Chapter 3
BLAIZE
Iwas straddling my bike as I watched the sunset on the horizon before going back to the club for the night.
We had a show to put on tomorrow for our loyal patrons, and my head needed to be in the game.
With Henry and his wife out of the picture, I could now focus on my MC and club.
I pulled my helmet over my dark locks, and the loud rumble of the engine echoed through my ears. It was like a symphony.
My club—Hades—was my lifeline. Blood, sweat, tears, and even a few murders crafted everything I built, even if Hades was a constant reminder of what I lost. This entire town held the memory.
Olivia Matthews, gorgeous, stubborn, and na?ve, was the woman who set my soul ablaze, and together, we built Hades from the ground up.
I always knew I wanted to open a strip club.
The BDSM addition came later, and Oliva loved every aspect of it.
But without her, it felt hollow. Just like my heart, there was a gaping hole missing—the part that gave me life, and the part that gave light to Hades.
Olivia gave me every one of the greatest joys in life including giving me my daughter, and we created our perfect beginning. But then this life took it all from me.
Hunter said I was depressed, that the bland, colorless walls drained the life from me, but she was far from being a psychologist with her fancy tech degree.
She could stick to diagnosing computers and leave me the hell alone.
Her existence would be miserable too if she held her wife as she took her last breath.
She was barely holding on, only waiting for me before taking her last breath. I pulled her into my arms, her weak gasps breaking my heart as I clutched her and Charlee tight. Our little girl was already gone, but Olivia was still fighting.
The asshole finally did it—he broke me. I pulled back, caressing Olivia’s blood covered face. Her skin was soft under my touch, and her eyes fluttered open.
She was dying, and I couldn’t save her.
I promised her she would always be safe, but I failed. I failed them both.
“Don’t turn into him.” Her eyes were filled with pain and agony.
This should be me. I should be the one dying.
I was the monster. She was the beauty in this world.
Her and Charlee should live a full, happy life without me.
Life without them sounded like misery. I couldn’t do this without both of them. They were my reason.
Her breathing quickly became ragged. “I-I lo-love y-you.”
There was a numbing sensation throughout my body when she finally went limp in my arms. I pulled her tighter to me. He would bleed. I would make him pay for everything he’d taken away from me.
I shook away the memory as I walked into the club with my helmet still on.
I swear my girls faltered a little, seeing me walk in dressed in leather as I made a beeline for my office.
They all tried to flirt, but it was pointless.
I could admire their beauty, sure, but I refused to touch them.
One, because I didn’t mix business and pleasure.
Two, the only person I desired was buried along with our daughter.
Jax was at the bar getting everything ready for tonight. He smiled at me, pouring a glass of whiskey while I took my helmet off and set it on the bar top. Jax was a man of many talents, but bartending was his calling. He poured himself a shot, and I cheered with him before taking mine.
“Damn, boss. You got hair on your chest?”
I laughed, flipping the glass upside down. “I got demons in my head,” I corrected him. “I’ll be back shortly for more.”
I left him at the bar and made my way upstairs to my office with my helmet now in hand, dropping it onto the couch as I entered.
I grabbed the whiskey decanter at my door and my favorite engraved cup before walking to my desk.
Maybe drinking early wasn’t a good idea, but it was the only thing that kept me afloat.
I swished the amber liquid in the glass as I brought it to my lips. It was gone in two seconds.
The bottle was halfway gone before I finally put the glass down.
I knew I was walking into an early grave and my liver was obliterated, but I accepted it for what it was.
Maybe one day my body would finally give up, and I’d greet death with open arms, reuniting with my girls in the afterlife.
But even death itself decided to punish me even longer.