Page 6 of Dangerous Mission

“His name is Axel Burlington.”

Clicking noises echoed through the phone. She was sure Hex was searching for information on Axel, something she never let herself do. His family graced the cover of magazines. She’d even run into them at charity events. Axel never showed up to any high-profile events, including the ones his family put on. He never graced the family's Christmas card. She wondered if he even talked to his family.

“He no longer goes by Axel Burlington. He changed his last name the day he turned eighteen to Deleon. The man is a decorated SEAL. His military record shows he’s as clean and perfect as they get. You went to the same high school. Is that how you know him?”

“Stop digging.” Her jaw hurt from clenching it.

On his eighteenth birthday, they’d had plans during the day, but he told her his mom needed his help with something in the morning. It seemed that was another secret he’d kept from her. It was seventeen years ago, and she shouldn’t care, but it was hard not to. At the time, her world had revolved around him. The only problem was he didn’t feel the same.

She shook her head and looked back at the scene. “He has a guy here with April. I know he’ll protect her.”

What really worried Terri was who would protect her from Axel. She could outrun a Secret Service agent, but Axel made her brain go to mush. One look at him without his shirt on, and all rational thought went out the door.

Hex hummed. “I think I know why you want me to stop digging. I’m a phone call away if you need anything. Let’s talk tomorrow. I’m going to see what I can trace in regard to April.”

“Thanks.”

The line disconnected.

The paramedics put the stretcher into the back of the ambulance. Before the EMTs closed the door, Axel’s friend climbed into the back.

Terri knew the media would be around for a while, and Axel had his hands full with the cops. She glanced into the backseat and saw one of his sweatshirts. She grabbed it and threw it over her designer blouse. With a flip, the hood covered her long blond hair.

She stepped out of the SUV and threw his keys onto the seat. Her car wasn’t an option because it was still blocked in. Friday nights were the prime time for the creeps to come out. She liked to go to the Drako Night Club and watch. It’s surprising how much illegal shit you can witness if you stay sober at a nightclub and watch the surrounding people.

Axel's head was turned to the side as she stepped out of the SUV. He would be pissed at her, but life's a bitch. She wasn’t ready to talk to him.

The media blocked the sidewalk, making it hard to get by. Terri put her head down and pulled the hood a little tighter as she walked.

No sign of the president's daughter,one reporter stated to the camera, and she let out a breath.

The president declined to comment. We all know Terri wants all the attention. She probably made the call herself,another reporter said to his cameraman.

God, she hated being in the media.

She’d almost made it across the street when a hand grabbed her shoulder.

* * *

Axel wantedto yell at the cop. The older officer wouldn’t stop asking where the president's daughter was. Axel had called Xavier the minute he April mentioned she was worried about the police. He might not fully trust the former-CIA-agent-turned-mercenary, but the man could make things happen.

One of his men happened to be in DC and made it to the scene way too quickly. It was almost like the agent had eyes on him. He wouldn’t be surprised. Commander North had allowed someone from their team to be borrowed before, and the mission went FUBAR. The commander had said he wouldn’t allow one of his men to be put in danger again.

Xavier hadn’t only gotten one of his men to the scene in less than five minutes. He’d also had his tech, Lucas, hack the restaurant and delete the camera feed. He overheard a couple of officers puzzling over how the feed had disappeared as they tried to rewind to the appropriate time. The older cop had accused Axel of deleting the footage. He pointed out he was with the girl the whole time.

“How can someone in the military afford this place?” the cop asked for a second time.

Axel wanted to roll his eyes. He had enough money in his trust fund to buy the restaurant, but the officer wouldn’t know he was extremely rich. His clothes didn’t show it either. His tennis shoes were a year old, and he ran in them almost every day. His jeans, he’d picked up from a clearance rack.

Axel sighed. “I told you I’m on leave from the military. Came to town to visit a friend and wanted a good steak.”

“And that’s your friend you met for dinner getting in the ambulance.”

“Yes, we saw a woman in distress and helped her. The man ran off but not before she was stabbed. He wanted to make sure she’s okay.”

He would need to send the info to Orion. He didn’t want to lie to the cops, but he’d hated the fear in the woman's eyes when the cops pulled up. He’d seen fear like that before in other victims they rescued. Her accent wasn’t American, so he guessed she might be from Russia, which could be another reason she wouldn’t trust the cops.

The officer closed his little notebook and put it in his top pocket. “I have your information. If I find out anything isn’t the truth, I’ll be calling your commanding officer. It still doesn’t make sense why they said the president's daughter was here.” He paused and looked around the parking lot again. “If you remember anything else, call the station and ask for Officer Dickert.”

---