Page 11 of Behind the Mask

I paled. That was not what I expected to hear. I wonder how many women he had used. I turned away from the bar and put some glasses in the small dishwasher to try and get that scenario out of my mind.

He had always been a player, even before we were together, but I guess I didn't realize he would go on a fucking spree when I left.

"Penny for your thoughts?" A deep voice whispered from behind me, and I gasped when I turned around.

"What’re you doing here?" I hissed, secretly hoping he would stay even though I was harsh.

God, he looked good.He was breathtaking, and I knew as well as every other girl, just how sexy he was. His hair was a mess, his V-neck hugged every inch of his toned chest, and his muscles bulged out of the shirt, making me fight the urge to reach out and touch them. He leaned over the bartop with his dog tag hanging down and met my gaze with amusement sparkling in his eyes. The corners of his lips titled, "Are you going to serve me or not?"

Everything about what he just said did things I never thought possible. It sounded sexy, and dirty all at the same time, even though it was just an innocent comment.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. "What would you like, sir?" I flinched when I added the sir part, not realizing how stupid that would sound when it came out of my mouth. That only seemed to egg him on even more.

"Sir? Hmm, I like that." Oh God, he had to stop before he sent me spiraling into a dark hole. "I'll take a jack and coke."

I nodded and went about making his drink. The girls went back to their whispering and I had to fight the urge to lay claim to him.

They raised their voices so he would hear. "Oh my God! Is that him?"

"Yep, that's him in all of his sexy glory."

"Damn, I might have to take him home with me."

The others laughed. "Get in line sister!"

I clenched my jaw and handed him his drink. He noticed my stance and looked over at the other ladies, giving them a wink before turning his gaze back on me.

"Why are you here?" I asked again, wanting him to leave as soon as possible before I lost my ability to breathe.

"We need to talk."

I groaned and went back to my chores. "The last time wetalkeddidn’t end so well. Plus, haven't you moved on? I don't think it would do either of us any good to rehash the past."

I jumped when his glass slammed down on the bartop. Quickly, he gathered his composure. A dark chuckle escaped his lips. "Here I thought you would talk to me willingly after what happened. Don't you think you owe me some goddamn answers?" He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. When his gaze returned to mine, the playfulness was gone. Instead, it was fierce and angry.

I stopped what I was doing and walked over to him. I leaned over the bar and whispered. "Fine. You want the truth? The truth is I haven't stopped thinking about you since the day I left. The truth is I've never stopped loving you. And the truth is, I'm unable to be fixed. I'm broken Axel, and unfortunately, telling you the truth won't change anything. You still have Vanessa. I have to watch you parade her around proving to me how much of a horrible person I am. I know you want answers, but I can't give them to you. It's better off that you get married and leave me and this godforsaken town behind you."

Tears formed in my eyes, and I turned around to leave when he grabbed my wrist. Alarm bells went off in my head when I noticed which wrist he grabbed and how he started rubbing it in circles, surely feeling the raised marks on my skin.

I tried to pull free, but he grabbed me more forcefully, bringing me closer to him. He turned my left wrist over and felt the raised marks. His smoldering gaze met mine, "What the fuck is this, Olivia?"

I pulled my wrist free and ran. I rushed to the office to tell Lindsey that I needed to go home, and her concerned face told me she knew exactly what had happened. She simply nodded and told me to get some rest. I left knowing that Axel had just found out my darkest secret. And knowing this, I knew he would only be more adamant about finding the truth. I was screwed.

Chapter Ten

Axel

I stood there as I watched her vanish from my eyes,again. My hand curled around the glass while the other was in a fist on top of the bar. The music drowned away, the chatter and whispering drifted into the distance, and all I could hear was a ringing in my ears. I knew what those raised marks were. My head was spinning. I raked a hand through my hair. I noticed Lindsey cautiously approaching, and I snapped. "Did you know?"

She flinched. She sighed before she nodded her head. I yanked out my wallet, threw a wad of cash on the bar and walked out.

"Axel! Wait, please just hear me out! You can't go to her like this, you'll break her all over again!" That stopped me.

I turned around and gave her a menacing stare. "What the fuck are you talking about? I didn't do shit to her; she was the one that walked out on me!" My jaw clenched. Lindsey took a few steps towards me and rubbed a hand over her face. "A lot happened, Axel. She was scared of what you'd do. She didn't want you to ruin your life for her. She was trying to protect you, that's why she left."

Trying to protect me from what? The questions were piling up, and I needed answers. "How could she make that decision for me?"

Lindsey's eyes welled up with tears. I turned away from her without another word.

---