“I can get that, Hattie, but in an uncertain situation, you proceed with caution,” he’d returned.

“They’ve given me a panic button and put a tracker on my car and there are cameras—”

“Don’t give a fuck. But the decision has been made. And you need alone time, okay. My boys’ll still be doin’ drive-bys and they won’t go stealthy. This guy is watching you, he’ll know you got protection. They’ll also be keeping an eye on the club. Smithie still make sure all the girls got escorts to their cars at night?”

“Yeah.”

“Pantera keeping you company at night?”

“Yeah.”

“Fine,” he grunted. “But Hattie, next time a decision is made like this, I sit at that table.”

He’d then hung up.

I had a feeling that was partly about his feelings being hurt and I got that. He’d stepped up. And obviously Axl hadn’t called him in on the powwow.

I texted Axl to inform him of this misstep, and he’d texted back it was noted.

Hopefully, the stalker was done with me.

But if he wasn’t, I’d make sure Brett was in on future decisions about my safety.

And I took this as indication that no matter what Axl said, or Brett said, he was no motherfucker.

Dad had been in the same reflective mood that evening. And even though Axl had told me he’d have to work late so I was on my own for dinner, thus I told Dad I could hang with him for a while, he’d said something he’d never said before.

“No, sweetheart. I’m sure you got a lot of other things you’d rather be doing than spending time with your old man.”

He was right.

Still, it felt weird to be let off the hook like that.

Though, it seemed meeting Axl had had an interesting effect on my father.

I just wondered if that would continue to develop, how it would, and if whatever that was, was good, and finally, if that would last.

On the way home from Dad’s, I got a call from Axl whereupon, immediately after exchanging greetings, he asked, “After you work, yours or mine, baby?”

First, I loved, even though I was no longer staying with him, that didn’t mean I didn’t get to sleep beside him.

Second, I wanted him to fuck me in my bed.

“Mine.”

“Right. Text me when you’re on your way home from Smithie’s. I’ll meet there.”

“I’ll give you a key tomorrow.”

“Cool, beautiful.”

A week and a day together, we each had the other’s keys.

I thought that was seriously, freaking rad.

After I got home from work, Axl meeting me at my place then fucking me quick and hard (and the usual fantastic) before we both passed out was even more seriously, freaking rad.