Axel
P hoebe stared at him like a deer caught in the literal headlights.
“Are you out of your mind?” didn’t bother parking before getting out.
She swayed, surprised. He cringed, afraid she would fall off the roof, but in the dimly lit garage, destruction looked good on her.
“Morning , fancy seeing you here?” Phoebe said, kicking the paint can into the car as though trying to hide evidence.
“Olivier told me I might find you here, but not on top of the jeep with a crowbar in your hand.” He sighed, walking around the jeep to stand under her just in case she fell. “I should’ve tossed you over my shoulder and dragged you back to my house the other day. I’d hoped with some time, you’d come to your senses and accept our help. Instead, you put yourself in more danger by going on a revenge rampage. Still, I’m impressed you managed to get up there.”
“How’d Olivier know I’d be here?” she asked, twisting the crowbar in her hands as she ignored his rant.
“Get off the car, Bee. We’re leaving before you get arrested.”
He wished her vengeful spirit didn’t turn him on so much.
“I’m not going to be arrested. How’d you know I was here?”
“Olivier had someone from our security team posted outside your apartment, and when I got there this morning to check on you, they said you’d left in a taxi. All it took was a call to Olivier to find out what you were up to.”
He stepped closer, and her smile widened.
“Ah ah. Another step and I take off the side mirror,” she threatened. “I’m a big girl, , I can take care of myself. If I wanted you involved in this, I would have called.”
“I can see that.” He backed off a little. “Olivier told me that you’d promised to pass on the information about the intruder to the police.”
“Given their attitudes at the break-in, I don’t think what happened at my studio was high up on their list of priorities, and I wanted to send Mr Sheen a clear message: leave me the hell alone.”
“I suspected you were coming here to confront him, maybe get him fired.”
“I don’t want to get him fired. He destroyed my work, so I thought I’d give his jeep a custom job.” She would have sounded rational if it wasn’t for the yellow paint dripping out of the doors. “We saw how much he loves neon, so I thought yellow would be the best choice.”
“Okay, you’ve had your fun.” He offered her his hand. “Let me help you down, and we can get out of here before we are arrested.”
“I’m not done yet.” Phoebe picked up the crowbar.
Smashing up the car would attract too much attention. It wouldn’t be long before the sound drew security.
“Look at the gearbox—it’s probably not ever going to run again. It’s ruined, let’s go,” he reasoned, but she shook her head.
“Bee, get off the car and let’s go!” smacked his hand on the hood in frustration.
“Careful.” She pointed the crowbar at him. “Those hands are expensive, and I wouldn’t want to be accused of harming another band member.”
“Have you been drinking? This isn’t like you.”
Or maybe all that bottled-up anger was finally coming out.
“Maybe this is the new me. A me who is taking back control.”
He scrubbed his hands over his face and took a deep breath. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to shout, but can you please come down? You can do as much destruction as you want, but you being up there is making me nervous.”
Phoebe’s expression softened, and he thought she was considering it.
“What the hell are you doing to my car?” a man interrupted, appearing behind them.
Given the wide eyes and rigid expression, this was the owner of the vehicle. His thick, rosy skin meant he either drank too much or spent too much time in the sun. winced under Gunther Sheen’s astonished gaze; he didn’t like being gawked at.
“Making a masterpiece, Mr Sheen.” Phoebe bowed, drawing Sheen’s attention. tried not to enjoy her theatrics. “Since you like my artwork enough to break into my studio, I thought I’d gift you a personal commission.”
“You’re a fucking lunatic. I’m calling the police,” Sheen barked, reaching for his phone in his beige corduroy trousers. “, Mr Adler, you should get away from her. She’s deranged.”
Phoebe let out a howl of laughter. wished they’d left when they had the chance.
“You don’t have to call the police, we can settle this,” he said, not wanting this splashed all over the papers tomorrow.
“, butt out, or your car is next,” Phoebe warned.
raised his hands in defeat, but he didn’t move too far from her. She shot him a look that read, Aren’t you a knight in shining armour?
“Please go ahead and call the police,” Phoebe said with a smirk, stepping down from the roof to the bonnet. Her rage kept her steady.
