12. Axel
CHAPTER 12
AXEL
After spending the evening with my brothers, I wake up restless, the weight of today’s plans pressing on me. The clock blinks 2:48 a.m. as I let out a sigh, running a hand down my face.
Today’s the day we track down Eva.
Ant follows me to the car, tossing his bag into the back seat before climbing in beside me. Another bag dangles from his hand, catching my eye. “What’s that?” I ask, pointing.
He gives me a sly smile, reaching in to pull out two masks. “The masks? We haven’t used those in years,” I say, grabbing one from his hand. The sight of it sparks a flood of memories. We used them during takeovers, jobs assigned by our father where we needed to stay anonymous. A surge of adrenaline courses through me at the thought of using it for Eva.
Images flash in my mind—her on her knees, lips wrapped around me, the mask hiding my identity. She wouldn’t even know who’s behind it. My stomach tightens, heat flaring through my chest.
A nudge to my shoulder snaps me out of it. Ant waits, his hand outstretched for the mask. Reluctantly, I shove it into his palm, my jaw clenching. As much as I want to keep it, my tendency to misplace things makes it a bad idea.
“Food first. South Street Diner?” I ask, needing the distraction. He nods eagerly, rubbing his hands together. At least someone’s excited.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, I connect my phone to the car, letting the music take over. Post Malone’s “I Fall Apart” booms from the speakers, setting the mood as we head to the diner.
Twenty minutes and several skipped songs later—thanks to Ant’s relentless DJing—we’re back on the road with full stomachs, heading toward Providence.
“Alright,” I begin, glancing at him as he pulls out his laptop. “We know where she’s staying. Flynn got us everything from the agency and synced it with the tracker.”
At the mention of the tracker, Ant flips open his laptop and loads up the screen. A map pops up, pinpointing Eva’s exact location.
“We’ve got an apartment about ten minutes away,” I continue. “Not too close to raise suspicion, but close enough to get in and out if needed. Flynn’s joining us in two days, once Gunnar’s settled back at school and the house is set up.”
Ant nods, stuffing his face with pancakes. Mid-bite, he waves his hand, urging me to keep talking. I scoff, reaching for my coffee. “Once Flynn gets here, he’ll distract her friend. That’ll give me the chance to get closer to Eva without interruptions.”
For the next half hour, I walk him through every detail of the plan. Just as I’m getting to the good part, a loud snore cuts me off. I glance over to find him slumped in his seat, head tilted back, mouth wide open.
Unbelievable. He might not talk, but he sure as hell snores loud enough to wake the dead.
I take the opportunity to hijack the playlist. “Hey Siri, play ‘Like That’ by Doja Cat.”
The upbeat rhythm fills the car, and I can’t help but move with it. My shoulders sway left and right, my grip on the wheel loosening as the music takes over.
At a red light, a car pulls up beside me. I glance to the left and spot a guy staring, his expression a mix of confusion and judgment. Perfect. I roll down the window, flash him a grin, and blow him a kiss just as the light turns green. His eyes widen in shock, his jaw dropping. Laughter spills out of me as I hit the gas, leaving him and his bewilderment in the dust.
We arrived at the apartment a little after 5 in the morning. Ant woke up halfway through the drive and spent the rest of the trip making sure everything was set for Flynn to join us in a few days.
“Just remind him, if he breaks my bike, I’ll break him,” I tell Ant.
I never let anyone touch my bike, but I’ll need it while we’re here, so I have no choice but to trust my darling, reckless brother to bring it.
I quickly make my way out of the car and into the apartment. Upon entering I have a look around seeing everything that is there that we requested. Inspecting the 3 bedrooms, I see a king size bed in the middle of the room with a 55 inch television opposite sitting on the wall. We all have the exact same layout with an en suite, which hopefully will stop any arguments once Flynn arrives.
Ant follows into the apartment shortly after and I guide him to his room at the other side of the living room. “Welcome to your domain brother, use it as you wish but keep the noise down yeah?” I say as I give him a wink.
I pray that one day he will find his voice and return with something sarcastic like he used to but no matter what I throw at him, he stays silent.
