Chance

24 hours earlier

"Want to explain why the fuck we're all meeting at your place Austin?" Bone shouts when we all pile up in Austin's living room. He doesn't have the largest house, and even though we have moved all the furniture back, it's still a tight squeeze in here.

"Everyone here?" Austin asks ignoring Bone's question with irritation.

Glad I'm not the only one.

"Everyone's here except Ghost and the prospect watchin' over Lyla's mom." Max says to his brother. Making my skin feel like it's on fire.

When Austin had told me that Ghost was going to be the one that stayed with Abby I wanted to punch something. Austin stared at me for a few moments until I got head back. I knew he had done it on purpose. Partly to test me and see if I would honor his rule, and partially to test my affection for Abby. I don't know what we are right now, but something about having her lay alongside me all night, the way she took control, I need more of that and soon.

"Alright let's get started. To answer Bone's question, we needed to meet here because someone gave us a tip that there might be some cameras in the clubhouse."

"What the fuck?" Dipp shouts.

"Fuck man, that was right in my goddamn ear." Lucky complains.

"Well excuse fuckin' me. Our prez just told us there are goddamn cameras in the clubhouse."

"Austin." Slice says calmly. "What kind of tip?"

"Chance." I stand from my spot and stand in front of the room. In front of the men I call my brothers. Will they believe me? I know some don't trust me, not that I can blame them with my fight and flight instincts.

"Got pulled over from a cop yesterday. Was on my way to the safehouse. Cop tried to act hard, but right before he let me go, slipped me a note. Look worried, like maybe he was being followed. Note said that there were cameras in the clubhouse."

A silence falls on the group and I look over to Austin. He nods his head towards me and gets the attention back from the club.

"Look, I know it sounds a little fuckin' off, but with Goldberg coming forward and telling us that Alberts was threatening his family, I have to believe that not all the fuckin' cops are out to get us."

"Am I the only one that has to ask the obvious question? How can someone get in our clubhouse and set cameras up?" Dipp shouts once again.

"Torque?"

Torque walks up, of course with his fuckin' laptop, and stands in front of the group as well.

"Alberts has done it before. Few months back we had the Rejects do what I call a target practice at Club Sin. They used the security system there to see if they could hack into it. They succeeded but I think the clubhouse was their main target."

"Wait, so you're saying that they did that shit without ever having to get in?"

Torque nods his head then continues. "Yep. It's not hard really. We have security set up. It matches Club Sin's system. All they have to do is tweak something around and boom, they're in."

"Okay, but that's different than having cameras set up, they just have access to our cameras?" Slice asks crossing his massive arms.

"Right, so Chance, the cop that gave you that note, I looked into him and I could see he may have a lot to lose. His wife of fifteen years just gave birth and right after she did, she found out she has cancer. They might have needed the money."

"Which means he could have been sent to confuse us like this for the money too." Shane adds in what everyone is already thinking.

"Either way, we need to investigate. I want everyone to go about their daily routine, stay in the clubhouse if that was your plan, but if we need to discuss something important, do it in my office. It's the only place without a camera. Church will be held here until we can figure it all out." Austin waits for everyone to agree then moves on to the next topic. "Now, we actually have fuckin' worse news than that. The guy that Chance and Abby caught, he's gone. And we didn't get shit from Shane and Max going out to speak with the pimp."

A ruckus of 'what the fucks' ring out and I wait for it to quiet down.

"We don't know how. Still trying to figure it out, but since this cop showed up with that note, it could have something to do with our security cameras."

"Austin's right, there is one right above the shed. Whoever is watching us, could have seen us bring him in and snuck him out." Max chimes in.

"Still, something about this whole thing don't sound right." Lucky adds.

"Which is why I've asked Boulder to help us out." My eyes go wide at the mention of Boulder, the Nightmare Warriors Virginia chapter's president.

"Sure that's a good idea. Fucker is crazy."

