Chapter 30
Family Meeting
The whole gang was at the Fearless camp today. No doubt Jake was trying to take charge and keep everybody safe. As more details emerge, it looks like the suicide is really a homicide. Who killed London?
Scarlett
My mind is shook, and my limbs are numb.
We don't know all the details yet, but one thing is for sure, London didn't kill herself.
As we walk into Fearless House, everyone is sitting at the table, and we join them.
"Y'all, I just talked to London the other day.
Her headspace was good. She was dating someone and seemed happy. No way did she kill herself, guys."
Jake puts his arm around Dani and holds her close. Last year, they went through a terrible ordeal. Worry is written all over both of their faces. "I talk to Rodrigo's uncle, he's an undercover cop, and it's now a confirmed homicide."
Jake goes into leader mode. "The most important thing we can do to keep everybody safe is nobody goes off alone. Nobody. Not even the men."
The whole group somberly nods. Axel looks at Toby. "What football games interfere with baseball?"
"I can be at every home game but the LSU one." He replies.
The next football game was an away one. Other than games, Axel will not let me leave his side. He'll probably follow me to Java Jerry's. "I have to work this Saturday, Jared does, too. So, we're covered. What about everyone else?"
We devise plans for each person in the group.
We go over schedules. Everything. When we return to my apartment, Axel stays up to chit-chat with Tobes, and I rush off to shower.
My head still can't comprehend what's happened.
When I finally reach my bed, I exhale sharply and open my laptop.
I haven't written the tenth chapter of my new book yet.
No time like the present to take my mind off the shit show we currently find ourselves in.
Poor London. What they did to her was wrong, and if it takes me the rest of my life, I'll prove it was them.
My door opens, and Axel walks in, so I slam my laptop shut and slide down into my bed. His eyes narrow. "Wallflower, what are you hiding from me?
My body tenses. "Nothing."
"Scarlett, you couldn't convince a blind man you were being honest with that crock of shit." He smirks, quite proud of himself.
I do laugh because he's an idiot. "Axel, some things are just for me to know alone."
He shakes his head. "Scarlett, I will find out."
I groan and pull the covers over my head. He laughs and yanks them down. "It's only me, Scarlett."
"Okay, Axel, I don't only love reading books, but I write and publish them on a website, too."
He looks intrigued. Scarlett, do you write porn?"
I giggle. "Shut up! Yes, there is sex in them, but there's also a good plot."
"Can I read some?" He begs. I hand him my laptop, and he opens it up.
It's no surprise that he already knows my code.
Axel probably knows every password I've ever had, too.
Stalker. "Scarlett Renée Quinn, you write on a kink website.
" His smirk turns into a devilish smile.
"I knew you were a natural-born submissive the day I met you. "
"Are you referring to the stalking after freshman orientation or when you finally started talking to me a few weeks ago?" My smile is sweet and sassy.
Axel rolls his eyes. "Hardy Har Har. The first time my eyes landed on that delectable body."
Now my eyes roll. "You can't tell somebody's a natural born submissive by just watching them."
He shrugs. "Yes, you can. Case in point, you look down whenever you say something to somebody. When you meet someone new, you cast your head down. When you don't want to tell your boyfriend something, you hide your head under the covers. Do I need to keep going?"
"No, not really. You think you're so smart, don't you?"
"Yes, my GPA and my IQ test proves that.” He smirks. As we continue bickering back and forth, he's getting invested in my story. "Scarlett. This is good, baby. Why don't you have a website set up to sell your books? You have over two million followers on here!"
Deflecting, I joke, "You're so hot when you're being nerdy and talking numbers."
He doesn't fall for it. "We'll get you a website set up, babe."
Now I’m getting nervous. "No, nobody will want to buy my books, Axel."
He huffs. "Scarlett, what does it hurt to try?"
"It doesn't, but maybe I'm scared." I lightly punch him on the arm.
He rolls his eyes again and gets back to work. "Stick with me, Wallflower, and I'll teach you some things."
Since Axel set up my website with the link to my storefront, I've sold ten books I can’t believe I’m really doing this. Since coming to Texas, I've thought more and more about becoming a writer instead of a journalist, but then I'd have to admit defeat to my dad, and what's the fun in that?