Sheen hesitated with his phone in hand as he realised the position he was in.
“Why the hesitation? Call the police.” Phoebe looked to , telling him she knew he wouldn’t. “I’d love to tell them that I’ve found the person who ruined my studio. Threatened me, stalked me, the list just goes on. Damage to your car? I’ll get a fine, and a slap on the wrist, but the cost of what you did to my studio and the threats—that’s a far more serious charge.”
“You’ve got no proof.” Mr Sheen’s nostrils flared.
“I’ve a wonderful shot of you admiring your destruction as you left the gallery. If the police find out, at best you’ll be forced to pay me back. It’ll cost you far more than replacing or fixing your jeep.” Phoebe jumped down onto the concrete.
stared at her proudly.
“Fucking bitch,” Sheen snarled, squaring up to her. Before could get between them, Phoebe swung the crowbar, planting a shot between Sheen’s legs. An agonising groan escaped him as he fell to his knees. cringed, but figured a good crotch shot might make him think twice about trying to intimidate another woman.
“I’m so sorry, the nerves in my hand are messed up,” Phoebe said. “Sometimes it has a life of its own.”
knew she was lying. He leaned against his own car, letting her have her moment before he dragged her back to his place and didn’t let her out of his sight.
“Sadly—what was it you said, it should have been me who died in the accident? Well, it wasn’t, and to redo the work you destroyed, I’d feel the pain you’re feeling now with every brush stroke.” Phoebe crouched down to get a better look at Sheen’s twisted expression. Seeing her get so close to the man who had hurt her made nervous.
“If I can apologise, then I think you should be able to. Now, we can both consider ourselves even, and we can go our separate ways.” She glanced over her shoulder, and winked at , who couldn’t hide his bemused smile. He didn’t dare intervene. This was her battle, and she wanted to take every inch of satisfaction she could from this piece of garbage.
“Still nothing to say?” Phoebe sighed, staring down at him on the ground. “I’m disappointed, but I can be the bigger person. If you ever come near me, my studio, my family or friends ever again, you can forget about being able to bring any more self-entitled pricks into the world.”
There was a long pause. got the feeling this guy wasn’t used to women getting the best of him. thought he was in love.
“Agreed?” Phoebe said sharply, putting her crowbar in her bag.
Mr Sheen nodded, but made no attempt to stand.
“Great. I wish I could say that it was lovely to meet you, but I’m glad we could come to a fair resolution.”
Phoebe started to walk away, and wished she would get in the car so they could put this all behind them. However, a vicious laugh echoed from Sheen as he got to his knees.
“You’re so clueless,” he sneered. “I was paid to do it, and now I think you deserved it.” Sheen clutched his crotch, glaring fire at her.
Phoebe shot a look at that made his stomach twist.
“What do you mean you were paid? By who?” she asked, while Sheen smiled smugly, like he had won.
“I don’t know and I don’t care. There was an envelope on my desk with five grand in cash and a note with instructions. It was easy money.”
“Do you still have it? The instructions, the envelope?” asked. Phoebe went silent behind him, pacing back and forth.
“No, I’m not an idiot,” he scoffed. begged to differ. “I trashed them. Once it was done, I got another envelope of money.”
“Why did you try to get in to see me in Munich?” Phoebe asked, and ’s ears perked up—this was news to him.
“I was trying to get the scoop, to get information, and none of the band would leave your side. When I got home, the envelope was on my desk. Sorry, but you’re nobody compared to them.” He didn’t get to finish before grabbed him by his shirt and shoved him against his jeep with a yelp.
“Don’t you dare talk to her like that. You’ve just cost yourself a job. I hate singing, but I’ll make sure to sound extra pretty when I make sure no music company, PR firm, or McDonald’s hires you ever again. I hope you enjoy that money, because it’s the last you’ll see for a while. I suggest you go back upstairs and pack up your desk. By the time the elevator dings, you’ll be blacklisted from every company that matters.”
Phoebe rested her hand on ’s back, settling his rage. “Let him go, he isn’t worth it.”
“You ever speak her name, or even think about her, I’ll rip your tongue out,” warned him, his blood hot with rage.