Feeling defeated I make my way to my room, making sure to grab my bag by the front door. I didn’t even realise Ant brought it in until now, I’ll thank him tomorrow.
I close the door behind me, feeling the weight of the day press down on my shoulders. The dim lighting casts a soft glow around the room, creating an intimate, almost conspiratorial feel. My bag drops onto the chair by the window as I pull out my laptop, but my gaze is immediately drawn to the tracker. I see her location, still at the house. She’s so close.
The thought of Eva, stretched out in that bed, her soft body hidden beneath the sheets, sends a wave of heat through me. I imagine her hair scattered across the pillow, her chest rising and falling with every breath, her lips parted as she dreams of something else entirely. Something I’ll make real.
My cock stirs against the fabric of my joggers, straining, aching for release, but I fight it. No, I need to savour this, to make it last. I slowly slide my hand down, freeing myself from the tight confines of my pants. The tension builds as I imagine her beneath me, soft and ready, her body trembling with need.
I stroke myself slowly, the heat building in waves as I imagine what it’ll feel like to have her writhing beneath me. Her body, soft and pliant, waiting for my every move. I can almost taste her skin, feel her warmth enveloping me. My movements become more deliberate, each stroke a promise of what’s to come.
In my mind, I stand at the edge of her bed, masked, silent, watching her as she wakes. Her eyes flutter open, and she locks onto mine, wide with confusion, with fear… and something else. Something darker, hungrier.
“Who are you?” she whispers, her voice trembling with uncertainty, but I hear the edge of desire beneath it. The way her body reacts to the unknown.
I don’t answer her, stepping closer, my gaze fixed on hers. She moves to retreat, but there’s nowhere to go. The silk of her nightdress clings to her curves, the fabric teasing me, giving just enough of a glimpse to drive me mad.
The image plays in my head like a movie, my breath quickening. “Fuck, Eva,” I gasp, the urge to release nearly overwhelming, but I push it down, not ready to let it end.
Grabbing her ankles, I pull her towards me with a force that leaves her breathless. Her legs hang off the bed, the soft skin of her thighs exposed, and I take my time, savouring the way she reacts to my every touch. I spread her open, forcing her to bare herself to me. She gasps, her body shuddering in anticipation.
“You’re so beautiful,” I murmur, my voice low, a promise of things to come. I brush a finger along her folds, feeling her wetness, the heat of her begging to be touched. I press lightly, teasing her, feeling her body respond before she even knows what she wants.
“Please,” she gasps, her voice breaking with need, and it takes everything in me not to give in right then.
I don’t answer her. I lean in closer, letting the warmth of my breath hover over her skin. Her hips twitch, desperate for more, but I make her wait, letting the tension build between us. I tease her, circling her clit with the tip of my finger, just enough to drive her wild. Her body moves against me, instinctively seeking more, but I hold her still.
She tries to lift her hips, to urge me deeper, but I pull away, just enough to keep her on edge. She moans, the sound so desperate it nearly drives me over the edge myself. I can’t hold back any longer. I slip two fingers inside her, the tightness of her body making me groan with pleasure. I work her slowly, deliberately, every movement calculated to drive her insane with need.
Her body bucks against me, seeking more, but I keep my pace slow, dragging it out, making her wait. I curl my fingers, finding that sweet spot inside her that makes her gasp, makes her cry out in pleasure. Her body shudders, her nails digging into the sheets as she tries to hold on, but it’s too much.
“Please,” she begs again, her voice trembling with desperation. “I need it. I need you.”
I stop, pulling my fingers out just enough to tease her, watching her hips rock forward, her body craving what I haven’t yet given her. I see the way her chest heaves, the way she’s losing control, and it makes me want to keep her there, suspended on the edge. Her eyes lock onto mine, pleading, begging, and that’s when I give her what she wants.
I slide them back inside her, pushing deeper, harder, feeling the way she stretches around me, the way her body quivers as I move inside her. Her walls tighten, and I pick up the pace, each thrust driving her closer to the edge. Her moans grow louder, her hips moving in time with the movement, and I can feel her nearing the edge.
