Offroad POV
Things looked familiar, but it was the house he grew up in, so it would be more strange if things didn't. Offroad tried to jog his memory, but nothing more was coming to him. He knew things were being hidden from him, but it seemed like it was a group effort, so whatever it was had to be bad. Ram lived with them now, he said that after Luke's death, the house burned down, and it was here he met Earth, so he wasn't too sad. The way everyone spoke about Luke made Offroad very aware of the fact that whatever they were all hiding was related to him. Everyone seemed to be walking on eggshells, and he hated and wanted to get away from it, so first thing in the morning, Offroad snuck into his daughter's room and gently woke her up, asking if she wanted to go shopping. She was so excited and even allowed Offroad to help pick out a pretty dress for her to wear. Offroad grabbed the keys to one of the cars and left a note giving details of what he was doing and where he would be. The mall was much bigger than he remembered, but he had fun going from one store to the next. It seemed his shopping habit hadn't changed, as many of the workers recognized him. Offroad was walking out of one store when he bumped into a man rounding the corner.
"Oh, sorry," Offroad spoke, looking up into a familiar face. "Ian,"
"Offroad?" Ian asked, looking around very confused. "Where is Daou?"
"Oh, it's just Ronnie and me today," Offroad said, looking down at his daughter and smiling.
"What? Where is Ram or Earth?" Ian asked, pushing them back into the store.
"We are just shopping, Ian," Offroad said as he bent down and picked up his daughter.
"With no protection, do you know how dangerous that is!?" Ian hissed, pulling out his phone.
"Papa?" Veronica asked, her voice scared.
"What are you talking about?" Offroad scoffed, holding his daughter tighter.
"I heard rumors you have lost your memory, but my god," Ian said, shaking his head as he put his phone to his ear. "I have him," Ian said into the phone. "Both of them," Ian said as he snapped at the workers, pointing to the door. Offroad watched as the one worker ran over, locking them inside.
"What is happening?" Offroad asked, suddenly feeling very nervous.
"West Side Mall, the children's clothing store," Ian said into the phone before hanging up.
"I want daddy," Veronica said before burying her face into Offroad's neck.
"He will be here soon," Ian sighed. "You can't do this Offroad."
"Go shopping?" Offroad laughed nervously.
"Not without bodyguards and especially not with her," Ian said, motioning to his daughter. "It's not safe,"
"Why?" Offroad asked.
"Because you made enemies out of most of the highborne families," Ian explained. "Dice took over Deacon's position and is hell-bent on making you pay, especially that alpha of yours."
"Daou? Why?" Offroad asked, confused.
"He killed Deacon,"
"What?" Offroad asked, and suddenly his head began to throb. "Ah fuck," Offroad said, dropping his bags, clutching Veronica tighter.
"Papa?" She asked, concerned. All Offroad could hear in his head was "he killed deacon," over and over, but something wasn't right.
"Offroad?" Ian's voice called, but it sounded miles away. Offroad felt dizzy as he kneels closing his eyes; it was like it was happening in front of him. Deacon was on top of Daou. They were fighting. Offroad felt terrified. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw it, a gun. He needed to save Daou. He picked it up and didn't even hesitate before pulling the trigger. BAM!
