18. Axel
CHAPTER 18
AXEL
I lay Eva down, gently pulling the covers over her to keep her warm. The room is quiet except for her steady breathing, the soft rise and fall of her chest lulling me into a dangerous sense of calm. Tilting my head to the side, I can’t help but smile as she nestles deeper into the bed, her face soft and unguarded in sleep.
Reaching out, I brush her cheek with the back of my finger. Her skin is warm beneath my touch, and for a moment, I allow myself to indulge in the thought of staying like this—of being the man who could. “Goodnight, Eva,” I whisper, the words catching in my throat.
I step back, ready to leave, but then… a faint murmur escapes her lips, freezing me in place. My heart thuds in my chest as I strain to catch it again, wondering if it was my imagination.
“ Axel Ashford .”
My name, spoken so softly, yet it feels like a shout in the silence of the room. I hesitate, torn between stepping closer and walking away. My gaze fixed on her, trying to decipher if she’s awake or if I’m just the ghost haunting her dreams. I lean down, careful not to disturb her, my breath barely stirring the air between us. Since the day I met her, I’ve kept my distance. I’ve buried feelings I have no right to feel, locked them behind walls of reason and restraint. But seeing her now, so close and so vulnerable, makes every defence I’ve built feel like it’s crumbling.
Her lashes rest against her cheeks, a stark contrast to the faint blush dusting her skin. The gentle curve of her lips draws my focus, and I find myself wondering what dream would pull my name from her lips. Was it the memory of tonight? Or something deeper, something I’ll never truly deserve? I straighten, the battle raging in my mind. I should leave—leave before she wakes up and regrets everything that happened tonight. But a part of me, the part that’s always hoped for more, keeps me here, lingering in the quiet, savouring this stolen moment.
With a last lingering look, I grab my bag and head toward the balcony. The night air greets me as I climb over the ledge, the faint chill biting at my skin. My phone dings, breaking the stillness, and I pull it out to see a text:
Flynn: Ten minutes away. Mandy’s safe.
I let out a shaky laugh, relief washing over me. If Mandy’s home safe, I won’t have to face Ant tonight. And God knows, his “silent but deadly” demeanour could rival a damn assassin’s.
The climb down the tree is slower than usual, each step carefully placed to avoid snapping branches. As I reach the bottom, the low rumble of an approaching car draws my attention. I dart toward the tree line, hiding just as Flynn’s headlights cut through the driveway.
I watch as he circles the car to open Mandy’s door. Her laughter floats through the crisp night air as she slips her hand into his. My lips twitch into a smile despite myself. Flynn’s a good kid. Better than me, anyway. Their hushed voices are lost to the breeze as they walk toward the porch. I edge further into the shadows, giving them their privacy. But when Flynn steps closer, his hand brushing Mandy’s cheek, I can’t help but mutter under my breath, “Come on, Flynn. Do it already.”
Finally, he kisses her, and I look away, letting them have their moment. Pride and an odd ache settle in my chest, twisting together as my thoughts drift back to Eva. She’s upstairs, alone, completely unaware of the mess I’ve made of myself over her.
A soft click signals the door closing, and I take it as my cue to leave. I follow the trees toward the road, sticking to the shadows until I spot Flynn’s car. It pulls up beside me, and he steps out, motioning impatiently for me to get in.
I climb into the passenger seat, glancing at Flynn’s grin. “I take it that things went well?” Flynn leans back against the headrest, still grinning like a lovestruck idiot. “Axel, man…she’s incredible.”
I smirk, starting the car and steering us down the winding road. “She’s really that great, huh?”
“She’s better than great,” Flynn says, his voice filled with something I can’t quite name. “She’s… she’s something else. I didn’t know someone like her existed.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Listen to you, all smitten—like a kid who just got his first Lego set.”
He laughs, giving me a playful shove. “You’re just jealous.”
The banter fades into comfortable silence, and Flynn glances over, his curiosity returning. “So, how’d it go with Eva?”
I raise an eyebrow, letting a slow smirk spread across my face. “That’s for me to know, brother. But let’s just say… she won’t be forgetting it anytime soon.”
Flynn groans, connecting his phone to the car’s Bluetooth. The opening notes of Miss Me by Mohombi blast through the speakers, and Flynn starts singing along, his tone-deaf voice making me wince.
“Seriously?” I ask, but he just grins, turning it up louder.
It’s going to be a long drive home.
The moment we step into the apartment, Flynn starts stripping off his clothes, leaving a trail of chaos across the living room.