"Yeah he is, but we need him Shane. Don't want anyone else getting hurt." A mutual silence falls upon us. He's right, Abby was the last causality and was almost sold. We have to end this now.

"So what's next?" Shane stands.

"I want four brothers to go check out the addresses we got from Morris. Dipp, Torque, Slice, you three bring the new prospect Rain and check out each one. Call me once you've got something. Everyone else, stay vigilant and alert."

We all stand while Slice, Torque and Dipp head out to their bikes. Bone moves over to the kitchen and immediately grabs a cold beer out of the fridge. I'm just about to head in there and cut him off when something bangs against the door.

Austin moves to answer it, checking the peephole first and I watch as his whole body goes rigid. He looks back at us and frowns. "Feds are here."

"What the fuck" Before I can finish my thought, thirty men rush through the door, guns drawn and shouting for us to get down. We all do as we're told as they search us and separate us.

A man, someone I have never seen but is clearly in charge, walks over, looking at each of us as we are all cuffed and told to sit.

"Which one of you is Austin Stone?"

"The fuck you doin' in my house?" Austin shouts causing the man holding him down to use way too much force.

"Guess that's you huh?" The agent smirks. "Let's take him, and Ryan Malone, aka Chance." Shock registers when they call out my real name, something I haven't heard in years. The agent holding me down lifts me up and takes me right outside behind Austin. I can hear Bone shouting and cursing and overhear the agent tell the person beside him to grab the loud mouth.

I'm pushed up against an unmarked van as they once again search me and then shove me inside. I growl when I land hard on my side but quiet myself down. Memories are flooding from the last time I saw this many officers of the law at the same time. I can recall the gut feeling of trying to get through the yellow tape, only to be stopped by men with the look of horror and empathy on their face.

Someone taps the window of the van snapping me out of my nightmare and the van drives off. I remain quiet as I take in my surroundings. I can see straight out the window ahead of me and know we aren't going to the police station. Agents surround me, one in the driver's seat, one in the passenger's seat and two behind me. I can't take them all, that much I know, but at least we aren't going somewhere Alberts has control over.

Half an hour later, we arrive. I veer out as far as I can and see a large white building with a giant FBI logo on the side. I'm shuffled out and that's when I see Austin and Bone being led inside as well. Austin gives me a 'keep to yourself' look and I oblige him with a nod. Austin goes inside one room and I'm pulled to one right next door. I can hear Bone shouting once again but the noise immediately stops when the door closes.

Sound proof.

The agent leading me turns me around to uncuff me, then without a word, leaves the room. I rub my wrists and look around. It's like a scene from a movie, and if I weren't so worried, I would laugh at how clich¨¦ this all is. There is a long white table with two small plastic chairs. A massive mirror on the far wall that I assume is two way, and a security camera starring straight at me from the wall above the only door in the room.

I take a seat at the chair facing the door and wait. Seconds later the agent that was calling the shots back at Austin's house walks in. He's no longer wearing his blue FBI jacket, but a white and blue dress shirt and black tie. Right behind him another man walks in, this one smaller. He's holding a clipboard and has some kind of recorder in his hand. I sit back, knowing damn well what is coming next.

"Hello Mr. Malone. My name is Agent Roswell. I am the agent in charge of this case." Roswell says placing his hand on his chest then moves it to his partner next to him. "This is agent Numen, he will be assisting me on questioning you."

"Don't I get a lawyer?" I smirk knowing they won't be obliging.

"There are no lawyers at this point Mr. Malone. We have a few questions about your involvement with Chief of police John Alberts. Have you heard of him?"

Just hearin his name makes me want to push this table against the wall and go after him. He has done too much bad in this world to remain alive, and to top it all off, now his disappearance is causing an even more shit storm to hit the Warriors.

"Yep, heard he's missing."

"He is, and his family is very much worried about him." Liar. We've been keeping an eye on his soon to be ex-wife. We think she found out things about what he had been up to and left him.

