61. See You in Hell
SEE YOU IN HELL
Lorelei
My heart hammered against my ribs, each step closer to the police station propelling it like a battering ram. My guard had received a mysterious call from Mr. Vanderhart, and the next thing I knew I was exchanging my pajamas for respectable clothes and getting shuttled over here.
As we marched up the street, I searched the front of the old brick building for a recognizable face, but instead, a throng of paparazzi and reporters filled every corner of the sidewalk and trailed up the first few steps.
“What is going on?” I breathed.
“Just wait here, Miss Battenberg.” Murphy took a protective stance in front of me as we waited a few yards from the gathering crowd in the shade of an old willow tree. “Mr. Vanderhart will be out shortly.”
Had Conrad’s attorney finally gotten Axel out on bail?
I swallowed hard as hissed whispers and rushed murmurs swirled all around us. One of the reporters, a blond female I recognized from the local Copper Cove news channel, swiveled her bright-eyed gaze in our direction. As if she’d hit the jackpot, her eyes widened at the sight of me.
She elbowed the cameraman by her side before abandoning her post at the steps and darting toward me.
Oh, shit.
The woman shoved a mic in my face, despite Murphy’s best efforts at keeping her back. “Miss Battenberg, Kennedy Jackson from Channel 5 News, if I could just have a minute?”
I shook my head, dropping my gaze to the ground.
“Aren’t you Lorelei Battenberg, daughter of Senator Grayson Battenberg?”
Great, Dad was going to love this.
I pressed my lips into a tight line, refusing to rise to the bait.
“She’s not talking,” my guard hissed, but it didn’t derail the eager reporter one bit.
“Is it true that you’re engaged to Axel Vanderhart, the murderer?” She shoved the mic around Murphy’s burly form.
“He’s not a murderer,” I spat, unable to keep my mouth closed. “He’s the kindest, most decent man I know.”
“Well, according to the reports, he killed a young man. Do you know anything about that?”
“It’s not true. None of it is.”
Heavy footfalls jerked my head over my shoulder as a sharp, dark chuckle echoed behind me.
“Now that’s a laugh.” Brock appeared with a suited male at his side, the sight of my repulsive would-be fiancé sending a chill up my spine.
He waved at the reporter, offering an ingratiating smile.
“You’re not mistaken about that miscreant being a murderer, but you do have one fact wrong, young lady. The lovely Lorelei is my future wife.”
Oh, hell, fucking no.
I opened my mouth to bite out a curse, but a flurry of bodies surrounded me before I could utter a sound. Killian, Slate and Gage loomed over the asshole, each one glaring down at the prim and proper oil tycoon.
“Get the fuck out of here, Haversham,” Killian snarled, shoving him back a step. “And next time, before you try to get my best friend tossed into jail, check your damned sources.”
He ticked his chin at a familiar form standing in the shadows, a few yards away from the circle of reporters. Bass.
What was Killian’s step-brother doing here?
Sebastian wore a shit-eating grin as he shot me a wink. I hadn’t seen him once this summer, not since he’d graduated.
What the hell were him and Kill up to?
“Get out of my way, before I have you arrested,” Brock barked at Killian.
With a grin, he stepped back. “See you in hell, asshole.”
Murphy jumped in a second later, placing himself between me, the guys and Brock. “Everyone, cool off. And you, Mr. Haversham, no closer to Miss Battenberg, or you’ll be the one arrested.”
“That restraining order is pure garbage,” he hissed under his breath before motioning toward the man beside him. “My lawyer will have it appealed before it’s even gone through processing.”
The female reporter’s curious gaze bounced between us, observing the whole hushed exchange from a few feet away.
“Now which is it, Miss Battenberg?” she called out. “Are you engaged to Axel Vanderhart or this gentleman?”
Was neither an option?
The front doors of the police station whipped open, drawing everyone’s attention to the top of the stairs. My breath hitched, all the air squeezing from my lungs.
Axel.
Dark circles marred the soft skin beneath his eyes, his button-down shirt crumpled from three nights of sleeping in the same clothes. His hair was tussled, and the typical bright glint to his eyes was missing, but he was still my Axel. And best of all, he was free.
My legs propelled me forward. Before Murphy could stop me, I snaked my way through the gathered crowd, shoving paparazzi out of the way to get to him.
“Miss Battenberg, please!” Murphy shouted, but I couldn’t stop.
“Axel!” I cried out.
From the top of the stairs, his light eyes met mine, and a brilliant smile melted across his lips. “Lore…”
I pushed my way through the remaining mass of bodies and leapt into his arms. His musky, citrusy scent invaded my nostrils as his warmth enveloped me.
“Axel, I can’t believe it.” I pressed a kiss to his lips, and the click-click of cameras erupted all around us.
As much as I hated to, I forced my mouth off his and curled into his side. We’d have to put off this reunion for later, away from curious eyes.
“Damn, blondie, it’s been way too long,” he whispered into my ear.
Hot tears filled my eyes, but I blinked them back before they spilled over. I did not need to be crying in front of all these reporters. “How did they get you out?”
He ticked his head over his shoulder, and huddled between his father and their lawyer stood a young, pretty brunette with lively blue eyes around our age. There was something familiar about the girl, but I couldn’t quite place her.
“Who’s that?” I whispered.
“Susanna Michaels.”
For the second time in a matter of seconds, my breath caught. “Holy shit,” I hissed. “I thought she was dead.”
“So did I.”
Axel’s lawyer moved in front of us, and a dozen reporters swarmed in a tight circle, shoving mics at his face.
“I will not answer questions, but I do have time for a quick statement. We are profoundly relieved and gratified by the information that was brought to light by Miss Susanna Michaels, which unequivocally confirms Mr. Axel Vanderhart’s innocence.
The piece of evidence that had been previously submitted by an anonymous source was a complete fabrication.
Therefore, all charges have been dropped.
We are immensely thankful to the Copper Cove Court for its diligence and thoughtful consideration of the facts presented.
Mr. Vanderhart looks forward to moving past this challenging chapter in his life and continuing his positive contributions to the community. ”
A dozen hands shot up, but Barney, the shark, waved a dismissive one before marching away.
“That’s complete bullshit!” Brock’s voice rang out, his face flushing red. He stormed through the circle of reporters and grabbed one of their mics. “Axel Vanderhart is a killer. I saw the incriminating video myself.” He spun at Susanna, waving wildly. “Tell them, tell them the truth.”
The girl blanched, pressing her lips into a tight line.
Mr. Vanderhart moved in front of Susanna, blocking her with his wide shoulders.
A dark gleam flashed across his eyes as he jabbed his finger into Brock’s chest. “I will ask you just one time not to harass this young woman who was brave enough to come forward with the truth about my son, or I will have the police escort you off the sidewalk and into a nice, cushy cell.”
Brock barked out a laugh. “Just try it, Vanderhart.”
Axel leapt between his father and Brock, darkness carved into his features as he curled his hands around his collar. “He won’t have to because I will. Now get the fuck out of here, Haversham, before you make a real murderer out of me.”
He shoved Brock back, sending him staggering down the stairs.
And good fucking riddance.
“Come on, let’s get out of here.” Axel weaved his arm around my shoulders, tucking me tight into his side. “We have a lot of catching up to do, blondie.”