve got an idea of what goes on in our lives. You’re not completely sure, but you’re marrying into it, and you know that if you were to know all of it, you may run again.”
“Why don’t you make it clear to me?” she asked.
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” He was going around in circles.
“I have my reasons, and I’m not afraid to use you to get what I want. You need to see the truth to wake him up.”
“What kind of reasons?” she asked.
He sighed. “You know this life isn’t normal. Having armed guards around the house. The party you were part of. The whipping post, these cells. It all tells you of a life that happened before Draven became in charge.”
“Your parents.”
“And they inherited it.” Axel ran fingers through his hair and sniffed his body. “I need a fucking shower, I stink.”
“Why can’t you just tell me?”
“Draven’s in love with you.”
This made her pause.
“That took you by surprise, didn’t it, sweetheart?”
“You don’t know that.”
“Oh, I know. He’s been in love with you for fucking years. It’s because he loves you so fucking completely, which is why I can’t tell you what you need to hear. He’s still my best friend. My brother, and for Jett and Buck, if I don’t do … this, then I know we’re stuck where we are until we die. Fuck, I’m doing this to help him, to help the both of us.”
“What are you talking about?” she asked.
“I’ll do something for you, and you’ve got to promise me, you’ll never breathe a word I told you.”
“Go on, Axel.”
“When you go to Tillie’s club—and you will. You’re going to have to—he’s going to get busy. Make sure you go to the basement.”
“The basement?”
“Yes. There you will find a great deal of … insight into part of what goes on here,” Axel said.