“You’re going to come for me,” I growl, my voice rough with desire. “Beg for it.”
Her breath comes faster, sharper. “Please… I can’t hold on… I need it.”
I stroke her clit again, my thumb pressing firmly, and that’s it. Her body jerks, her back arches off the bed as she screams my name, her orgasm ripping through her. Her body trembles uncontrollably, and I feel her pulse around me, so tight, so perfect.
I release with a low growl, pumping hard with my hand as my own climax crashes over me, filling me with the image of her spent, her body weak and satisfied beneath me.
I lay there for a moment, breathless over the movie I just created in my mind.
This is just the beginning. Eva doesn’t know it yet, but I’ll have her, every part of her, in every way possible.
Twenty minutes later, I’m showered, changed, and lounging in the living room, flicking through channels on the TV. Ant, of course, had already left to get supplies before I’d even finished getting myself together, he’s probably bored by now, knowing him.
I glance at the time. It’s just past 7 AM. Two hours have passed since we arrived, and the wait is starting to eat at me. The gnawing feeling in my gut is the worst part, knowing she’s so close, only a few minutes away, yet still out of reach.
I grab my jacket from the back of the sofa and head toward the table by the door, where I notice the car keys are gone. “Fucker,” I mutter under my breath. Ant never drives. He hates it. And, of course, the one time I need the car, he takes it. Typical brother move.
Pulling out my phone, I check the address again. A 22-minute walk.
With a frustrated sigh, I stuff the phone back into my pocket and step outside. The crisp morning air hits me immediately, a sharp contrast to the warmth I’ve just left behind. I pause at the doorstep, scanning the empty driveway as if Ant might magically reappear with the car in tow. Of course, he doesn’t.
So I start walking. Each step feels heavier than the last as my mind spins with thoughts of Eva. Just 22 minutes, that’s all it would take to get to her.
At the end of the road, a park comes into view, just like the map showed. It leads to the back of their house. I take a detour into the car park and spot two cars and a bike already parked. I pull out my phone again. 7:32 AM.
I look around, and aside from the gentle rustle of leaves, the only noise is the chirping of birds in the trees. The park feels empty, still—silent, almost as if it’s waiting. A fountain trickles softly in the center, surrounded by a few scattered benches. I move toward the one directly facing the house.
I don’t know which window is hers yet, but I’ll figure it out. I’m patient. If I have to sit here all morning just to catch a glimpse of her, I will.
Minutes stretch by, the air cool against my skin, the world around me is quiet. Finally, a figure moves in the window. My pulse quickens as I lean forward on the bench, a mix of hope and uncertainty in my chest.
Then I see it—her blonde hair catching the early morning light.
It’s her.
Even from this distance, with her features too far away to clearly make out, I know it. That silhouette—the one I’ve been chasing in my dreams. She’s right there, just out of reach. Every muscle in my body tenses, aching to rush across the park and close the distance, to claim her as mine. But I don’t move. Not yet.
The rest of the day drags on as I track her movements, silently planning my surprise for later. I keep my focus, and when Ant finally strolls back into the apartment just after lunch, he’s carrying takeout bags like some sort of peace offering.
I don’t mention my plans for tonight—not yet.
Instead, we go over the details for tomorrow.
“Flynn will be here by tomorrow evening,” I say, leaning back in my chair. “He’s sorted everything with the gym to keep things running while we’re away. No one should suspect a thing.”
Ant nods, scribbling down notes—or so I think. When I glance over at his notepad, I catch a glimpse of a sketch.
A flower. I give him a ‘what the fuck’ look. He pauses mid-doodle and turns to meet my gaze, a grin spreading across his face like he’s been caught in the act. I roll my eyes, but decide to let it go.
Reaching for the takeout bags, I open them up, and the rich aroma of Chinese food fills the air, temporarily distracting me from everything else that’s been weighing on me. I glance at Ant, still smiling at me like I’m supposed to be amused by his antics. “You’re forgiven,” I tell him with a small shake of my head, before digging into the food.