57. You’re My Forever
YOU’RE MY FOREVER
AXEL
As soon as Gage sent me a text to proceed, I scaled the brick wall and jumped to the ground on the other side. He’d hacked into the mansion’s security system and looped the footage so I wouldn’t be caught sneaking in.
Tonight, I was rescuing Lorelei from that evil son of a bitch, and we were getting out of Copper Cove.
My heart raced as I slinked through the pristine yard, the clear sky allowing the moonlight to light my path so I didn’t call attention to myself with a flashlight. I headed toward the east wing of the sprawling Victorian where Brock had practically locked her up like a captured princess.
Brock came looking for Lorelei at the country club before we could get away. It had killed me, but I had to let her go. Then the asshole took her to a mansion near the ocean and wouldn’t let her leave.
That had been two days ago.
Two fucking days.
The oil tycoon was an idiot if he thought I’d given up on blondie.
After I’d poured my heart out to Lorelei and learned she felt the same, there was no way in hell I could give her up.
She only ended things to protect me from Brock, but I could handle that prick on my own. His threats were nothing compared to what I’d do to him if he hurt her.
Blood already stained my hands. What was a little more, especially when it belonged to a psychopath like Haversham?
I found the second-floor balcony off Lorelei’s room, grabbed a pebble from the flower bed, and tossed it at the glass French doors. She appeared after a few moments, the soft light from the room framing her like a halo.
She looked like a fucking angel.
My angel.
“But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Lorelei is the sun.”
She snorted on a laugh. “Wow. A football player spouting Shakespeare.”
Lorelei was my Juliet, but our story wouldn’t be a tragedy. I’d make damn sure of it. “I played Romeo at camp in the seventh grade.”
“Who was Juliet?”
I flashed her my most charming smile. “I can’t remember anyone before you, blondie.”
The breeze ruffled her golden hair as she leaned against the wrought iron railing, the humor fading from her expression. “Are you sure about this, Ax? Brock threatened to—”
I lifted my hand to cut her off. “I can deal with him later. I’m not leaving here without you.”
Lorelei chewed on her bottom lip and then gave a sharp nod. “I’ll get my bag.”
My father was the one who suggested getting out of town for a few days.
He wasn’t a stranger to assholes like Brock, and he must have sensed something in Lorelei after speaking to her at the country club.
While we escaped to Bali for a little vacation, I’d devise a plan to deal with Haversham once and for all.
“Here.” Lorelei emerged from the room and tossed a leather Louis Vuitton bag over the balcony.
I caught it, thankful she hadn’t packed ten suitcases. She climbed over the railing and swallowed hard, scrutinizing the distance to the ground.
“Um, how do I get down?”
“Jump. I’ll catch you. I promise.”
She shot me a worried look but released the railing and fell right into my arms with a squeak.
“You caught me.” Her words came out in a breathy whisper.
“I’ll always catch you.” I kissed her quickly and then set her on her feet. “Now let’s get the hell out of here.”
Adrenaline pumped through my veins as we hurried across the manicured lawn. At the brick wall, I hoisted Lorelei up to the top where she waited for me to land on the other side. This time, she jumped into my arms without hesitation.
We giggled like lovesick kids all the way to my Jeep parked under a sycamore tree around the corner.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this.” Her warm hand tightened around mine. “My father’s going to be so pissed, but I don’t give a damn.”
A broad smile spread across my lips. “You don’t have to worry about your father or anyone else anymore.”
Her warm brown eyes softened as we stopped at the car. “I love you, Ax.”
I pulled her into me and rested my forehead on hers, inhaling her sweet, addictive scent. “I love you so damn much it hurts.”
“How fucking sweet.”
We pulled apart as Brock stepped out of the shadows on the other side of my Jeep, a snarl twisting his mouth.
Fire infiltrated my bloodstream and wrapped my muscles. I wanted to slam my fist into his face until his skull caved in.
“Did you really think it would be that easy, Vanderhart?” Brock jerked his chin toward Lorelei, the pale moonlight glinting in his blond hair. “Did you really think you could take my property?”
“I’m no one’s property,” Lorelei hissed, suddenly shaking beside me. “You don’t own me.”
His laughter made my skin crawl. “I do own you, Lorelei. Your father sold you like a whore, and now, I get to do whatever I please with you.” His cold eyes raked over her as he slowly licked his lips. “I can’t wait to punish you for this. You’ll be screaming all night.”
Crimson bled around the edges of my vision. I’d had enough of his bullshit. This was the last time he threatened the woman I loved.
I released Lorelei’s hand and stepped toward Brock. “You and I are going to settle this now, Haversham. And it’s going to end with your broken body sprawled across the pavement.”
Brock reached behind his back and pulled out a gun, aiming it at us. “Not another step, Axel, or I’ll blow a hole through your head.”
I screeched to a halt, backed up, and pushed Lorelei behind me so her small frame was completely blocked. My pulse skyrocketed as I stared down the barrel of the silver Colt 1911. I hadn’t expected Haversham to actually pull a weapon on us.
“Don’t be stupid, Brock. I’m not someone you can just kill without starting a shitstorm.” Between my family and the Serpents & Daggers, he’d be knee-deep in shit until someone tossed him in his own grave.
He gave a bitter laugh, the elegant cut of his suit clashing sharply with the gun in his hand. “I can pay people to cover my tracks.”
“Brock, don’t do this.” Lorelei’s fingers gripped my shirt. “Just let me go.”
