Chapter 15
The forest was dense and dark, but Little Red Riding Hood was not afraid.
Gwen
As a middle-aged schoolteacher drives us to a nearby used-car lot, the video of my little girl loops in my head. I should’ve known the FBI would not be able to protect us. Isn’t that why I didn’t approach them in the first place?
My eyes widen as the sales transaction takes place. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a stack of hundred-dollar bills.
Back on the road, in the passenger seat of an old five-cylinder Volvo, I unbuckle my belt and study the line of vehicles behind us. Once I’m confident we’re not being followed, I relax into the leather. Beside me, Wulf glances in the rearview mirror and accelerates to eighty-five miles per hour while passing a string of cars going the speed limit.
The silver-haired Zeus grips the wheel with confidence and control. The stubble on his face and the half-unbuttoned dress shirt rolled to his elbows add to his devil-take-care attitude.
Taking a deep breath, I inhale sandalwood, which reminds me of orgasms and his mouth on my clit.
When he catches me staring at him, he shows me his damn dimple. “What are you thinking?”
Face heated, I discard the image of his talented tongue bringing me to record-breaking highs and lie. “Uh… Do you always carry around that much cash?”
He chuckles. “Only recently. By the way, you did well back there.”
In my experience, Axel seldom doles out praise, which makes it all the more extraordinary.
My insides turn all warm and fuzzy. “All I did was tag along but thank you for saying so.”
“You can show your appreciation by confessing.” The about-face causes my brain to short-circuit, and I struggle for a plausible response.
“I-I knew H-Henry was up to something, and I should’ve told C-Callie.”
While I congratulate myself on telling the truth, Beyoncé huffs in my ear. Giiirrl, you damn well need to start talkin’. You are under a mile-high pile ofshit.
Unaware I have a smartass shoulder angel rooting for him, Wulf glances across the cup holder. “Can you be a little bit more specific?”
“Well… for some time now, Henry has avoided the office. When he does come in, he won’t let me look over his shoulder. Also, coders are supposed to check in their work nightly, and he hasn’t done so for weeks.” I pray my friend will forgive me for ratting him out. My Abigail’s life is at stake. Once she’s safe, I promise myself to make everything right.
“That’s it?” Mouth tight, he stops at a red light and uses the opportunity to glare at me.
Perhaps he’s angry or disappointed, or stressed or… Fuck. Having lost Doctor Jones’ emotional reader, I can’t be sure.
While I curse my disability, Axel senses my frustration and softens his tone. “Tell me about your work.”
Back in my comfort zone, I yak all about the hardware, the software, and the power supplies. “That’s our biggest obstacle. We can store enough energy for one jolt, but it takes hours to recharge. It’s not practical.” This part is a lie, but Callie has insisted we use the story.
Wulf, more astute than most, fires off more questions. “What about the RF rifles? They can shoot continuously for ten minutes.”
“Their jamming signals barely resemble our prototypes. We use multiple frequencies at various levels. Microwaves heat, while others damage the nervous system.”
By the time we pull up to my ex’s rental house, I’m hoarse from talking nonstop. Eager to see my daughter, I jump from the car and almost collapse on my foot, which has fallen asleep.
While I hobble to the front door, Axel points down the sidewalk toward the beach. “There they are.”
My little girl skips along in her bathing suit, her perfect hand holding a pink pail. My ex, walking beside her in his designer swim trunks and shades, wears a bored expression.
It changes to a scowl the moment Abbie races into my arms. “Mommy!”
Squatting on my heels, I hug her and count her chubby fingers. I know it’s stupid, but the video rang too true for me.
A sudden pain in my upper arm makes me flinch. Using a vice-like grip, Farid pulls me to my feet. Tomorrow, I will no doubt have five distinct purple bruises.
Now, face to face, the abusive asshat hisses. “What are you doing here?”
Before I can answer, Axel shoves a badge in Farid’s face. “FBI. Sir, please step away from Doctor McGee.”
