32. Axel
THIRTY-TWO
She left Willow Creek for a fucking family emergency? Did mommy dearest finally die? Why would she leave me? She left me once and now she’s leaving me again? My Winnie will never escape me. Never.
“Ian?” Ansley asks, interrupting my thoughts. I hate people who fucking do that!
“Yes?” I school my expression, smiling at her.
“So I’ll be staying here until she gets back.”
“Well of course,” I say as we both continue eating our spaghetti with meatballs. That Annie chick gave me a lot of meat and I’d hate to waste it.
I love listening to Ansley rant even though I’m tuning her out half the time. It’s only beneficial when she’s talking about her bestie, Winver. Like tonight, going on about her going back to Texas for whatever this family emergency is. She left so fast. She was gone before Ansley got home and that calls for suspicion.
I pour us a new bottle of wine that I keep in my basement for special moments like this.
“To us,” I say, raising my glass.
“To forever,” she says, clinking them together. I internally scoff. I wouldn’t call it forever, but I’ll keep on letting her think that for now.
I watch as she sips the wine, eating her dinner. I wait a few more minutes until I hear her saying that sweet bell of victory.
“Ian, I don”t feel that good,” she mumbles.
“What’s wrong? Do you need to go lay down?”
“I think so. I just feel really…dizzy and sleepy.” She massages her head.
“Let me carry you to the bed,” I say, going over to her as I pick her up and cradle her.
By the time I’ve walked her to the bedroom, her eyes have already shut, letting me know she won’t be waking up anytime soon. Did I mention that it’s not just a regular type of wine? Whoops.
Now in the basement, it’s time to start on business. Figuring out why Winnie would leave me so suddenly. I dial up Harley, only ringing once before he’s picking it up.
“Boss.”
“Where is she?” I growl.
“She went to the airport and left for a family emergency, sir.”
“Did you take any pictures?”
“No, sir.”
“Why the fuck not?!” I grow more frustrated.
“We only followed her until she exited the interstate.” I breathe out, trying to remain calm.
“I want as many details as you can find. Give me all the flights that have landed in San Antonio, Texas within the past twenty-four hours. Make it quick. You’ve already pissed me off enough tonight.” I hang up, throwing my phone across the wall.
“FUCK!” I scream out. Looking at the pictures of her on my wall, I start to question the phone call I just had. How did Harley know she left for a family emergency?
He answered my question with no hold back whatsoever. Quickly opening up my laptop, I pull up the hidden camera, rewinding all the footage for anything that stands out. I start to notice the footage restarting with the same night video. Her shadow moves exactly the same as the next night…and the next night…and the next night.
More fuel dumps onto the fire inside me. The rage burning within me seeps out, annihilating everything I’m near. The guys have turned on me and if I didn’t know for a fact that I was going to kill them, I sure as hell am now. If they thought they were just living life in fear, I’m about to make their life a living hell.