*
The weekend comes before we know it. This is the first time we've been separated. Axel has called me a million times while he's gone. Looking down at my phone, I roll my eyes. He truly is an obsessive freaking stalker.
“Hello. Scarlett's answering service. How may I help you?”
He grunts. “Hey Wallflower. You already at work?”
Rolling my eyes, I response, “You already know that I am Stalker.”
His tone turns gravely serious. “Scarlett, what are the rules?”
I sigh heavily. Not this again, but like the good girl I am, giving him a play-by-play of our earlier conversation sounds like a win. Maybe my reward will be a spanking.
“1. Never go off alone. 2. Yes, Scarlett, not even to the bathroom. 3. Jared is to sleep in the bed with me. 4. If anything feels off, tell someone.”
I can tell he’s smiling. “You're such a good fucking girl.”
My submissive inner bitch beams with his praise. “What's my reward?”
He growls. “My cock in your mouth.”
Yeah. My panties are super-soaked. “I'm going to suck you dry, Ax.”
He makes a growling noise. “Don't worry, you'll get a reward for that, too. Please stay safe, babe. I'll see you on Sunday.”
“I will. Kick some ass. I'll be watching.”
*
My shift at Java Jerry's goes by quickly. Axel made Jared swear he'd sleepover in my room while he was gone. "You know you don't have to stay," I reassured my best friend.
He rolls his eyes and laughs. "Like hell, I don't. Axel is a scary motherfucker when it comes to you."
He's not wrong. "Well, we haven't had a sleepover in a long time. I'm excited. We can pretend it's not because of my crazy, obsessive boyfriend. What are we doing?"
He smiles. "Lots of booze and binge-watching, Queen Charlotte?"
I squeal! "Yes!! Let's get married."
Jared nods. “Okay.”
“Let’s head out.”
***
Leaving Scarlett for the game against Tennessee with a murder on the loose is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But everybody knows their schedule and who they are supposed to be with at all times. She will be safe. - Axel
Axel
Fear is a fickle creature and also an ice-cold bitch.
It's a humbling thing to realize you'd give your left nut to be able to protect the ones you love at all times.
We didn't tell the girls, but we've got a tail on Brody and Jenson, and every hour, we get alerted to what they are doing.
So far, they haven't done anything suspicious, but when they mess up, and they will, we will be there to throw down the hammer.
My gut tells me they are waiting to see if Scarlett says anything to anybody. I've begged her to keep silent for now, and she's agreed, but she won't forever. She feels a responsibility to tell London's story. We all do. What happened to that girl is inconceivable, and they will pay.
After Jake gives his let's kick ass locker room speech for the forthcoming game, he comes up to me with a look of sympathy. "You going to be okay, Axel?"
"Yeah, maybe. How did you do it, Jake? Scarlett's safe at work, but I'm still on pins and needles because I'm not watching over her right now." My grimace turns sour.
"It's not easy, and I still have nightmares about last year. But you can't let fear rule your life. Just remember Scarlett's safe. They all are. We've set precautions this time. Let's get through this game, kick some ass and get home to our girls." He clamps me down on my shoulders.
He's right. I've never allowed fear to rule my life, and I won't start now. "Let's do it."
It's twenty minutes to the coin toss. Taking out my phone, I check Scarlett's location one more time. She's at work and safe. Maybe I'll finally be able to breathe when I get home tomorrow.
Jaxon sidles up to me. "Axel, with all the anxiety building up inside your body, turn it into aggression and knock out anyone coming at Jake. It'll make you feel better, and your girl will be excited we won."
He's got a point. It would feel good to knock the shit out of some assholes tonight. "You actually have a good idea every now and then jackass."
He chuckles. "I told y'all that you should listen to me more. I know things."
Hector grunts while Dallas rolls his eyes. "My ass sprouts more wisdom than any of you do, boys."
Jaxon gets in the iconic Crane kick position like an extra on Kobra Kai, which sets Dallas off on a karate "no mercy" tangent. Lunatics, every last one of us. Even Jake smirks before he has to reel them in.
We take the field and dominate the entire game. Another enemy had to be taken off the field. He made the mistake of telling me how hot my girlfriend was. I tackled him, then yelled, "Yippee ki yay, you ugly son of a bitch."