10. Axel
CHAPTER 10
AXEL
I watch as Eva slides into the driver’s seat, completely oblivious to the fact that I’m the one who got the car for her. She has no idea how much I’ve done to keep her safe, how much I’m willing to do. The memory of her face lighting up when she first saw it flashes in my mind, pure joy replacing the tension that had gripped her features. It’s a moment I could live in forever.
The rumble of the car’s engine pulls me back to the present, but my gaze shifts to the vehicle parked next to hers. The guy she was talking to earlier, it’s still eating at me. Seeing her upset and in his arms… I clench my fists, fighting the urge to slam my hand against the gas tank. If circumstances were different, I’d have ripped him away from her without a second thought. No one else has any right to touch her. No one but me.
But I can’t act on impulse. Not now. She doesn’t even know I exist, not in the way that matters. For now, I have to stay in the shadows, pulling strings while she moves through life unaware of the danger circling her.
I pull my phone out as her Mustang pulls away, watching the tracker’s flashing dot on the screen follow her every turn. A smirk tugs at my lips as the device does its job flawlessly. She’s heading where I want her to go. Everything is falling into place.
The car next to hers starts up, jolting me from my thoughts. My muscles tense as the man behind the wheel throws it into drive and takes off down the street. My eyes track his every movement, committing the license plate to memory. Ant will know what to do with it later. I let out a slow breath, trying to center myself.
Flipping the visor of my helmet down, I glance at the city’s ahead. The night stretches out in front of me, alive with opportunity and chaos. But tonight isn’t about Boston. It’s about Providence.
We pulled off something brilliant with Rachel.
A fake giveaway for a two-week luxury spa retreat? She fell for it immediately. The moment we told her, she started squealing and jumping around like a kid who just unwrapped the perfect gift. Carter was the only one who let her kiss him in gratitude, though. Always the soft one, that guy.
But even with Rachel out of the way, there’s a heaviness sitting in my chest. The kind that no amount of planning or execution can shake. I need to get to Providence, but the thought of Eva… of what I might face when I finally get close to her again… it churns in my gut like a storm.
I tap the comms button on my helmet, letting music flood into my ears. Heat Waves by Glass Animals kicks in, grounding me in the here and now.
Turning the key, my bike purrs to life, its steady hum vibrating through me. It’s a comfort I’ve come to rely on—one of the few things that can quiet my mind. I pull away from the curb, the city lights blur into streaks of gold and red in front of me while I weave through the streets, letting the rhythm of the engine and the music sync with the beat of my pulse. Approching the freeway, I push harder, the wind whipping against me like a challenge.
A pack of bikers flies past me, their engines roaring in unison. For a second, I hesitate. But then a grin breaks across my face, and I shift gears, the adrenaline surging through my veins like fire.
“Game time,” I mutter, chasing after them.
I catch up easily, sliding into the pack. One of the riders nods at me, a silent acknowledgment, and I nod back. For the moment, we’re brothers of the road, tearing through the night as one. But even as I lose myself in the rush, my thoughts circle back to her. To Eva. To what’s waiting for me in Providence. The road is mine for now, but she’s the destination. She always has been.
The hours blur together as I race through the city streets and freeways, the adrenaline fuelling every sharp turn and burst of speed. The pack of bikers I’d joined earlier has thinned out, some peeling off while others continue the thrill ride. I nod to the last rider, signalling my exit, and their engines roar in response, a deafening farewell.
Taking the next turn, I head back to the safe house. Ant should have something on the guy Eva was talking to by now. The image of him wrapping his arms around her still lingers, clawing at my chest like a splinter I can’t dig out. Whoever he is, I’ll make sure he knows not to touch her again.
I barely have time to think when flashing lights appear in my rear view mirror. Police. The sirens are faint against the music in my helmet, but the red and blue glow grows brighter.
Shit . Not tonight.
