The room felt like it was closing in on her. The air was thick with tension, and Charlie's presence loomed over her like a dark cloud. His words echoed in her mind, wrapping around her like invisible chains.

"You don't want to end up like her."

Mae's heart pounded as she stood frozen, her breath catching in her throat. She had known for a while now that something was wrong—something much darker than she had originally thought—but hearing it confirmed like this shook her to her core. Charlie wasn't just hiding things from her; he was threatening her, controlling her.

Her instinct screamed for her to run, to get out of this room, but where could she go? The text messages, the men watching her, the unknown threat lurking in every shadow—it all pointed back to this place, to Hell's Angels. And now, it all pointed back to Charlie.

Mae swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his gaze. He was close now, too close. She could feel the heat of his body, the quiet intensity in his eyes as he stared down at her, waiting for her to respond. The room seemed to hum with the unspoken power he held over her, and it made her skin crawl.

"What do you want from me?" Mae whispered, her voice trembling.

Charlie's expression softened slightly, but the darkness never left his eyes. "I want you to stop fighting, Mae. Stop asking questions. You'll be safe if you stay in line."

Mae's stomach churned. Safe? How could she ever feel safe when she was being suffocated by invisible forces, controlled by people she didn't even know? And Charlie, the man she had once trusted, was at the center of it all.

She took a small step back, trying to put some distance between them, but Charlie moved closer, his hand brushing against her arm. The touch sent a jolt of fear through her, and Mae had to fight the urge to pull away.

"You don't need to be afraid," Charlie said softly, his voice almost soothing. "I'm here to protect you."

Mae's heart raced. She didn't know if she believed him anymore. Every word out of his mouth felt like a lie, like a trap meant to keep her in place, to stop her from running. She couldn't trust him. Not after everything that had happened.

She couldn't trust anyone.

"I don't know what to do," Mae whispered, her voice barely audible.

Charlie's hand tightened on her arm, his grip firm but not painful. "You don't need to do anything, Mae. Just keep performing. Stay at the club. I'll take care of the rest."

Mae's stomach twisted in knots. The club, the performances—they were all part of the control. She was nothing more than a pawn in whatever game Charlie and the people behind Hell's Angels were playing. And now, she was starting to understand just how dangerous that game was.

Her mind raced with possibilities. She needed to find a way out, to escape this suffocating trap before it was too late. But every time she thought about running, about disappearing, she remembered the text messages, the men who had been watching her, waiting for her to make a wrong move.

They would never let her go.

Charlie's grip loosened, and he stepped back, giving her space. "Think about it, Mae. You're important here. You have a place, a purpose. Don't throw that away."

Mae nodded numbly, though her mind was screaming at her to run, to fight back. But she didn't have a plan, didn't know where to start. Every step she took seemed to push her deeper into this tangled web, and the more she struggled, the tighter the noose became.

"I'll give you time," Charlie said, his voice low and steady. "But don't take too long. The people watching—they're not as patient as I am."

Mae's breath caught in her throat. The unspoken threat hung in the air between them, and she felt the weight of it pressing down on her chest.

Charlie turned and walked toward the door, his movements slow and deliberate. Just before he stepped out, he looked back at her, his dark eyes gleaming with something she couldn't quite place.

"Don't make the wrong choice, Mae."

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Mae alone in the dimly lit room. Her body sagged with relief, but the tension in her chest never fully left. She was trapped—more than ever before—and now, she knew that there was no one she could trust.

Not even Charlie.

She sank onto the edge of the couch, her mind spinning with fear and confusion. She couldn't stay here, couldn't keep playing along with whatever twisted game Charlie and the others had orchestrated. But the message was clear: if she tried to leave, she wouldn't make it far.

Her phone buzzed again, and Mae flinched. She didn't want to look at it, didn't want to see what new threat awaited her. But she forced herself to pick it up, her hands trembling as she unlocked the screen.

The message was short, but it chilled her to the bone.

"You'll regret it if you run."

Mae's breath hitched. They were watching. They knew everything. She had no escape.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them back. She couldn't afford to break down now. She needed to stay focused, to find a way out of this nightmare.

