Mae felt the anger burning inside her like never before, but it was tempered by an icy fear she couldn't shake. She had left Hell's Angels in a daze, the memory of the man's kiss still lingering on her lips, cold and possessive. It wasn't a kiss of passion. It was a warning, a promise that no matter what she did, he would always have the upper hand.

As Mae sat alone in her apartment later that night, the events of the past few weeks played on a loop in her mind. Frank had vanished, Layla was gone, and now she had been pulled deeper into the game. Every move she made felt like walking a tightrope, and she knew that one wrong step would send her plunging into the darkness below.

She leaned back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. Her mind was racing, but her body felt numb, exhausted from the constant tension. She had spent so long pretending that she could handle this, that she could stay one step ahead of whoever was pulling the strings. But the truth was, she was losing. He had her exactly where he wanted her.

Mae's phone buzzed on the table, breaking the silence. She picked it up hesitantly, expecting another cryptic message from him. But it wasn't him this time.

It was an unknown number, but the message was different.

"We need to talk. You're in danger. Meet me at the usual spot."

Mae's heart skipped a beat. Who could this be? She stared at the message, confusion and suspicion gnawing at her. No one had reached out to her in weeks, not since Layla had disappeared. The usual spot? What did that mean?

She quickly typed out a response.

"Who is this?"

Her pulse raced as she waited for a reply, her mind spinning with possibilities. The message could be a trap, another test from him, designed to see if she was still playing along. Or maybe, just maybe, there was someone else out there, someone who could help her. But how could she trust anyone at this point?

Her phone buzzed again.

"You know who. Meet me. Midnight."

Mae's stomach churned. She had a bad feeling about this, but she couldn't ignore it. The urgency in the message was undeniable, and if there was even a small chance that someone could help her, she had to take it.

She glanced at the clock. It was nearly 11:30. She didn't have much time.

With a deep breath, Mae grabbed her coat and headed for the door. The night air hit her like a wall as she stepped outside, the chill seeping into her skin as she made her way down the empty streets. The city felt different tonight—quieter, more dangerous. Every shadow seemed to move, every sound made her heart race.

The meeting place wasn't far, just a small alley behind one of the old theaters. Mae had met people there before, back when her world had made more sense, back when she had felt like she had some control over her life. But tonight, the alley felt like a trap waiting to spring.

As she approached, her nerves were on high alert. She glanced over her shoulder, checking for anyone who might be following her, but the streets were deserted. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.

When she reached the alley, Mae stopped just short of the entrance. Her heart pounded in her chest as she scanned the shadows, her breath catching in her throat.

No one was there.

She hesitated for a moment, debating whether to turn back. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe she should have stayed hidden, stayed away from this place. But then she remembered the kiss, the control he had over her, and the fear that had gripped her for so long.

She needed answers. She needed to fight back.

Taking a deep breath, Mae stepped into the alley.

The darkness swallowed her whole. The dim glow of the streetlights barely reached the edges of the alley, leaving the space thick with shadows. Her footsteps echoed off the brick walls, the only sound in the oppressive silence.

Mae walked further in, her heart pounding. She was halfway down the alley when she saw it—a figure standing at the far end, shrouded in darkness. Her pulse spiked, and she instinctively took a step back, fear tightening her chest.

The figure didn't move.

"Who are you?" Mae called out, her voice trembling.

The figure stepped forward, slowly emerging from the shadows, and Mae's breath caught in her throat. For a moment, she thought it was him—the man who had been controlling her, the man who had kissed her in that cold, calculated way. But as the figure came closer, Mae realized it wasn't him at all.

It was someone else.

A woman.

Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear, and Mae recognized her immediately.

It was Layla.

Mae's mind reeled. Layla was supposed to be gone. She had vanished without a trace, and Mae had assumed the worst. But here she was, standing in front of her, alive but shaken.

"Layla?" Mae whispered, her voice thick with disbelief. "What... what happened to you?"

Layla glanced over her shoulder, her expression tense, as if she was expecting someone to be watching them. "Mae, we don't have much time. He's watching. He's always watching."