Leaning forward, I push the bike to its limit, the speedometer climbing past 140. My focus narrows as I weave between cars, the engine’s growl echoing in my chest when I push the bike to its limit. I quickly glance back trying to see if I lost them, but instead, I turn to see two cruisers on my tail. Great.
The freeway exit looms ahead. At the last second, I veer off, the bike skimming the barrier as the road curves sharply. The city lights fade into shadows, the quieter streets offering a chance to lose them.
For the next ten minutes, every turn feels like a gamble, my pulse pounding in sync with the engine.
Finally, I pull into the safe house garage, the heavy door sliding shut behind me. Killing the engine, I sit for a moment, letting the adrenaline drain away. My hands tremble slightly as I remove my helmet, sucking in a deep breath. Pulling out my phone, I check on Eva. The tracker’s red dot blinks steadily at her new location, and relief washes over me. She’s safe. At least for now.
The sound of running footsteps snaps me back to reality, and the garage door flies open.
“Welcome home!” Carter yells, leaping onto me like a damn linebacker.
“Fucking hell, Carter!” I shout, stumbling back into my bike. I barely manage to catch it before it tips over.
“Sorry, Axel,” he says, grinning unapologetically. “Did you bring food?”
I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity. “No, I didn’t bring food. But we can order something.” By the time I grab a beer from the fridge and turn back around, Carter’s already gone. Typical. He’s probably upstairs, spreading takeout menus across the table like a kid on Christmas morning.
In the living room, my suspicions are confirmed when I spot Carter buried in menus, muttering about what he wants from five different places. Flynn’s passed out on the couch, snoring loud enough to rattle the windows.
My eyes scan the room and I notice Ant isn’t here but my bedroom door is wide open. I peek inside and find him at my computer, headphones on, completely engrossed. Creeping closer, I glance over his shoulder. He’s battling a blue dragon in Runescape . Seriously?
I tap his shoulder and immediately step back, hands raised in surrender. Last time I startled him, I ended up with a broken nose. He whips around, glaring at me as he tosses his headphones aside. “Well, aren’t you a ray of sunshine,” I tease, pulling a chair up next to him.
Ant sighs, his expression screaming annoyed younger brother energy, and turns back to the monitor. With a few clicks, the Government Database pops up on the screen. He pulls up a file, the name Adam Jennerson staring back at me. “Good work,” I say, scanning the details. “Can you check when Adam started working at CRB?” Ant’s fingers fly across the keyboard, and within seconds, the information pops up. “Knew you were my favourite brother for a reason,” I joke, nudging him lightly.
A faint smile flickers across his face before he slips his headphones back on, shutting out the world again. That brief moment of connection, however small, eases some of the weight on my shoulders.
A loud bang from the living room snaps me out of it. Gunnar’s voice booms, followed by Carter shouting something incoherent.
Great, what now?
“Chinese for dinner?” I ask Ant as I stand. He nods without looking up, already lost in his game again.
Back in the living room, I find Gunnar and Carter locked in an arm wrestling match at the table. The wood creaks under the strain, and Gunnar’s gritted teeth tell me he’s not letting up anytime soon.
“Yes!” Gunnar roars, slamming Carter’s hand down.
“Rematch!” Carter yells, his face flushed with determination. Gunnar shakes his head, smirking. “Three wins in a row, Carter. Give it up.” But Carter doesn’t give up. Instead, he launches himself at Gunnar with a war cry, sending them both crashing to the floor.
Shaking my head, I grab the Chinese takeout menu from the table and dial the number. The woman on the other end recognises me immediately.
“Yeah, it’s Axel Ashford,” I say. “The usual, please.” After confirming the order and address, I drop onto the couch next to Flynn, who’s now awake and watching the chaos.
“Twenty bucks says Gunnar wins,” Flynn says, not taking his eyes off the wrestling match.
“You’re on,” I reply, tossing a twenty onto the table. We both laugh as Carter lands a punch to Gunnar’s ribs, only for Gunnar to flip him onto his back with a triumphant shout.
It’s chaos, sure, but it’s our chaos. And for now, it’s enough