Page 22 of Ashley & the A-Listers

CAMERON

Time was ticking. Literally.

Axel stared across the hotel lobby, the elevator chiming weakly behind him over and over again, broken.

Flipped couches and shattered glass and abandoned luggage and dirt from shattered plant pots littered the previously pristine floors of a high-class hotel, along with several dead bodies.

And on the opposite side of all the chaos, amongst the clearing smoke from gunfire and explosions, Roderick Gaven.

His hand was wrapped around the upper arm of the most perfect man in the world.

Cale Camellia, who winced as Roderick jammed the gun harder against his temple.

“Stop right there!” Roderick’s voice rang out over the discord, and Axel couldn’tthink.

But he could stop. So he did.

“I’ve got your number, Axel! I told you if you didn’t turn yourself over, I’d find you. And if I can’t findyou,I can find what you care about. Orwho,” he growled, shaking Cale, who blinked dazedly, a wound at his head.

“Well, I’m right here!” Axel shouted, fists clenching by his side. “Come and get me!”

Roderick waved the gun. “No, no. I like this better! As long as I havehim,I think you’ll do whatever I say as long as it means he’s safe.”

Axel’s breath came heavier, panic settling beneath his breastbone at the idea of losing Cale.

No.He had to figure something out.

He was out of ammo, his last borrowed gun scattered amongst the debris on the floor. He was too far away to fight, and they’d riddle him with bullets before he could get near them.

“Oh, don’t worry, Axel. I’ll take real good care of him.”

Roderick was inching closer and closer to the exit, the red sign above the door hanging half off, flickering, as if in warning.

One of his cronies, one of the only ones remaining, opened the door, the night outside beckoning.

Axel steeled himself, caught Cale’s bright green eyes with his own, and let him see his resolve.

He would find Cale Camellia.

That was a promise.

“So theydoget separated?” Cam asked. “That’s tragic.”

“I know!” River groaned. “I feel so bad. How is he going to get him back? He’s one man against an entire fucking criminal empire.”

“He’s Axel Stevens. If anyone can do it, he can.”

On the phone, miles away, River sighed. “I hate that you’re right.”

“I always am, babe, that’s why you love me,” Cameron mused.

“Yeah, yeah,” River drawled, affection clear in his voice despite the distance separating them.

Cam hummed wistfully. “It’ll be easy to drop into character, at least, since I’m missing you right now.”

“If you’re saying that just to make me feel better… it’s working,” River admitted.

Cam’s smile was secret, just for the two of them. “Good. You shouldn’t fret so much. Everyone is going to love it.”

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