“Or what? You’ll shoot me in front of my kid?” His sneer gives me the freakin” willies. What I wouldn’t give to slap it off his face.
“I could arrest you for assault. Take your hands off her.” When Wulf’s blue eyes narrow toward my bruised bicep, Farid chuckles nervously and lets go.
Not wanting Abbie to see me cry, I kneel near her bucket. “Did you find shells, honey?”
“Uh-huh.” Two top teeth missing, she smiles and holds forth blue mussel wings. “They’re not broken.”
“They’re beautiful, sweetie.” It breaks my heart to have missed these precious moments at the beach.
Unaware of my tears, my kid scratches her bikini bottom. “I have sand up my butt crack.”
I have no idea where she learned such a phrase and snicker.
Of course, Farid has no tolerance for jocularity and uses his superior tone to ruin the mood. “What are you waiting for? Clean her up.”
He points to the outside shower, and if not for Abbie, I would’ve kicked him in the balls. “We’re not married anymore. You can’t order me around.”
I don’t want to get into a big fight where Abbie can hear us, but I refuse to fall into old habits.
Farid rolls his eyes. “You are so overly dramatic. You haven’t changed one bit.”
Somehow, it’s essential Axel doesn”t see me as weak. I am not the same woman who married this asshole. I am much different, dammit.
Inner Beyoncé cheers me on. You go, girl. Give him hell.
I get right up in Farid’s face. “You will not gaslight me.”
He laughs and glances over at Axel. “See what I have to put up with?”
Oh no, you did not just say that. While my shoulder angel shoots her middle finger in the air, Abbie tugs on my shirt. “Mommy, let’s go.”
I jab Farid in the chest. This familiar pattern pisses me off, and yet I see no way of calling him out short of causing my daughter more emotional harm.
“Honey, I’ll meet you in the outside shower. Run along, okay?”
After she shuts the door, I lean over, grab the waistband of Farid’s bathing suit, and tug it to his ankles. I’ve seen both men’s penises and believe me, there is no comparison.
Axel smirks and the people on the sidewalk gasp while I hold my head high and strut toward the house. Farid’s tiny pecker is one of his biggest embarrassments, and I exposed him to the whole damn world. Thank you, interweb.
After I turn the spigot and wait for the water to warm, my five-year-old asks, “Why is Daddy using bad words?”
Picturing her father’s horrified face, I giggle. “He probably got sand up his butt, too.”
Once she’s squeaky clean, I wrap her in a towel and help her put on soft cotton clothes in her bedroom. Now that she”s engrossed in her favorite movie, I join the men speaking in the kitchen.
“Is she safe or not? It’s a simple enough question.” Farid’s courtroom tone causes me to roll my eyes.
Wulf, however, appears unaffected. “If you allow our man to remain close by, yes, she is.”
Done scowling at the FBI agent, my ex points an index finger at me. “This is all your doing, Guinevere. If you’d quit your job when I asked, your daughter would be safe.”
As I open my mouth to put him down, Axel stands and takes my hand. “Nice talkin’ with you, Mr. Parisi. We must be on our way and let you return to your vacation. Gwen, say your goodbyes.”
“This is not over, Agent. I will see you in court.” He should know better than to threaten a wolf.
The smile Axel shoots back is more predatory than any I’ve seen. “Have a lovely day.”
He glances down at my ex’s crotch and smirks. “Sir.”
He might as well have added Mr. Tiny Pecker.
Chest tight, I walk back into the living room to kiss my now-sleeping daughter’s forehead. I draw a heart with a red crayon followed by Xs and Os in her open coloring book. Tears in my eyes, I stroll out the door to the Volvo.
Feelings churn inside me, and I try to define them. There’s anger at Farid, pride at how I stood up to him, and guilt for leaving Abbie. The one emotion I hate to own is this overwhelming warmth and admiration for the man sitting next to me. Without raising his voice, he had my six and put my ex in his place.
If this is love, it scares the shit out of me.