"Do you think we should send him home Rose?" My mother asked seriously as she ran her hands down her face the next morning. We were both eating breakfast and Blake was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up this morning, Blake was gone and the space beside me on the bed had turned cold. The only remaining piece of evidence that what happened last night was even real was the intent in my pillow of his head.

When I woke up I reached out for him but when I realised he was gone disappointment so fierce streamed through my blood. The intensity of it shocked me, even causing a droplet to fall from my eye. I cursed his name for making me feel like this and proceeded to slam my face into his pillow and fell back asleep again. When I woke up the second time I stumbled into the kitchen to find my mother making scrambled eggs, this was the first thing she asked when we settled down to eat.

"I see bits of good in him," I admitted, placing my fork down onto the table to answer honestly. She looked at me from the corner of her eye, skeptical.

"He is disobedient, reckless and just came back from Jail, I don't think seeing a few bits of good in him will be enough." She was right, but it still didn't stop the rush of panic her words caused to plummet through my veins, a rush of objection.

"Maybe give him another month," I suggested, staring straight into her eyes so she could see how serious I am about this.

"I don't know, we aren't doing much good for him here." She shook her head disbelievingly.

"He needs help mum, and I think I can help him," I stated sternly, running a hand anxiously through my hair. She searched my features for a long moment before sighing in resignation.

"Okay, if you think you are helping because he is not listening to me. Just be careful Rose, I don't want you getting involved with all the bad things he is involved with," she stressed, placing her hand over mine on the table.

"Do you know me?" I joked, allowing a smile to pull up one side of my lips in relief.

"Good point," she laughed and squeezed my hand before returning to her breakfast.

"Where is he?" I asked, I was strangely anxious to see him, maybe because I know what he is like now. Whenever he allows us to become close, he will push me away after. I was already stealing my heart for the inevitable silent treatment he will give me.

"He is spending the day with his parents," Mum explained around a gulp of tea. I rested my hand onto my chin, that was good. He hasn't seen his mother since he walked out on her. I hope they would make amends.

"He won't be home tonight, will he?" I surmised, it was a Sunday night and he was always out on a Sunday night without fail.

"No." She shook her head knowingly.

"Where does he go?" I questioned eagerly, scooting my chair closer towards the table. She searched my features for a long moment before sighing.

"Maybe you should see for yourself, it might give you an insight into how to help him. Be at this address at around 7.30." Then she wrote down an address on a spare piece of paper. It was in the town over, where Blake's family lives. After hugging mum goodbye as she went to the shops I went to my computer and looked up the address. It was in a dodgy neighbourhood and located near the town square.

What could Blake possibly be doing at a council building? And why does my mother know about it and allow it?

*

Later that day I received a phone call from Lisa telling me she had downloaded everything she could access for the code studio account I gave her, and she had sent it through to my email. I couldn't thank her enough. I downloaded the information onto a USB and planned to give it to Blake when I saw him next. It was only when I was driving to the address my mother gave me that night that I realised that I could use the USB as justification as to why I was driving an hour to see Blake.

I knew this was a severe invasion of his privacy, but what was I to do? He already told me that he was leaving no matter what. When I arrived, the place was just as dodgy as I expected. We were in the middle of the city and the street lamps were scarce, emitting a darkness onto the dirt streets that made a shiver of revulsion run through my veins. There was an abundance of homeless people scattered along the streets, hugging old tattered blankets for warmth.

I parked my car a block away from the address in a paid parking area and tucked my scarf tighter around my neck and my bag closer to my body as I walked to my destination. As I neared the building the streets were becoming darker and the noise of the city had quietened into a silent hum. I realised that my hands were shaking, and my heart was beating out of my chest, I didn't know what I expected to find but I did know one thing. Blake was going to be so pissed with me if he sees me here.

I slowed my pace as I arrived at an old decaying building but was one of the grander buildings in the area. I knew immediately this was the right place as it was bussing with people and the lights inside were brightly lit. Cautiously I neared the window of the building and cupped my hands on the glass and peaked inside. And what I saw in there send my jaw dropping to the ground. It was a food drive for the homeless.

Blake was easily found behind the front counter giving out the food to the homeless who were lining up. There was one other man and woman helping behind the counter. My eyebrows pinched together in confusion, Blake was volunteering to help the homeless.

I staggered a step back but couldn't take my eyes off Blake as he smiled kindly like I had never seen him smile before at each homeless person he gave their food.

So, this was why my mother allowed him to come here every Sunday night without any arguments and now I knew why he didn't want me to know about it. He was probably embarrassed, as he was supposed to be this bad boy with no heart. But now I knew better, just seeing him enjoying helping these people showed me just exactly the kind of person he truly was, someone worth fighting for. I reached my hand up to my heart, which was beating like a jackhammer at this revelation. It knew now just how much I cared for Blake, much more than I cared to admit, I cared for him so much it brought tears to my eyes.

