Page 36 of Redemption

“I am too.” Charlee adds as she flips the last pancake onto the plate.

“No way. I’m not letting you go anywhere near this shit after what happened last time.” A vein pulses on the side of Asher’s neck as he clenches his jaw, but he keeps his hold on Lily gentle. It seems my stubbornness is about to cause World War 3.

“If you think I’m going to let her do this without my support then you have another thing coming, Asher Deacon Savage.” Charlee points her finger in his face as her green eyes blaze against her olive skin.

“Oh shit. She just middle named you. You’re in deep shit.” Axel whistles and that does it. I’m not letting him off the hook so easily this time.

“Says the guy whose initials are literally A.S.S., Axel Shawn Savage.”

That wipes the grin from his face, but I manage to hear a deep chuckle off to my side. Apparently, Zane does have a sense of humor after all.

“If it involves me, then I’m coming with you. End of discussion.” My tone brooks no further argument.

“Exactly.” Charlee adds in the same stern tone. “And it’ll be fine. I can have Mrs. Stapleton come watch Lily while we’re gone,” she rushes out in one long breath before Asher can stomp on her parade.

I wait, wondering if Asher’s going to explode, but he must know that there’s no arguing with her when her mind is made up because he just nods. “Fine, but you aren’t out of my sight all night.”

Axel stares at me, not saying a word and that’s almost worse than freaking out like Asher, but it’s his rigid posture that has me on alert.

“What aren’t you telling me?” A tingle of unease races up my spine.

“We’re going to Orphic.”

“Oh.” Bile fills my throat at the thought of going back there. That place doesn’t hold any good memories for me at all. It’s where I met Axel, where I was kidnapped and everything turned to shit. Then I think back to images of my mother, on how much I’m going to miss her and how much of my life she’s going to miss now because of the bastards that took her from me. It’s enough to fuel my anger and push any reluctance away. “I’m still coming with you.”

“Me too,” Charlee adds.

“But—” Asher starts in, but she cuts him off.

“I told you, I forgave you and Zane for taking me that night and I’m still coming with you.” She holds her head up high, making it clear she isn’t budging on this.

“You sure?” Axel’s hand rubs the back of my neck, pulling my attention back to him. The battle brewing behind his eyes tugs on my heartstrings. “I don’t want it to…”

My finger rests against his lips, shushing him. The warmth of his skin is a comfort I feel down to my bones and knowing he’ll be there to have my back this time is all the encouragement I need. “I’ll be fine.”

“Okay.” He tilts his forehead down against mine and sighs. “Promise me if it brings up old memories and you want to get out of there, you’ll tell me.”

“I promise.”

Charlee claps her hands together, ignoring her brooding husband. “Date night.”

I swallow down the lump in my throat and force myself to keep it together. There are many stages of grief. Last night, I had a good cry to let my emotions out, now I’m angry and ready to make the bastards pay that took my mom from me.

---