Page 7 of Double Take

I twist my head around and study their mirrored appearances. Confident, sexy, and strong. But that’s where their similarities end. Axel’s jaw is jumping while Oliver’s eyes are dancing with merriment.

Clearly, they’re fighting over something, and I’m in the middle of the fray. I bite my bottom lip and sigh. It’s like watching two sexy as fuck alpha men fighting over a girl. I wish I was the woman they were fighting over, but it’s probably one of the females that keep calling.

Chapter Four

The Next Day

Oliver

When I pull into the parking lot, dread overwhelms me. Her car isn’t in her designated space. Yesterday, when she left, she didn’t appear frightened, so I tamped down my fear that there was something sinister requiring her to leave work early. But she’s always at her desk 30 minutes before her shift begins, and today, she’s not.

After putting my extended cab pickup into park, I glance at my watch. She’s 15 minutes late. I shouldn’t know her patterns because I never show up at work early, but she’s turned me into a stalker. Axel might think it’s his turn, but he’s going to have to fight me for her. There’s something about her that draws me in and won’t let go. Granted, she’s beautiful with long blonde hair, blue eyes, and lush curves in all the right places. And if she did anything to show off those attributes, I’d be a puddle of mush.

But I’ve had beautiful women before and didn’t experience the same pull I feel toward Rylee. It’s her vulnerability and the underlying strength that’s dying to come out that entices me. I want to solve her problems and watch her shine. And to hell with what my brother wants. Or my worries about relationships.

The gravel shifts under my combat boots as I step onto the parking lot, bracing against the cold chill of the winter morning. She’s worth the risk. The door swings open, and Axel scans the parking lot. The expression on his face confirms my fears–she’s not called in. “No word?”

“No.” His jaw flexes as he loosens his tie. “Nothing. And this is not like her. Every day, she shows up a little earlier. The first day was five minutes, and now it’s closer to 45 minutes. And nothing.” He glances at his watch. “She’s 20 minutes behind schedule.”

After joining him inside, I slam the door closed, blocking out the cold. The fireplace we added to the lobby seemed a bit extravagant at the time, but now, it not only enhances the ambiance but also adds some much-needed heat to the room. “You didn’t hear from her after she left yesterday?”

“No.” He glares. “Did you say something to her that drove her away?”

“Of course not.” I shove his shoulder, knocking him off balance, and pace the floor. “I’m not going to say anything to run her off. Let’s not freak out. She’s not even late.”

“You’re right.” Axel rolls his shoulders and pops his neck. “I can’t help but worry though. She’s as skittish as a beat dog, and I hate that.” The pulse point at his temple jumps as the worry morphs into anger. “I’d like to beat the shit out of whoever he is because he’s clearly a pussy that, at the very least, emotionally abused her.”

“Unfortunately, I believe you’re right.” A matching fury rushes throughout my body.

My brother and I might fight, but we’re protective of those we care about. Before Sage and her now husband got everything straightened out between them, he was lucky he didn’t lose all his teeth. The mere thought of a man hurting a woman is enough to bring out our feral sides.

Our father might have been a rolling stone that grew no moss as the saying goes, but his sister, our aunt Ida, taught us right and wrong, to stand up for what was right, and to be men worthy of respect. I think we’ve done that. We run a lucrative business, neither of us has spent a night in jail, and each year during our vacation time, we build a home for charity.

The door flies open, and we both spin to find our half-sister, Sage, stepping into the room. She frowns and slams the door shut behind her. “Seriously? You’re that disappointed with seeing me? I thought the dinner I cooked for Thanksgiving was pretty good.”

“Dinner was great, sis.” Axel hauls her to his chest and kisses the top of her head. “We’re happy to see you.” He swings her off her feet.

“Thank you.” Once he sets her back down, she studies us. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.” He shoves his hands into his pockets.

“Whatever.” She whips her head around to face me. “Spill it.”

“Fine,” I groan. She knows I’m the weak link. All she needs to do is bat her eyes, and I’ll confess anything. “We’re worried about our office assistant.”

Sage rests her hip on the edge of Rylee’s still-empty desk. “Why? Is she not working out? I’ve never seen you two unable to get rid of someone who isn’t pulling their weight.” She frowns. “Or does she need better training? I have a few hours available this morning. I can show her the ropes.”

Our sister first met her husband when he hired her as his assistant, and while she’s never worked for us, she understands the workings of an office. But Rylee is catching on fine. In time, she’ll run circles around us. If she comes back.

“It’s not that.” Axel glances at me and swallows before popping his neck again. “We’re pretty sure she’s escaped from an abusive relationship. She’s jumpy and nervous. But at times, you can see a flash of determination that shows her buried strength.”

“Oh….” She clutches her chest. “That’s awful. What has she said about him? Does he know where she is? Is she married or divorced?” She yanks her cell phone out of her purse. “I can call Everleigh for some recommendations. She works with attorneys all the time. Not on domestic situations like this, but she’ll know someone with a good pulse on domestic litigation.”

“Sage, you’re the best.” I squeeze her shoulder. Everleigh is one of Sage’s best friends and has many corporate dealings. “We don’t know much right now, but she was looking at divorce attorneys yesterday when I left Axel’s office.” I shake my head. “She was on Linda Hardee’s website. And when I asked her what she was doing, she said she was saving up money to divorce her husband.”

“Please, tell me you told her she’s not a good option.” Sage’s eyes are huge as she stares at me in horror. In other circumstances, it would be funny.

“You’re just now telling me this?” Axel barks as he rakes his hand through his hair. “You knew she was married and wanting to get a divorce, and didn’t say a word?”

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