"I could only imagine. But I can't help you. I don't know where he is. I don't know why you would think we do." Agent Roswell tenses as I shrug my shoulders.

"See, I would believe you, if you didn't have such a history with the man." My body goes rigid and damn this fucker for noticing. "Yes, Mr. Malone, we know about your past, we also know you could have a very legitimate reason for making a man like him, disappear."

I can't let him goad me. I have to remain calm. Austin knew I would be drawn in and I have to show him that I am not the same guy he met years ago. Alberts is ours and I won't let these fuckers come in and confuse everything. He's right, I have every reason to peel Alberts apart one limb at a time, but I can't let him know that.

"Sorry, I can't help you. I don't know where he is."

"Could you tell us about your involvement with former Chief of Police Paul Timmons?"

"All I know about him is he retired. He was out, Alberts was in. What's this got to do with me?"

"We found Timmons, he wasn't willing to speak with us, but did give us something we could use." He has me intrigued but I don't budge. "Timmons believes that John Alberts, is a notorious murderer.

Nail on the fucking head.

"That can't be good." I smirk. Roswell leans into his partners side. His hand moves up and presses a button on the recording device turning it on. A red light appears, and the device is moved atop the table.

"Mr. Malone, could you tell me your affiliation with the Nightmare Warriors MC?" I look from Roswell to his partner and back over to the device. This whole ordeal seems strange, but I almost want to say Roswell is trying to help me.

"I'm a member. Have been for the last six years."

"And your group isn't involved with anything illegal?" Is he kidding me?

"No."

"Could you tell me where you were the night of Christmas Eve?" My eyes meet Roswell's as he smirks at me. Yeah, fucker knows something alright.

"At a wedding reception. Our president got married that day."

"How sweet."

"I thought so." I shrug once more.

"That's all for now. I think we got everything we needed." Roswell reaches over once again, this time turning the machine off. "We will come and release you in a few hours."

"Few hours? You said you had everything." Roswell simply smiles and looks from the clock on the wall back over to me.

"It's technically a twenty-four hold Mr. Malone. Let me know if you need a magazine or something."

He and his partner leave and the sound of the door closing echoes throughout the room. I lean back in the small uncomfortable chair and almost laugh.

"Mother fucker." I whisper.

I settle myself as comfortable as can be. It's going to be a long night.

Something hard flicks my forehead causing me to stir. Opening my eyes, I see Agent Roswell standing above me. Placing down a small white Styrofoam cup of what I assume is coffee, he sits in the same chair he sat in before across from me holding another cup in his hand. I lift my head up from the table and check the time on the clock. It's nearly two in the morning.

"Fuck, you guys are just now letting us go?" I ask, rubbing the sleep form my eyes. My head is pounding and body hurts from sleeping in this damn chair.

"Told you, we could hold you for twenty-four hours. May not be that long, but I think we got what we needed." Roswell takes a long drink from his coffee then points to mine. "Drink it, it's not half bad."

"Right." I lean back and cross my arms. I just want the fuck out of here.

"We're letting you go Chance. There is nothing more we need from you all, but please, if you think of anything you may want to share with me, anything that might help out your club, here's my card." A plain white card gets placed right under my arms on the table and I look down to glance at it.

Special Agent Joseph Roswell.

"You know I'm not takin' that right?"

"Yes, I figured. If you will follow me, we will take you out to the hallway so that you can wait for your friends." Nodding my head I stand, ignoring the aching pain in my back, and follow suit.

We walk down path after path that eventually leads to some kind of hallway. There are bright white walls and oil paintings of orchids that contrasts with bright pinks and purples. Roswell leads to me a row of chairs and nods his head toward me, then turns and leaves. I stand, not wanting to spend another second in a chair, and wait for Bone and Austin.

Moments later, I can hear loud booming voices and blow out an irritated breath when I see Bone walk up. He looks like shit, skinnier than normal and more haggard. With everything going on and him hitting the bar a lot more lately, I haven't really noticed his decline on fatigue and appearance.