Mae's blood ran cold. "Who? Who is it?"

Layla stepped closer, her eyes darting around the alley as she spoke in a hushed tone. "The man behind all of this. The one who's been pulling the strings. He's dangerous, Mae. He's more dangerous than you know."

Mae felt a chill run down her spine. "I know that, but who is he? Why is he doing this?"

Layla shook her head, her face twisted with fear. "I don't know everything, but I've seen enough. He's been controlling everything from the start. Frank... Frank tried to stop him, but he didn't get far. And now Frank's gone."

Mae swallowed hard. "What about you? Where have you been? I thought..."

"I was hiding," Layla said quickly, her voice trembling. "I had to disappear. I thought it would keep me safe, but... I was wrong. He found me. He always finds you."

Mae's heart pounded in her chest. "We have to do something. We can't keep letting him control us."

Layla's eyes filled with tears. "It's too late, Mae. He's too powerful. There's no way out."

Mae's mind raced. She couldn't accept that. She had come too far, endured too much. She wasn't going to let this man win. Not after everything.

But before Mae could say anything else, Layla grabbed her arm, her grip tight. "Listen to me," she whispered, her voice urgent. "You have to leave. Get out of the city. Disappear. It's the only way."

Mae shook her head, her pulse racing. "I can't just leave. I can't run."

Layla's expression darkened. "If you don't, he'll destroy you."

Before Mae could respond, a loud sound echoed through the alley, the unmistakable click of a gun being cocked. Mae froze, her heart stopping in her chest as she turned to look behind her.

At the entrance to the alley, a man stood, a gun in his hand, aimed directly at Mae.

Mae's breath caught in her throat, her mind racing. The man's face was obscured by the shadows, but she could feel the coldness in his gaze, the intent in his movements.

"Run," Layla whispered urgently, her voice trembling.

Mae didn't need to be told twice. She turned and sprinted down the alley, her heart pounding in her ears as she ran. Layla was right behind her, her footsteps quick and frantic as they fled into the darkness.

They didn't stop running until they were far from the alley, far from the club, far from the man with the gun.

When they finally stopped, Mae doubled over, gasping for breath. Layla leaned against a wall, her face pale and stricken with fear.

"What do we do now?" Mae asked, her voice shaky.

Layla looked at her, her eyes wide with terror. "We survive."

Mae's lungs burned with every breath as she and Layla sprinted through the maze of darkened streets. The city, usually a haven of anonymity, now felt like a suffocating trap. The echoes of their footsteps bounced off the alley walls, making it impossible to tell if anyone was following them or if it was just their pounding hearts playing tricks on them.

"Layla," Mae gasped, trying to catch her breath as they rounded another corner. "Where are we going?"

Layla's face was pale, her eyes wild with fear. "I don't know. Just keep moving!"

Mae could barely think. Her mind was a blur of adrenaline and fear, the image of the gun pointed at her flashing over and over again in her mind. They had come so close, too close. Whoever was after them wasn't playing around anymore. This was a death sentence, and they both knew it.

But they couldn't outrun him forever.

As they reached another intersection, Mae's legs buckled beneath her, exhaustion finally overtaking her body. She stumbled to a stop, her hands braced on her knees as she struggled to catch her breath. Layla skidded to a halt beside her, her chest heaving.

"We have to... stop," Mae panted. "I can't keep running."

Layla glanced around, her eyes darting nervously. "We can't stop, Mae. He'll find us."

Mae straightened up, her body trembling. "We need a plan. We can't just keep running like this."

But before Layla could respond, a screech of tires rang out from behind them. Mae's blood ran cold. She turned just in time to see a sleek black SUV speeding toward them, its headlights cutting through the darkness like a predator's eyes locked on its prey.

"Run!" Layla screamed, grabbing Mae's arm and pulling her forward. They sprinted again, their feet pounding against the pavement as the SUV closed in.

But it was no use. They were too tired, too weak, and the car was gaining on them. Mae could hear the engine roaring behind her, the squeal of tires as it skidded to a halt just feet away. Before she could react, two large men dressed in black jumped out, moving with terrifying precision.

