"Aye, you will," she agreed. "So let me remind you that sublime happiness can be had, but not until you take a step in the right direction."
He shook his head in frustration. "You always speak in riddles. What does that mean?"
She laughed, and the sound reminded him of home. "Take that first step and you'll find out. If you do, you'll start a whole new adventure." And she sounded positively giddy. "Now I've got to run. Love you. Your father and the rest of the brood send their love, too. Bye, son."
"Give my love back to them. Bye, Mum."
Since his oddly wise mother often seemed to know precisely what he needed, Kai took her advice. The following week, he stepped off a plane at LAX and headed down to baggage claim to find Axel Axel waiting with a smile too stilted to be real.
Whatever had bothered Axel during his annual visits to New York troubled him even more here. Kai was determined to get to the bottom of it.
They gave each other a brotherly beating on the back. Despite Axel's reserve, Kai still felt the bond they shared, once deeper than best friends. It was good to be standing next to the man somewhere other than a cold graveside. Kai suspected he'd done right in coming here.
Axel looked tanned, healthy, and sophisticated in his smart suit and tie like a walking advert for sex. The smile lines around his eyes only added to the man's allure, if the admiring stares he drew were any indication.
They claimed Kai's luggage, climbed into Axel's Audi, and left, enveloped by the golden California sun. He could get used to that…
"Thanks for coming to get me. I could have rented a car and driven out to you," Kai said as Axel wound his way south through the traffic and headed for Shadows.
"Fuck that. Of course I'm going to pick you up. The rental company will deliver your car tomorrow." Axel zipped around a slow-moving van and powered ahead. "Your room at the club is ready and waiting. Any particular reason you decided to visit now? Don't get me wrong; I'm glad you're here. Just curious."
"I only see you in November, and it's always a quick trip. Your visits the last few years have been even shorter. I've missed your ugly mug. Besides, I'd like some California sun before the New York winter sets in. Good enough?"
Axel nodded. "We've got plenty of sunshine and warmth."
"Excellent. How's the club going?"
"It's always packed. Great members. You'll like them."
"Has any special sub caught your eye?"
After a pause, Axel sent him a tight smile. "You know me, man. I do what I can to help them all."
Kai laughed. "It's a hard life, mate, but someone's gotta live it."
"Damn straight." Axel gave him a fist bump. After a minute of quiet, he turned a sober gaze Kai's way. "You didn't want to talk much about it when I saw you last fall, but was it a particularly nasty divorce? I can't imagine that she-devil taking her claws out of your hide without first scratching every penny out of you."
"She was about as cold and calculating as you suspected. Suffice it to say I'm done with commitment. Once was definitely enough. And I'm assuming there will be plenty of desirable distractions at Shadows?"
"Absolutely. You'll like Monica. Gorgeous, eager to please. Right up your alley. And then there's Eden…"
As they made their way to the club, Kai listened with half an ear, wondering who was responsible for Axel's aloofness. It likely wasn't either of them.
When they arrived, Shadows was tucked discreetly into an industrial part of town, blending in with its neighbors, appearing nondescript.
No one driving by would pay the building any mind. But once through the private entrance, the place was everything Kai had expected and more. Clearly, Axel had spared no expense.
As the man showed Kai around his pride and joy, he was thrilled to see Axel's visions in brick and mortar now fully operational. Thankfully, his friend had put tragedy behind him and found some contentment on the West Coast.
Kai wondered if he might find the same for himself.
"This is bloody brilliant, Axel. It's exactly as you envisioned when we discussed the possibilities over a dram or two in New York years ago."
Axel held a door open for Kai that led from the dungeon. "Some things had to be adjusted slightly for practicality and purpose. But overall, it came together exactly the way I wanted."
"It's a lot bigger than I thought it would be. Certainly bigger than Graffiti."
"The building had good bones to start with, which allowed me to turn many of the original offices into private rooms for the members. That's where we are now." Axel gestured to a stairway as they walked the corridor.
"Security is tucked neatly between here and the dungeon. All the public places and playrooms, except for my suite, are under surveillance. And down here is the kitchen."