“I’m not the one you should be worried about,” Sheen said. He slid down the jeep when released him.
made sure not to turn his back on him on his way back to his car.
“You might want to crack a window before driving,” Phoebe said to Sheen as she took ’s hand. “I wouldn’t want you to pass out at the wheel from the fumes.”
stared at her, silently thanking her for calming him down before he’d done something he wouldn’t even regret, but would have resulted in him having to call Anita to bail them out of jail.
“Close your mouth, or you’ll catch flies,” she teased.
“Sorry, I was wondering who you were and what you’ve done with Phoebe,” said as she walked to the passenger side of his car without argument.
“Nobody messes with my art, or the people I love. My dad raised me to finish the fight,” she said as they got in the car. “Please take me home,” she asked, sinking into the chair.
“Absolutely. Nick is getting the spare room ready for you.”
There was no way he was letting her go back to her apartment. The break-in at the studio might not have been her last straw, but this was his.
“And why is my brother getting a spare room ready for me?” He felt her staring at him.
“Because you decided it was a good idea to go after a crazed fan who was paid by God knows who to trash your studio. We’ve lost Cillian, and the last thing we want and need right now is to be worried about you. So, you’re going to stay with us until we can figure out who’s behind this.”
“You shouldn’t believe a word he said,” Phoebe said, securing her seatbelt. “I bet he was lying. Just a coward’s way of trying to frighten us, keep us paranoid.”
“Lying or not, you’re coming back to the house with me.”
“Do I have a say in this?” she asked as they left the car park.
“You have a say in whether you want to pack or if I’ll have to do it for you.”
“And if I say no?” she huffed, and he noticed her rubbing her scarred hand in the same spot where he got carpal tunnel after a show. After all the exertion, he guessed it had to hurt. Now that the scar had healed, he made a mental note to give her some of the herbal wraps his acupuncturist gave him when his wrist wanted to give up mid-tour. They were magic.
“Are you listening to me?” Phoebe waved a hand in front of his face, interrupting his thoughts.
“If you don’t come willingly, then I’ve been instructed to take you home.” He shrugged.
“I’ve got my own home where I’ll be perfectly safe.”
“Home is where your family is. Nick and August are your family. What you did today left us with little choice. Please don’t make this harder for me, I’m only following orders, and there is no way you’re going back to your apartment with this new information—your brother would kill me.”
Unable to reach a middle ground, they fell silent. The drive to the house that overlooked the Irish Sea felt like an eternity. dialled in the code at the gate, and they drove through. Much to his relief, Phoebe didn’t try and jump out before it closed. They turned down a short driveway lined with bushes to protect them from paps trying to pry. They reached the garage doors and hit the button on his keys to open it.
“I’m not getting out of the car,” Phoebe said, and he wished she wouldn’t be so stubborn.
“Suit yourself, you can stay here. I must warn you that it gets awfully cold in here at night. There’s a blanket in the trunk if you want to make yourself cosy.” climbed out of the car, not up for an argument. She would come in eventually.
“I don’t need to be here,” she said through the window.
He hesitated on the stairs that connected the garage to the house. “It’s only for a little while.” Before she could argue, he added, “Come inside or I’ll tell Nick about the jeep incident.”
Phoebe’s eyes narrowed. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me,” said, opening the passenger door.
Phoebe groaned, but finally got out of the car. Then she froze. He followed her gaze, and cursed internally. Cillian’s car. She hurried into the house without a word. He pulled at the back of his neck; he had forgotten how many reminders of Cillian were in the house. However, right now her safety trumped her feelings.
When reached the kitchen, August was standing by the sink doing the dishes, looking confused.
“Where’d she go?” asked him.
“Guest house,” August said, pointing to the gardens.
He huffed. Was she going to make him chase her? The thought made him happier than it should have. She was a welcome distraction from the others’ grief and his own, and she was wearing those jeans that hugged in all the right places.
The garden was empty, but the sliding door to the guest house was open. The glass house’s windows tinted as the day wore on, and it had the best view on the property except for Nick’s balcony on the second floor.
shivered at the cool breeze coming off the sea below. He closed the sliding door behind him and walked through the open-plan guest house and down a short corridor to the pool room. The smell of chlorine greeted him, the water reflecting off the mirrored roof. It was one of his favourite places because while you were swimming, you could look out on the sea for miles. He was also too chicken to get into the cold sea during the winter.