"Mae, go!" Layla shouted, pushing her forward. But Mae couldn't move fast enough.

One of the men lunged toward her, grabbing her arm with a brutal grip. Mae screamed, thrashing against him, but he was too strong. His hands were like iron, pulling her toward the SUV as she struggled in vain.

"Let me go!" she yelled, kicking out as hard as she could, but the man barely flinched.

Layla turned to help, but the other man was already on her, shoving her back against the alley wall with a sickening thud. Layla cried out, her body crumpling to the ground, dazed and bleeding.

"Layla!" Mae screamed, her voice breaking with panic.

The man dragged Mae toward the SUV, her feet scraping against the ground as she fought him with every ounce of strength she had left. But it wasn't enough. She was no match for him. In one swift motion, he shoved her into the backseat of the car and slammed the door shut.

Mae banged against the window, her heart pounding in her chest as the engine roared to life and the SUV sped away from the scene. She glanced back, her eyes wide with terror as Layla's form disappeared into the distance, slumped against the alley wall.

The inside of the car was dark, suffocating, and Mae's mind raced as the reality of her situation sank in. They had caught her. She was trapped. And she had no idea where they were taking her.

The men in the front seat were silent, their faces obscured by the dim light, but Mae could feel the weight of their presence, the cold menace that radiated from them. There was no escape now. No running, no hiding.

The SUV sped through the city streets, and Mae's thoughts spiraled out of control. How had it come to this? How had she gone from being the rising star at Hell's Angels to being hunted, kidnapped, and completely at the mercy of these men?

But she knew, deep down, that this was what it had all been leading to. The control, the threats, the disappearances—this was the endgame.

Her hands trembled in her lap as she tried to steady her breathing, to calm the frantic beat of her heart. She had no idea where they were taking her, but she knew it wasn't good. The man behind it all—the one who had orchestrated everything from the shadows—had finally decided to make his move.

The car slowed as they reached the outskirts of the city, the towering buildings giving way to darker, more isolated streets. Mae's fear grew with every passing moment, her body shaking with a mixture of terror and exhaustion. She didn't want to think about what would happen when they stopped. She didn't want to imagine what he had in store for her.

But she knew it was coming.

The SUV pulled into a long, winding driveway that led to a sprawling estate. The gates opened as they approached, and Mae's heart sank. Whoever this man was, he had power. Money. Influence. There was no escaping him.

As the car rolled to a stop in front of the massive house, one of the men opened the door and yanked Mae out by her arm. She stumbled, her legs weak and unsteady, but the man didn't give her a chance to regain her balance. He dragged her toward the front door, the other man close behind.

The heavy wooden door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit hallway that stretched on into the darkness. Mae's heart pounded in her chest as they led her inside, the oppressive silence of the house pressing down on her like a weight.

Her mind raced with a thousand questions. Was this it? Was this where it would all end? She had fought so hard, tried so desperately to escape, but now it seemed like it had all been for nothing.

The men led her deeper into the house, down a long, narrow hallway that seemed to stretch on forever. The air was thick with tension, and Mae's stomach churned with dread. She wanted to scream, to fight, but she knew it would be useless. There was no way out.

Finally, they reached the end of the hallway, and the men stopped in front of a large, ornate door. One of them knocked once, sharply, before opening it.

Mae's breath caught in her throat as she was pushed inside.

The room was dark, but not empty. There was a figure standing by the window, bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight. Mae's heart raced as she strained to make out his features, but the shadows obscured his face.

The door clicked shut behind her, and Mae felt a chill run down her spine. This was it. This was the moment she had been dreading.

The figure turned slowly, stepping out of the shadows and into the pale light. Mae's blood ran cold as she finally saw his face.

And she realized, with a sickening jolt, that she knew him.

The man smiled, but it wasn't a kind smile. It was cold, calculating.

"Hello, Mae," he said, his voice smooth and dangerous.

Mae's heart pounded in her chest, her mind reeling with the realization of who he was.

She had been fighting him all along.