He motioned the gun to the left. “Get back in the fucking house, Lorelei, and maybe I’ll let Loverboy live to see another day.”
I studied Brock and the gun, focusing on it as the tree branches above us swayed to allow in a few more slivers of light. “You’re really ready to shoot me with that thing?”
“You bet your ass I am.” His nostrils flared as he peered behind me. “Get in the house. I won’t tell you again, Lorelei. You’re only making this worse for yourself.”
“Don’t move, Lore. This prick is so full of it.”
Brock scoffed. “I have a gun pointed at your head. I will shoot you.”
“Your lie would be more convincing if you had the fucking safety off.” I sprinted forward and snatched the gun right out of his grasp. “Like this.”
He shuffled back, the blood fading from his cheeks. “You won’t kill me.”
“No?” Removing the safety, I racked the gun and leveled it right at his heart. “You’re the type to hire someone to kill your enemies while I have no problem getting my hands dirty.”
“How could I forget, Axel? You are a killer, aren’t you?” Shadows darkened Brock’s gaze as he focused his attention on Lorelei. “You’ll find out your knight in shining armor is just as dark as me, princess.”
She gripped my arm, ignoring Brock’s words. “Put the gun down, Ax. Let’s just get out of here.”
Her touch instantly soothed the fury crashing through me, and I lowered the weapon.
“You come after Lorelei again, and I won’t hesitate to put a bullet in your heart.
” I ejected the magazine, hurled the gun like a football into the nearby patch of forest, and threw the ammo in the opposite direction.
“You’re going to regret this, Lorelei!” he called out as we got into the Jeep. “Axel’s life will be ruined because of you.”
As we relaxed in the comfy, white leather seats on my family’s jet, drinking champagne and waiting for takeoff, Lorelei grabbed my wrist.
“Axel, maybe we shouldn’t do this.”
My brows lowered. “Whatever Brock has threatened to do, I can handle it.”
“He showed me a video.”
Ice slowly crept down my spine. “Of what?”
Lorelei released my arm and nervously twisted a lock of blond hair as she stared out the window overlooking the runway. “Of the night Peter Dupont died.”
It was barely a whisper, but I heard it loud and clear. Vaughn must have given Brock that video.
A string of curses blasted through my mind. I never should have returned that flash drive to the archives.
“I don’t care what happened,” Lorelei added. “I know it was an accident. I’m only worried he’ll go to the cops.”
Vaughn would be in deep shit if Brock went to the cops. The brotherhood would know he’d gotten the video from a member, and it wouldn’t take long for them to uncover the connection between Brock and our current Domnus.
Vaughn would have warned him against that.
Haversham was only bluffing.
“He won’t go to the cops, Lore. He only wants to scare you.” I downed the rest of my champagne and set it down, averting my gaze to the sleek white and silver interior of the jet. “But I am a killer. Can you really live with that, knowing what I did?”
Her small hand rested on my cheek as she turned my face toward hers.
“It was an accident. There’s nothing you can say that would make me believe otherwise.
” Her thumb traced the line of my jaw. “No one is perfect, Ax. We all have secrets and darkness. We’re all ashamed of things.
But you’re a good person. I know you never meant to hurt that boy.
You can’t keep beating yourself up over what happened. ”
A lump rose in my throat as I studied her, the girl who stole my heart and showed me what real love was. “Are you sure, Lore? Just say the word, and you can back out of this whole thing. I’ll still protect you from Brock.”
The thought of losing her now gutted me, but I’d understand if she couldn’t handle my past. I could barely handle it.
Lorelei pressed her lips to mine as the plane began rolling down the runway. “I love every part of you, Ax. The good, the bad, and everything in between. Nothing will ever make me turn away from you. Nothing.”
How the fuck did I get so lucky to accidentally fall in love with her?
“I never want to let you go, Lore.” I nibbled on her bottom lip and sucked it into my mouth, earning a faint moan. “You’re my forever.”
The plane suddenly jerked to a stop, throwing us back into our seats.
“What the hell is happening?” Lorelei peered toward the door of the cockpit as we waited for the captain or one of the staff to emerge. Bright blue and red lights flashed across her face reflecting through the window.
My eyebrows dipped. “Maybe something’s wrong with the plane? Or another one is coming in for an unexpected landing.”
But when I leaned over her and peered out the window, ice infiltrated my bloodstream.
Several cop cars sped down the runway to surround the plane.
“Oh, God, Axel.” The color drained from her cheeks as she pressed her fingertips to her mouth. “Do you think Brock—”
“Stay here. I’ll handle this.” I gently kissed her temple before unbuckling my seatbelt and standing. “Everything’s fine, baby.”
Lie of the fucking century.
I had the sinking feeling that nothing was fine, and it might never be again.
My pulse hammered as I marched to the door, opened it, and waited for the stairs to extend. As soon as I took one step out, a dozen officers dressed in black, donning Copper Cove Police Department badges, rushed forward with their guns drawn.
“Get on the ground!” One of them yelled. “Get on the ground now! Hands behind your head.”
Numbness crept through my limbs as I descended the stairs, my ears ringing as they kept shouting like I wasn’t doing exactly as they demanded. Flashes of that night rushed back, and my stomach tightened. Memories of being arrested and sitting in a cell infiltrated my mind.
Brock didn’t give that video to the cops. He couldn’t be that fucking stupid.
Once I hit my knees and clasped my hands behind my head, two cops rushed forward and yanked my arms down to cuff me.
“Axel Vanderhart, you’re under arrest for the murder of Peter Dupont.”