Bone reaches me and plops down on the end chair. I can hear him mumble to himself but we both remain quiet as we await Austin.

After a few moments I hear him mumble himself and choose to ignore it, until I hear Abby's name. "What did you say?"

"I said I'm a fuck up." Well shit. That much we can both agree on. "I let Abby down, on more than one fuckin' occasion. She's probably worried fuckin' sick, thinkin' something happened to me."

Yeah, thought about that all night myself.I know Max and the others will let her know what is going on and where we are, but for all we know, they were taken somewhere too. All I thought of all night was Abby and how scared and worried she most likely was.

"She's with Max and the others by now. Abby's stronger than you give her credit for. She'll be worried but she knows wherever we are, we will be safe." Bone ignores my jab, something I'm grateful for.

"Not the best father to her, I know that. Haven't been there for her lately, hate that she feels alone. I'm going to do right by her, but let's get one fuckin' thing clear." I turn when his voice turns menacing. "If you ever try and lay me out again, I'll fuckin' gut you. I deserved that last beating, wasn't there for my girl, won't happen again, but neither will your fist in my face."

"You do right by Abby, I won't need to put my fuckin' fist in your face." I add and we both scowl at each other until I hear the familiar voice in the background.

"Alright you two, calm the fuck down. Let's get the hell out of here." Austin says strolling up like all the care in the world is fuckin' gone. Does he not realize where the fuck we are right now?

"What the fuck was all that about Prez?" Bone nearly shouts but Austin raises his hand to silence him.

"Don't worry about it. They've got nothing on us. Let's get out of here and go home to our women." Austin walks past us, and Bone follows right behind. I'm just about to head out as well when I see the same cop that pulled me over speaking with Agent Boswell. He looks over to me then walks away into a room with the agent.

What the hell is going on?

Present

Sunlight veers through the window causing me to stir out of my slumber. I stretch out checking the time on the nightstand close to the bed. It's nearly eleven in the morning and shock registers that I slept in so late. Something that hasn't happened in years.

Hopping up, I take in the queen size bed decorated in grays and whites. It's the only color in room. The bland white dresser and white nightstand have nothing on them and there is no television in here. But it was a bed, so I wasn't complaining.

Abby and I spend the entire day with Austin, Candice and the others. I had wanted to leave, head back here and rest, but I knew she wanted to see her friends. She won't admit it, but they are all she has, and she doesn't always feel like she fits in, something she and I have in common. After coming home last night, we had went our separate ways. I wanted to call out to her when she began walking down the hallway towards her room, but I chickened out thinking she might want some privacy.

I check my phone and see no messages from Austin. Jealousy bellows through my body when I remember the look of pure joy he displayed when he found out the moment he was going to be father. He and Candice deserve nothing but happiness, but damn if that didn't feel like a stab to my heart.

"She needs you too Ryan, Ava needs you too, and right now, it's like her father died right along with everyone else that day."

I cringe when I hear the same voice I hear each time I think of Ava and Laurie. Pushing those thoughts down, I walk out of the room and head straight for the bathroom across the hall. After splashing my face, I head towards the kitchen for some much needed coffee. I stop just before Abby's door and place my ear against it. I don't hear anything, so I assume she is still sleeping.

Abby loves breakfast, it's her favorite meal of the day but I know between work and Bone, she's never treated with it. So I set up some pancakes, bacon and eggs for her. It feels surreal making breakfast for her in a home. It's almost like a tease of what I could have but don't deserve. I ignore that pain in my chest and finish up breakfast.

I'm halfway done with the bacon when I hear a gasp from behind. Turning I spot Abby in a small navy blue sweatshirt and long grey sweatpants. Her hair is in a high ponytail and her face is pale.

Fuck. now I'm hard making her goddamn breakfast.

"You did this for me?" She asks looking adorably bashful.