“I’m not in the mood to play hide and seek,” said, walking past the two loungers.
He heard Phoebe’s laugh, and then she pushed him into the pool. Water shot up his nose. At the surface he coughed and smacked the water while she stood on the ledge, laughing.
“That’s what you get for following me.” Phoebe smirked as he pulled himself up onto the ledge. He ran his hands over his face, but he was soaked through.
“Get in the house.” He had run out of patience, and her smile quickly faded as he approached her.
She scowled. “You don’t give up, do you?”
“Not in my nature.” He grabbed her hips and pulled her over his shoulder. She groaned and struggled, but he held tight.
“Don’t you dare toss me in the pool,” she snapped, and the fear in her voice amused him. There was no way he would, not with her wrist still healing.
“I can walk.” Her words came out raspy as she wore herself out struggling.
He didn’t respond, afraid he would say something he would regret. When they made it back inside, August was still by the sink. His pierced eyebrow creased as he stared at them. ’s jeans were plastered to his legs, and his T-shirt pulled out of place as she grabbed at him in protest.
“Have a nice swim?” August asked, and glared at him. His feet squelched against the carpet until he made it to the bedrooms on the second floor.
“Put me down, Shrek!” Phoebe barked, and her voice echoed off the high ceilings.
“If you keep struggling, we’ll both go down the stairs.” He smacked her butt, and she pounded those adorable fists on his back.
“Touch my butt again, and you’ll be glad those hands are insured.” Holding her legs with one arm, he opened the spare bedroom door and dropped her on the bed.
“You didn’t seem to mind my hands on you the last time we saw each other.” He smirked, and she muttered something he couldn’t make out.
She looked at the room hesitantly. They had made it up so she wouldn’t have to be near Cillian’s room; it was a blank canvas just for her.
“Nick had our housekeeper make up the bed with purple sheets, and your favourite snacks are by the nightstand in case. There’s even a mini fridge with water and icepacks for your hand.” stepped back. “Nick should be home soon, and you can tell him about your adventure. Then we’ll decide, together, what our next steps will be.”
He was glad for the distance between them. Anytime she got too close, his willpower waned, and he forgot that she was his best friend’s sister and his dead friend’s ex.
“As nice as all this is, I can go back to my place and we can talk about next steps tomorrow.” She tried to get past him, but he wrapped his arms around her and pinned her to his chest.
Staring into those eyes, he loosened his grip. She didn’t move. Her eyes drifted to his lips, and the tension turned to something else. The curves of her body melted into his, and the damp patches on their clothing only increased the heat between their bodies. She diverted her gaze from his, and he lifted her chin, afraid she was plotting something.
“One night. The room is already organised for you. Whatever you need is in the bathroom, even clothes in the wardrobe,” he said, watching the fight leave her. After the morning she’d had, the adrenaline couldn’t last forever.
Her hand grazed his. “I’ll stay if you do.”
Her words stunned him. She swallowed as his touch trailed from her chin to her neck. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” clenched his jaw as her lips parted. He had never wanted to kiss someone more in his life. Just one taste, and he would leave.
“You brought me here, you can’t leave me alone.” She tilted her head towards his, and it took all his will to step away from her. The tiny crease between her brows made him want to regret his decision, but it was for the best.
He moved to the door, leaving her standing in the middle of the room. “I can’t.”
“Why? Afraid you can’t control yourself? Maybe I should go back to my apartment.” Her words were barely a whisper. He didn’t want to leave her, but she was using his desire against him.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but keeping you safe matters most to me. I’ll have to learn to control myself. Get changed out of your damp clothes—and after this morning’s event, you should probably ice that wrist.”
He closed the door and locked it, taking the key. If she really wanted to leave, there was another door through the bathroom that led to the hall.
“Damn you!” She kicked the door as her seduction failed.
He rested his hand on the doorknob, wanting to go back inside, but he wasn’t going to let her use his feelings for her as her reason to leave.