Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
jenna
Axel left about twenty minutes ago. I am exhausted, but every time I try to close my eyes, I see that man staring back at me.
Lifeless. Dead. Gosh, I really am not cut out for any of this.
I roll over and decide to scroll through social media.
Nothing quiets my racing mind quite like aimlessly doom scrolling.
Right as I’m about to put down my phone, a picture of Marley’s face covers my screen. I answer as quickly as I can. She had texted me that she was on a plane back to California when we first arrived here, but I hadn’t yet been able to get ahold of her.
“Marley!”
“Jenna? Oh, thank God!” Her voice sounds relieved. “I leave you for one day, and all hell breaks loose?”
I let out a dry laugh. “Yeah, try not to leave anymore, okay? I don’t think I can handle this without you.”
Once the words are out of my mouth, I hear Marley take a deep breath.
“I’m really sorry, Jenna.”
“For what?” I ask, confused.
“For taking you to that party. For introducing you to the club. You wouldn’t be in this mess if it wasn’t for me,” her voice cracks.
“Oh, Mar, stop it. You had no idea this was going to happen, did you?”
“No, of course I didn’t,” she says quickly.
“Then knock it off. I’ll be okay, I just need some time to process everything.” I look around. The moonlight is the only thing illuminating the dark room. It should feel strange to be in Axel’s space, but I almost feel more comfortable here than I do in my own.
“Anyway, are you coming here to the clubhouse?” I ask, hoping that she is going to be stuck here with me. I can’t be the only woman stuck here.
“Yep.” I can practically hear her eye roll from here. “I forced Max to let me stop by the apartment first to pack a bag. Want me to pack one for you too?”
“Yes, please!” I almost shout. Not that I don’t enjoy wearing Axel’s shirt.
Actually, I probably enjoy it a little too much.
I pull the collar up to smell his scent like a weirdo.
The thick fabric of his shirt rubs over my sensitive nipples, and a shock of excitement courses through my body.
I shake my head, focusing back on the conversation.
“Will do. Where are you, anyway? Did they put you in a guest room?” she asks, genuinely curious, which tells me Blaze hasn’t said anything to her yet.
“Oh, well actually… I’m in Axel’s room.” The words are barely out of my mouth before Marley’s screams pierce my ears.
“What?! You are in Axel’s room? Oh my gosh, tell me everything.
And when I say everything, Jenna, I mean everything!
” She pauses only long enough for me to hear Blaze in the background telling her to chill out.
At this point, I’m full-on laughing. Marley definitely knows how to get me out of my own head.
“Have you guys had sex?” she whispers into the phone.
I feel my cheeks heat at the thought of what we’ve been doing. “I’ll tell you everything when you get here, Mar, I promise. Just hurry up! I need my best friend.”
“Oh, that was totally a yes!” she exclaims.
I ignore her. “Please don’t forget my phone charger. Oh, and my favorite leggings and—” she cuts me off before I can continue.
“Yeah, yeah, I got it, Jenna,” she says in a mocking tone.
“Thank you,” I say as sweetly as possible. I am so grateful that Marley could talk Blaze into getting our things. I was going to be miserable, stuck here without any of my toiletries and my own clothes for however long Axel plans on keeping me here.
“Yep… Jen, I know I’ve already said it, but I’m glad you’re okay! I’ll see you soon.”
“Sounds good, Mar. I’m going to try to sleep, so if I don’t see you tonight, I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”
“Of course. Sleep well! Bye!” she hangs up before I can respond.
I roll over until my face is pressed into the soft pillow.
This bed could rival the fanciest of hotels.
I take a deep inhale of Axel’s heavenly spicy scent.
I really need to stop doing this—it’s not healthy.
I turn onto my side so I’m staring at the large window across the room.
Closing my eyes, I try to count backward from 100.
That always puts people to sleep, right?
I recite my vows back to the minister. Axel’s bright smile warms me as I place the ring on his finger. Looking back to the minister, he begins the same process again. This time, Axel is reciting his vows.
A large gust of wind comes from behind me as Axel’s handsome face starts to fall. “Jenna, what’s wrong?” he asks in a panicked voice. Reaching toward me, he goes to hold my elbow.
“Nothing, I’m fine. Keep going!” I squeak. Woah, that’s weird. What’s wrong with my voice?
“Babe? Jenna!” He is now holding me in place.
I feel shaky and start to shiver from the strong wind. Looking down, I see blood—dark, red, thick blood coating the ground around us.
I look back to Axel, worried he’s hurt, but before I can ask him anything, I feel liquid dripping down my chin. I move my hand up to touch the foreign substance and pull it back to find more blood.
What’s happening to me?
Panic floods my body as I try to move, but I can’t.
I barely register Axel yelling in the background, asking for help. But when I look out to the crowd, no one is moving. No one is even batting an eye at us. Smiles cover the faces of our loved ones as they watch the tortured scene in front of them.
My knees buckle beneath me, leaving me with no choice but to sink into the ground. I close my eyes, fighting against the pain surging through my body. When I open them, I am cold, in pain, and alone in the sea of red blood that has pooled around me.
I shoot up out of bed, my chest heaving as I try to catch my breath. Gosh, these nightmares are becoming so vivid. Pulling the covers off my body, I move to sit on the side of the bed. Spending a few moments focusing on my breathing, I start to relax.
I don’t remember falling asleep, but I rub my eyes and look around the dark room. Axel still hasn’t returned.
I look at my phone: 3 a.m. He’s been gone for hours, and I’m starving. In my periphery I notice something new, two pale pink suitcases now sit next to the door.
Yes! Marley dropped off my things.
I rush over and pull them back into the room. One suitcase is on the smaller side and is extremely light, and the other is a moderately sized case with some weight to it. I’m a bit confused as to what might be in the small suitcase, so I open that one first.
Unzipping the side, I start to see small scraps of lace burst out from the seams. Quickly, I realize Marley has shoved my entire lingerie drawer in this suitcase.
I gawk at the ridiculous amount of lace, leather, beads—you name it, it’s there. I catch sight of a lime green post-it note on top of the pile. It reads:
Jenna,
You’re welcome, go get ’em, tiger!
P.S. Who knew one woman could
own this much underwear?!
I can’t help but chuckle. This is my best friend, the woman who finds out I’m staying with a man, so she decides to pack me an entire lingerie store.
I smack my palm against my forehead. Let’s hope there is actual clothes in the next suitcase.
I mean I love lingerie, obviously, I have so much of it I can barely contain it, but I haven’t exactly had anyone to wear this for.
I get a little giddy thinking of Axel walking in to me dresses in one of the outfits.
I run my hand over a royal blue sheer teddy. It’s so gorgeous, and the stitching is to die for. I sigh, close the suitcase, and shove it under the bed.
Maybe I’ll get some pieces out. I wonder if Axel likes lingerie? Who am I kidding—what man doesn’t?
I rummage through the other suitcase and find a cute green bralette and matching underwear set. I slip them on and then look for other clothes. Pulling on a pair of leggings and zipping up a cream-colored hoodie, I’m almost ready to hunt for food.
I slip on a pair of white tennis shoes and run my fingers through my still damp hair. Perfect.
Grabbing my cell phone on the way out the door, I check to see if Axel has checked in. Nope. I continue to head out the door but stop when I remember that Axel always locks the room.
Not having a key, I choose to leave it unlocked. I shrug. I’ll only be gone for a short amount of time.