"Yeah, take a seat babe, you look beat."

She ignores me, too busy looking between the breakfast and my body. I'm shirtless, not intentional but I won't lie and say I don't mind her eyes on me. There's about a ten year difference between us. Where I am nearing thirty-seven, Abby just celebrated her twenty-seventh birthday, but the way her eyes won't leave me, I would say she doesn't mind the age gap whatsoever.

"Um. Chance."

"Yeah?"

"The bacon is burning."

Turning around, I notice the bacon smoking in the oven. "Shit." I curse moving in to retrieve it only to see it's already shriveled up and torched.

"Of fuckin' course." I mumble then turn when I hear the smallest giggle I ever heard in my life.

Abby stands there laughing, clutching her stomach. The only thing holding her up is one of the wooden chairs beside the dining table.

"Yeah laugh it up babe, just means no bacon for you."

"I'm sorry, your reaction was just really funny." She says wiping the tears from her eyes. "I just can't believe you made me breakfast, no one has ever done that."

"Glad I could be your first. Now sit, we can talk and eat." She nods her head and I follow her to the fold out makeshift dining table.

"Holy crap you're a good cook." She says taking another bite of her pancakes.

"Thanks." I can't wipe my smile off my face. Most women don't eat much in front of men, so watching her chomp down on this food all while having her hair in a messy bun and syrup all over her face is cute as hell.

"Chance?"

"Hmm?"

"I work today, how is that going to go down?" Her voice sounds so innocent making me assume she has put her walls back up. Abby has some demons, they haunt her each day she suppresses her true feelings and I see it chipping at her each and every time she doubts herself.

"Gonna drop you off, Rain will watch over." Austin had texted while I was making breakfast. His message was clear, we were to all be at the clubhouse for church which leads me to believe the suspicions to the cameras is over.

"Okay, sounds good. I'll get ready to go after this. I have a long shift, poor Rain." She smirks.

"He'll deal, I remember being a prospect and being stuck in blizzards doing dumb shit just because everyone thought it was funny. Few hours watchin' over you won't hurt him."

She eyes me funnily then speaks. "That's the first time I've ever heard you speak about your time with the Nightmare Warriors."

"Don't have much to say about it. Everyone goes through it."

"Yes, but most of them speak about it once in a while instead of pushing all the emotion away."

"I push my emotions down? Sure you ain't talking in front of a mirror right now?" As soon as I finish speaking I regret it. Once I see Abby's reaction I want to kick my own ass.

"Shit, sorry darlin'."

"I know I keep my emotions in check Chance, I do it because I don't want to hurt or disappoint anyone, although that always seems to disappear with you." She mumbles that last part.

"I didn't mean to be a dick Abby"

"But that's not why you do it. You do it as a punishment to yourself. I don't know why you think you don't deserve love or friendship, but I can tell it's eating you alive. And if I can tell, I'm sure the club can. Not sure if you've noticed but you've got some nosy brothers."

I smirk knowing she's right. I say nothing and neither does she. Neither of us want an argument, especially not after the last few days of confusing feelings and subtle hints. Last thing I want it is make her believe I will never confide in her.

I just need time.

"You're right. I don't talk about my time much because a part of me doesn't think it was worth it. I love my club, love being a warrior, always have. They gave me something I desperately needed, and I never want to take that for granted."

"But."

"But, I wonder often if there is something else out there. Should I be doing something else? Should I be doing something more worthwhile? It's like only half of me is still invested in the club."

It isn't until I finish that I realize what I have said. It's the first time I have said the words aloud, but they are true. I don't know if I still belong in the club, and every moment of everyday feels like a battle I have within myself to remain a Warrior. I wasn't lying when I say I owe everything to Austin and the club, they saved me. But am I simply remaining because of obligation? Or because it's what I want with my life?

"I'm glad you told me Chance." She says then begins eating once again.

Fuck, this girl is doing things to me.

