Mae sat at the edge of her bed, staring at the ceiling of her dimly lit apartment. The weight of the past few days pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. Her mind raced with everything Frank had told her, the cryptic messages she had been receiving, and the constant feeling of being watched. She was trapped in a game she didn't understand, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find a way out.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and she instinctively reached for it, half expecting another warning. But when she saw the screen light up with a familiar name, her breath caught in her throat. It was Charlie.

She hesitated, her thumb hovering over the screen. He had been checking on her more frequently, always offering his help, always wanting to make sure she was safe. And yet, something about him had changed. She couldn't place it, but it was there—an undercurrent of something darker, something she couldn't fully trust.

With a sigh, she answered the call.

"Mae," Charlie's voice came through the phone, calm as ever. "Are you alright? I haven't seen you since the other night."

Mae swallowed, trying to keep her voice steady. "I'm fine. Just... trying to figure things out."

There was a pause on the other end, and Mae could almost picture him, standing there with that concerned look in his eyes, the same look that used to comfort her. But now, it only made her feel uneasy.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Charlie asked, his voice low, almost too soft.

"I don't know," Mae admitted, her fingers gripping the edge of the bed. "I don't even know who I can trust anymore."

There was another long pause, and when Charlie spoke again, his tone had shifted, becoming more serious. "Mae, you need to be careful. Whoever's behind this... they're dangerous. You shouldn't be trying to handle this on your own."

"I'm not," she replied quickly. "I have Frank."

Charlie's voice hardened slightly, though he tried to hide it. "Frank can only do so much. He's not... equipped to deal with people like this."

Mae's chest tightened. There it was again, that subtle shift in his demeanor. It was as if he knew more than he was letting on, as if he was trying to steer her away from something—or someone.

"I don't know what else to do, Charlie," she said quietly, her voice laced with exhaustion. "Everything feels like it's closing in on me. And these people... they're not going to stop until they get what they want."

Charlie was silent for a moment, and then his voice softened again. "You're not alone, Mae. I'm here, and I'll do whatever I can to protect you. But you need to be careful. Don't push too hard. Sometimes it's better to let things unfold rather than force them."

Mae's stomach twisted at his words, the feeling of being watched creeping back in. "I'll be careful," she whispered, though she wasn't sure if she believed it.

After a few more minutes of small talk, she hung up the phone, her thoughts even more muddled than before. She trusted Charlie—or at least she used to. But now, every conversation left her with more questions than answers.

Her phone buzzed again, this time with a message from Frank.

"We need to meet. I found something."

Mae's heart skipped a beat. She quickly typed back a response.

"Where?"

"The alley behind the club. Midnight."

Mae set the phone down, her mind racing. Frank had been digging deeper into the people behind Hell's Angels, but every time they met, he seemed more anxious, more desperate. He was onto something—something big—but he hadn't told her everything yet.

She stood up and grabbed her jacket, glancing at the clock. It was almost midnight. The unease that had been simmering beneath the surface for days now surged to the forefront. Every instinct told her this was dangerous, that going to meet Frank could put her in even more danger.

But she couldn't back down. Not now.

The streets were quiet as Mae made her way to the alley behind Hell's Angels. The neon lights of the club flickered in the distance, casting long shadows across the pavement. She kept her head down, her footsteps quick and silent, the weight of the city pressing in on her from all sides.

When she reached the alley, Frank was already there, pacing nervously in the shadows. His face was pale, and his eyes darted around as if he expected someone to jump out at any moment.

"Frank," Mae whispered as she approached him, her heart pounding in her chest. "What did you find?"

Frank looked at her, his expression grim. "Mae, we're in way over our heads. The people behind this... they're not just some shady investors. They're part of something much bigger, something dangerous. And they've been watching you—closely."

Mae's blood ran cold. "What do you mean?"

Frank glanced over his shoulder, as if to make sure they were alone. "They've got people everywhere, Mae. And they're not just watching you from a distance. They know everything—where you go, who you talk to, what you're trying to figure out."

Mae's stomach churned. She had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed sent a chill down her spine. "Who are they?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Frank hesitated, his eyes filled with fear. "I don't know who exactly. But I found something—something that connects all of this. It's not just about the club. It's about control. They want to own you, Mae. And if you don't fall in line..."

He trailed off, his expression growing darker. Mae didn't need him to finish the sentence to know what he meant. These people weren't playing games. If she didn't do what they wanted, they would make her disappear, just like they had done to others before her.

Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed through the alley. Mae and Frank both froze, their eyes darting toward the source of the noise. Out of the shadows, a figure emerged—a tall man dressed in dark clothing, his face obscured by the dim light.

Mae's heart raced as the man stepped closer, his presence menacing. Frank took a step back, his hand instinctively reaching for Mae's arm.

"We need to go," Frank whispered urgently. "Now."

But before they could move, the man spoke, his voice low and dangerous. "Going somewhere?"

Mae's blood ran cold. She didn't recognize the man, but the way he looked at her—like she was nothing more than a pawn in a game—made her stomach twist with fear.

"You've been asking too many questions," the man said, his gaze locked on Mae. "It's time to put an end to that."

Mae's heart pounded in her chest, panic surging through her veins. She tried to step back, but the man's presence was overwhelming, suffocating. She could feel the danger radiating off of him, and for the first time in her life, she realized just how out of control this situation had become.

Frank moved in front of her, trying to shield her from the man's advance, but it was no use. The man took another step forward, his expression cold and calculating.

"You're in too deep," he said, his voice chilling. "It's time for you to learn your place."