I staggered another step backwards but that was when I heard a crash and a following scream. My eyes snapped towards the origin of the scream to find a dark alleyway to the left of the building. My muscles stiffened, and I squinted towards the commotion where I saw dark figures moving around in the alleyway. My eyes narrowed as suspicion sparked through me, whatever is happening down there can't be good. Another crash resounded from the alleyway and I knew I had to investigate. I strapped my bag over my body and began to creep into the darkness. I kept close to the walls and as I pressed in closer the dark shadows of the figures were illuminated by a lamp above a back door.

Three people were gathered around a motorbike that was chained to the wall. The crash had come from the motorbike which was lying on its side as they were attempting to yank it from its chains but with no luck. My vision drew in on the motorbike and with a jolt I recognised the bike by the red flames. It was the one Blake had stolen from the bikies outside Freddie's pub. The men were probably in their thirties and most of them had beards and were wearing a bikies jacket. A shudder ran down my spine as I realised that they were not friendly people.

A man pulled out a gun and placed it onto the chain, about to shoot through the chains. As the gun emerged from his jacket pocket he steps into the light and his features were pulled out of the opaque. With my stomach dropping in dread I recognised this man, he was the owner of the bike and the one who had shot at Blake and I. I raised a hand to my mouth to prevent my gasp of horror, they had found Blake. I needed to warm him.

But before I had time to even move someone grabbed me around the waist from behind and jammed a hand over my mouth, obstructing my scream. I was yanked backwards and into a strong chest. I struggled against their hold violently as fear pulsed through my bones. I snapped my head back to see the identity of my attacker. The man was wearing a black balaclava, hiding his features causing a gasp to escape my lips. I was just about to knee my attacker in the groin when he spoke.

"Relax, it's just me." He released me to lift up the bottom of his balaclava to reveal the strong jaw line of Blake. My tense muscles relaxed, and I punched him in the arm for scaring me.

"Bloody hell Blake! What is going on?" I exasperated, taking a step back from him and into the brick wall.

"What are you doing here?" He growled, ignoring my question and grabbed me by the shoulders in earnest.

"My mother told me you were here." I crossed my hands over my chest, shaking myself from his hold.

"You need to leave now," he warned, his eyes flashing in urgency.

"Who is that?" The bikie who's bike Blake stole yelled into the shadows towards us. I held my breath and stiffened at being caught. Blake's head snapped towards the man and I watched his face to see fear enter his eyes. "Show yourself," he barked holding his fist out in front of him.

Instantly Blake's features turned frantic and he stared straight into my eyes as he said his next words to convey their seriousness.

"Get out of here, or you will be hurt," Blake cautioned in a whisper, then yanked his balaclava back over his features and slid out of the shadows. He spun around and strutted out to meet the bikies, with a confident swagger. It seemed like Blake knew they were going to be here. Blake should know by now that there was no way I was leaving, especially with him in such a vulnerable position. Just him against three bikies that had once tried to shoot and kill both of us. But I did back away to hide behind the wall in the shadows, so I was hidden from their view.

"It is just me men," Blake acknowledged, walking out into the light of the alleyway holding his hands out in front of him, in a gesture aimed to placate his enemies.

"You give me my bike back, you little shit," the Bikie howled before charging at Blake. My stomach jumped into my throat as he ran at Blake leading with his fist. But Blake was prepared, as the bikie sung at Blake's jaw, Blake caught his wrist in his grip. The bikie growled and tried to yank his arm from Blake's hold but Blake held fast.

"Why do you think I asked you to meet me here, mate?" Blake spoke condescendingly and said the last word with a spit to his tongue. The bikie growled and yanked his arm from Blake's grip, he was must bulkier that Blake. My lower lip quivered as I worried that Blake was going to get himself killed acting like this against three other men twice his size and age, ones that probably had guns. But he seemed to have this under control, he said he asked them to come here.

"I wouldn't touch me if I were you," Blake threatened as he pulled a gun out of his pocket and tapped it against his thigh, cautionary. I gasped and placed my hands over my mouth at this development, that was why he was so confident. But where the hell did Blake get that? He better not sleep with it in my room. The bikie's eyes widened and he did back away a step, but his features were still filled with rage.

"I will give you your bike back but on one condition," Blake offered, eyeing the bikie warily who's face had turned red and looked about ready to explode and kill Blake with his bare hands.

"Tell me who borrowed your bike on the night of February 24th, 2018?" Blake questioned. The bikie's bushy eyebrows pinched together as he glared at Blake like he was mad. My eyes narrowed as I comprehended his question, why would Blake care who used this bike almost a year ago? It didn't make any sense.

"You are a psycho kid. How would I even remember that?" The bikie snapped back. Blake's gaze was determined as he took a menacing step forward.

"Because you had a meeting with someone outside Freddie's and he gave you a load of cash and you gave him your keys and a stack of drugs. The bike was returned the morning after. Who did you give it to?" Blake held up his phone which showed a security footage of that night. How on earth did Blake obtain that? He must have stolen it.

"Fuck you," the bikie spat, his hands were at fists at his side and his jaw was clenched, I could practically hear him grinding his teeth together. I wrapped my hands around my waist as my hands wouldn't stop shaking, every moment felt like Blake was about to be killed.