“Wow, who knew we’d be getting a private Magic Mike show tonight?” I tease, leaning against the door frame with a smirk. He pauses mid-step, turning to flash me a cocky grin. “Oh, ha ha, very funny,” he retorts sarcastically, tossing his tie in my direction. “Joke’s on you—I’d make a fantastic Magic Mike.”
I scoff, crossing my arms. “You’ll have to compete with Carter first.” Flynn’s eyes narrow playfully as he steps closer, arms outstretched like he’s challenging me to a duel. “Compete with Carter?” he echoes with exaggerated seriousness. “Please. I’d out-dance him in my sleep.”
“Oh yeah?” I raise an eyebrow. “Care to prove it?”
He snatches the remote off the table and presses a button. The opening beats of Sexy Can I by Ray J fill the room, and before I know it, Flynn is launching into a ridiculous dance routine. Somehow, despite the absurdity, he keeps perfect rhythm with the music, parading around the room like it’s his personal stage. I’m doubled over in laughter when movement catches my eye. Turning, I spot Ant standing in the corner, his mouth slightly open as he takes in the scene. He glances between me and Flynn, his stoic expression slowly melting into a grin.
“Don’t ask,” I say, shaking my head as Flynn continues his over-the-top performance. Ant chuckles quietly, his amusement showing in the slight crinkle of his eyes. I cross the room and shut off the stereo, cutting the music. Flynn groans dramatically, clutching his chest like I’ve mortally wounded him.
“Party pooper,” he mutters, reaching for his phone, probably to find another song. But the moment he looks at the screen, his laughter vanishes, replaced by a cold, serious expression. The shift is instant, the air in the room growing tense. “What is it?” I ask, stepping closer to him.
He doesn’t respond right away, his face pale as he stares at the screen. Peering over his shoulder, I see a photo—a shot of him and Mandy from earlier tonight, their hands intertwined and Mandy laughing at something he said.
Another message comes through before I can fully process the photo:
I hope you had a nice goodbye.
Rage ignites in my chest, and I snatch the phone from Flynn’s hand. “Who the hell sent this?” I demand, my voice sharp. Flynn stumbles backward, sinking onto the sofa. “I… I don’t know,” he murmurs, his voice barely audible.
Ant is beside me in an instant, drawn by the tension. His gaze locks onto the phone, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studies the screen.
I grip his shoulders, grounding him as I meet his gaze. “You know what to do,” I say firmly. Ant nods without hesitation, his jaw tightening in determination. He takes the phone and disappears into his room, no doubt preparing to uncover whoever is behind this.
I turn back to Flynn, crouching down in front of him so we’re at eye level. “Hey,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “We’ve got this. We’ll figure out who sent it.”
He nods faintly but doesn’t look up, his hands covering his face.
I push to my feet, pulling out my phone as I head for the kitchen. Scrolling through my contacts, I find Carter’s name and hit dial. It rings three times before he picks up, his voice slightly breathless. “Hey, Ax, I’m kinda busy right now. Can I call you back later?”
In the background, I hear a faint female voice, and I pinch the bridge of my nose. “We have a situation,” I say curtly. “How fast can you and Gunnar get here?” The line goes silent for a beat before Carter speaks again, his tone serious. “What happened?”
I glance toward Flynn, weighing my words. “Better to explain in person,” I reply. “Trust me, we’re going to need everyone for this.”
Carter exhales, the sound heavy with tension. “Alright. We’re on our way. What should I tell Gunnar?”
“Nothing yet,” I say, my voice low. “But it’s time we bring him up to speed on the family business.”
I hang up, sliding my phone into my pocket as I make my way to Ant’s room. The door is slightly ajar, a strip of light spilling into the hallway. Pushing it open, I find Ant sitting on his bed, his laptop open and headphones on. He glances up as I enter, pulling off his headphones. His expression is calm but focused, his body language rigid as he senses the weight of my presence.
“Hey, Ant,” I start, keeping my voice even.
He raises an eyebrow, his sharp gaze assessing me. He knows something big is coming, and for a moment, I feel the full weight of the role I never wanted pressing down on me. Leader. Protector.
I take a step closer, holding his gaze. “We need to kidnap Mandy.”
Ant freezes, his mouth opening slightly as he stares at me in disbelief. For a moment, there’s silence—then his laptop crashes to the floor as he surges to his feet, charging toward me. “Okay, yeah, that definitely sounded better in my head,” I mutter, bracing myself for whatever is coming next.