We finish eating, and like we've done it a million times before, we head for our individual rooms to get dressed. I walk out with my black jeans and white shirt placing my cut on as I'm walking out and closing the door behind me. Abby walks out at the same time smiling with her pale pink scrubs on. Her hair is up, and she has light make up on.

"Ready?"

"Yes, I just have to grab my bag." We head to the kitchen together and she grabs her bag from the bar dividing the kitchen from the rest of the house.

"I'll be picking you up tonight, so just call me when you're done."

"But if Rain is already there." She must see the look on my face because she smirks and looks down playing with her strings on her light jacket she just put on. "Okay, I'll message you."

"Good." I walk a little closer to her and lean in to kiss her soft lips. It takes everything in me end the kiss there. I know Abby still doesn't trust me not to push her away.

"Chance?" She ask with her eyes still closed.

"Hmm?"

"What exactly are we?"

"Don't know babe. But I like this. I know I have a lot to prove to you, I don't know what brought on this sudden desire to be around you and be with you, but I'm not ready for it to end." Her eyes open and I see she is on the brim of tears.

"So, even when I'm no longer in danger?"

"Even then Abigail. I'm not ready to give you up yet." She nods her head, satisfied with my answer and we walk out together towards my bike.

We make it to her work in less than an hour. I have to adjust myself when she gets off the bike, having her hold onto me, her hair blowing around the two of us, smelling of citrus, only made me hard. Abby smirks when she sees my gesture and waves goodbye. I pull her back over to me before she can go far and kiss her lips. I may not be able to have her yet, but I need her scent embedded in me for the remainder of the day.

"Wow." She says when I finally let her up to breathe.

"Call me when you're ready. Don't go out for lunch, call Rain if you need anything." She smiles and nods as she back up and begins walking away.

An eruption of emotions run through me watching her walk away. Long blond hair that she is attempting to control from the ride over, her cute ass swaying in her scrubs, everything about her is calling to me. I already can't wait to see her tonight.

Damn this girl is doing something to me.

Walking into the compound I walk right into the room for church. Everyone is already seated, and I take my seat in between Shane and Torque. Austin waits for the remaining stragglers and starts immediately after Bone scrambles in. We haven't spoken since the day of the raid, but I know he called and checked on Abby yesterday.

"Alright, let's get this underway. Torque went through the surveillance and removed what he assumes was the wire feed belonging to Alberts. So for now, we ae good. I still want everyone to vigil and alert, understood?" Everyone nods, a few men yell out and Austin turns to me. "As far as the feds, don't worry too much about them. Obviously, Chance, Bone and I didn't give em' shit, but that don't mean they are done snooping. It's obvious they are after Alberts, that much was clear, but for now, we lay low and off their radar. Don't want anything drawing them in these doors."

"They explain how the fuck they knew to come to your place before the club? When I got here, this place wasn't touched. Had Torque verify when he was working on the cameras. They never came here. Somehow they knew to come to your place where we all were." Shane adds.

"No, they weren't telling me shit, but I can't be stupid and think they ain't watchin' us. We had beef with the man they are moving hell to look for, and it's causing them to fall into our shit storm."

"Roswell, that FBI agent, tried asking me where I was Christmas Eve. We have an alibi, but they may know something about Abby going missing for a day." Looking over to Bone I give him a genuine look. I thought the same thing when Roswell asked me. Still, something seems off about all of this feds shit.

"Yeah, they asked me too, but we can't fall into their trap. They train for that shit. We need to keep to ourselves. Torque, Dipp and Slice went and looked at those addresses, didn't find shit but old paperwork on the club and some notes on each of us. It's obvious Alberts was there, but we still don't got him."

Looking down I push away the anger and frustration of not being able to find this slimy fucker.

"Alright guys, dismissed." Austin shouts and everyone stands and begins piling out. I rub my eyes, realizing I missed the last few minutes. Standing as well, I head down the hallway but stop when I hear Max call out to me.