"Tell me and I don't have to send this footage to the police of you conducting a drug deal," Blake countered, standing to his full height. He really could be threatening if he wanted to be, especially with that balaclava concealing his features.

"Fine, his name is Cameron, he works at the bar at Freddie's." The bikie threw his hands up in the air in frustration, he was like a disgruntled puppet and all Blake had to do was pull his strings to get him to do what he wanted. But to me it felt like at some point he was going to break free and strike back. Blake's eyes looked to the sky for a moment as he comprehends this information.

A gasp left my lips at the name, that was the guy who Blake beat up and then bought drugs off. I am not surprised he was the one who bought drugs off this bikie. But why did Blake need to know why this Cameron guy borrowed this bike? And why was Blake giving the bike back? Especially given he went to so much trouble stealing it in the first place. I rubbed my temples trying to rid the worry lines around my eyes.

"Now delete that video," the bikie growled pointing to Blake's phone, but I also noticed the knot between his forehead. He was worried because he knew he would be sent to jail if the police saw that video. A smirk lifted Blake's lips and he pressed something on his phone and dug something out of his pocket.

"Done, and here are the keys to your bike." Blake threw the keys at the bikie who barely managed to catch them and dug them into his leather jacket pocket.

"A pleasure doing business with you men," Blake sassed before bowing to them and strutting away.

"A pleasure my ass," I heard the bikie yell at Blake's retreating back. He looked to his friends who nodded back to him, they had been relatively quiet most of the confrontation until now. My muscles tensed as I saw all three of them run at Blake with murder in their eyes. I knew I couldn't hide in the shadows any longer, Blake wouldn't be able to take on three bulky bikie guys who most likely had guns as well. Realising that I should hide my features as well I slid my scarf over the bottom of my face and darted out from my hiding spot.

"Blake look out," I yelled frantically at Blake as I sprinted towards him. His eyebrows knitted together, and his eyes widened, filling with panic that I showed myself to these guys. But I ignored it, pointing wildly to the guys that were about to bash his brain in.

He listened to me then and spun around just as the bikie he was arguing with earlier swung back his fist to punch him in the jaw. I reached him just in time and was able to raise my forearm in a block, so the punch hit my arm instead of Blake's jaw.

The bikies eyebrows rose in surprise at my appearance but suddenly morphed into a sly smirk. The other two guys halted their movements as well.

"Well aren't you a pretty thing," the main bikie grinned. My upper lip curled up in disgust. Blake was darting his eyes between me and the bikie in panic, trying to think of ways to get us out of this situation I assume.

"Yeah well you won't be thinking that when I kick you in the nose," I snapped back. And then I kicked him in the nose. I swirled around on my heels and performing a karate kick allowing my foot to swing right into his nose. A resounding crack sounded, and blood started dripping from his nose.

"You stupid bitch." He wiped the blood from his nose and I was sure he wasn't thinking about how pretty I was now. But then his friends grabbed me by my arms, I tried to use my self-defense techniques but to no avail. The main bikie raised his arm and sung his fists into my stomach. I closed my eyes preparing for the blow, but it didn't come. When I opened my eyes, I saw that Blake was in front of me, clutching his stomach.

He had jumped in front of me taking the punch. Using this as a distracting I was able to whack my elbow back into the face of one of the guys holding me, he released his tight hold on me as he gasped in pain. Free from his clutches I ducked out of the grip of the other guy and kicked him in the stomach, he crumpled to the floor.

I stumbled a few steps back pulling Blake with me. Once he had recovered from his punch he stepped right in front of me protectively and pulled me behind him.

"Stay behind me," he ordered, keeping one of his arms around my stomach behind him.

"Men is there really a need for this?" Blake spoke pulling out his gun again and pointing it straight at the bikies. The bikies were still eyeing Blake off with hatred and didn't react to the gun, that was a bad sign. I clutched onto Blake's arm, pulling him closer to me. I didn't want him out of my grip for a second, this was more dangerous than either of us had initially thought.

Blake was definitely inexperienced with a gun because in a flash the bikie had snapped Blake's elbow down and grabbed the gun from his vulnerable grip.

The remaining bikies grabbed Blake by the arms and yanked him back out of my grip. My hands desperate to keep him in my arms stayed locked around his upper arm until I couldn't reach for him any longer.

"Blake," I gasped out his name and his eyes stayed locked with mine as he was pulled away from me. A shock ran through my system when I saw the haunted look in his eyes.

That was when the remaining bikie with Blake's gun stalked over towards me and locked his arm around my neck. Then he placed the gun to my temple.

***

Hello all my wonderful readers!!

I hope you are all having a lovely festive season!

I am so sorry for not uploading for so long! I have other writing projects on at the moment, mainly my editing When A Murderer Hates You so this story has been on the back burner. I do really love this story and I will finish it but they will be slow updates! Hopefully I can smash a few chapters out now I have two weeks off!!

Thank you all again for reading and commenting, it is all so encouraging and helps me write when I have a difficult chapter. Please let me know what you think about the story so far through comments and votes :)

Much love, Elaine Xx