But as she sat there, her phone still buzzing with new messages, Mae realized something terrifying:

There was no way out.

Mae stared at the phone screen, her heart racing as the words seared into her mind: "You'll regret it if you run."

She felt the weight of the threat pressing down on her, squeezing her lungs until it was hard to breathe. The reality of her situation settled over her like a dark cloud—she was truly trapped, caught between the lies and the web of control that seemed to tighten around her more each day.

Her hands shook as she set the phone down on the vanity, her mind racing with possibilities. She could feel herself spiraling, the fear clawing at the edges of her sanity, but she couldn't let it win. She had to think, had to stay clear-headed. If she didn't, she knew they would win.

She leaned forward, burying her face in her hands, her thoughts a jumbled mess. What was her next move? She couldn't keep going on like this, performing every night, waiting for the next threat to come, waiting for the next person to vanish. She had to figure something out, and fast.

A soft knock on the door jolted her out of her thoughts.

Mae's head snapped up, her body tensing. The knock was too light, too quiet to be Charlie. She quickly wiped her face and stood, heart pounding as she approached the door. She hesitated, her hand hovering over the knob. Who could it be?

"Mae? It's me."

It was one of the other dancers, a girl named Bella who had been at the club even longer than Mae, before they sold it. Her voice sounded soft, but there was an edge of urgency in it. Mae exhaled and unlocked the door, opening it just a crack to see Bella standing there, her expression tight with worry.

"What is it?" Mae asked, stepping aside to let her in.

Bella slipped inside quickly, her eyes darting around the room as if to make sure they were alone. She closed the door behind her and turned to Mae, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Mae, you have to be careful. There are things going on here—things you don't want to get mixed up in."

Mae's stomach dropped. The fear in Bella's voice only confirmed what she had suspected for weeks—there was something bigger happening at Hell's Angels, something dangerous.

"I know," Mae whispered, her voice shaking. "But I don't know what to do."

Bella looked at her, her eyes wide with concern. "I don't know either, but I've been hearing things. Layla wasn't the first, and she won't be the last. People who ask too many questions... they disappear."

Mae's heart raced, her chest tightening. "Do you think they're going to come for me?"

Bella hesitated, then nodded slowly. "They're watching you, Mae. I've heard them talking. They know you've been digging. You have to stop."

Mae's pulse pounded in her ears. Stop digging? How could she? She was already in too deep, already tangled up in whatever dark game was being played. And now, with the messages and threats becoming more frequent, it was clear that whoever was behind it all wasn't going to let her go that easily.

"What about Charlie?" Mae asked, her voice trembling. "Do you think he knows?"

Bella's face paled at the mention of his name. She shook her head slowly, biting her lip. "I don't know, but... something's off with him, Mae. He's not who he seems."

Mae swallowed hard, her heart sinking. She had been afraid of that. Charlie had always been a mystery to her, but lately, his behavior had been erratic, and the way he had spoken to her tonight had sent chills down her spine.

"What should I do?" Mae asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Bella looked at her for a long moment, then shook her head again. "I don't know. But whatever you do, don't trust anyone. Not here. Not now."

Mae nodded, her mind racing with fear and uncertainty. She had suspected it before, but hearing it from Bella made it feel all too real. She was alone in this—truly alone.

Bella glanced at the door, her face tight with worry. "I have to go before anyone sees me. Just... be careful, Mae. Please."

And with that, Bella slipped out of the room, leaving Mae standing there, her heart pounding in her chest. She stared at the door for a long moment, her mind spinning with thoughts of betrayal, fear, and desperation.

Don't trust anyone.

The words echoed in her mind like a warning bell, and Mae knew that her time was running out. The walls were closing in, and if she didn't figure out a way to escape soon, she knew that she would be the next to disappear.

Mae sank onto the vanity stool, her hands trembling as she picked up her phone once more. The message was still there, glaring up at her like a taunt.

"You'll regret it if you run."

But now, she wasn't sure if she had a choice.

She had to find a way out—before it was too late.