"Hey brother, how's Abby?"

"She's good, at work. Got Rain on her."

"Good. Was thinking of bringing Shawna over to see her. She won't stop yappin' in my ear about seeing her so let me know what day Abby doesn't have work."

"Got it. You heading home?"

"Yep." He smirks and I roll my eyes waiting on the impending sex joke about him and Shawna. "What?"

"Let me guess, going to go get your fuck on?"

"Whoa! Chance, that's a woman you're talking about, you shouldn't speak like that about them like that. Have some respect." I turn at his sarcasm and see Lyla and Mindy, Slice's old lady waking in with food.

"Asshole." I murmur then get the hell out of dodge before one of them starts swinging.

"Where you headed?" Shane says from out of nowhere. I swear, for as big as he is, he is a quiet fucker. He's working on his bike outside, Wipp right beside him smoking a cigarette.

"Gym. Been a few since I've gone and checked it out." They both nods their head and I hop on my bike and peel out of there.

Genre Fitness is another legitimate business the club owns. It's also the only one I have my fingers dipped in. After Austin got me to prospect for the Warriors, he pulled me aside and told me two things. One, the booze had to stop, and two, I had to gain my strength back. I had lost so much weight from depression and filled it with things that were not healthy for my body. He introduced me to Slip, one of the old timers that although no longer was attached to the club, kept his club tats. He taught me how to keep myself fit and healthy and treat my body with respect. Slip died a few years back but would end up leaving the gym to me. I've been running it ever since.

"Hey Chance. Haven't seen you for a while man." Jordy, one of the managers comes over and shakes my hand.

"Thought I would come in and see how everything was running."

"Going good, feel like sparring? I was just about to warm up the new guy." I smirk, giving him my sneer. I love being in the ring and anytime I get a chance to let my frustrations out, I'm all for it. "Thought so. I'll meet you in ten."

I head back where the lockers I had put in last year are located. After I took over, I brought the gym up to a much needed modern feel. Computers, televisions, health instructors were all brought in and I had some builders put in two locker rooms and a large spa. We had the room and the money, and it's been profitable since.

After getting dressed, I head back up and spot Jordy walking up to a young man that looks familiar. He's tall, scrawny, but young. His hair is dark black and slicked back and he is staring at me with shock and confusion.

Fuck, do I know this kid?

"Ryan?" A woman calls from behind me. I turn around and come face to face with Margie Crosby. "Ryan Malone?"

My heart hammers in my chest as she moves closer. I look from her over to the young man in the ring now sparring with Jordy. It's her son. Carlos' younger brother.

"Chance, you coming?" Jordy shouts but I ignore him, my focus solely on the woman moving closer and closer towards me.

"Mr. Malone, it's been a long time." Margie says stepping right in front of me. Her eyes are no longer the hallow and desolate shallows I remember. She looks young and focused. I can still see the weight of the world on her shoulders but she's healing.

"Miss Crosby, it's been a long time." I don't recognize my own voice, too far trapped in the past to come forward more.

"Call me Margie please." She smiles. "It's really good to see you. How have you been?"

"Good. I'm working here, training the new recruits. Is that?"

"Bobby, yes. He's so grown up now isn't he?" Another smile blesses her face. Bobby was younger than Carlos by a few years. He must be at least eighteen now.

"Yeah, he been training long?"

"No, just a few weeks. He says he wants to try it out. I think it's a good idea."

"He'll learn from the best here." My eyes rake over the young boy that reminds me so much of the kid that would do anything to make the person beside him laugh. It's not fair that I got so much time with him while Bobby will only know a distant memory.

"I never did get a chance to say."

"Huh?" I turn and see that Margie has now gotten closer.

"I'm sorry about what happened. I had moved out of state to take care of my sickly mother and when I moved back here I had found out about"

"Don't." I say stopping her from speaking further. "Please, just. don't." I walk away before my anger gets the better of me.

I need to get away from my haunting past.