Page 50 of Axton

“No.” She sniffled.

“It couldn’t get dark enough. If Jeremy came, he could see me. I couldn’t go into the closet because the door wouldn’t open, there wasn’t a knob.”

I kissed her head again and chuckled. “It slides open, they call it a barn door. You slide it with the handle instead of pulling on a doorknob.”

“I think my papa is gone and it just hit me. I’ll never see him again.”

I hugged her tighter. “He’s at peace now, Belle. Cherish the good memories, it’s all you can do now. He knew you loved him and now he knows the truth about the world and just wants you to be happy.” Unlike my own father.

“I know I’m safe now. I always feel safe with you.” She was holding on to me for dear life.

“Let’s wake Koty and pack a few of your things. It’s up to Koty what he wants to do, but you’re coming home with me.” I kissed her head again and she relaxed so much that I had to hold on to her a little tighter.

“Are you sure?” She cried.

“Yeah, I couldn’t relax either, my gut told me you needed me, so that’s why I came. I can’t imagine not being close to you too soon after everything that has happened. Pack enough for tomorrow and I’ll have the prospects fetch the rest of it in the morning.” Thank God I followed my gut. She needed me and I wasn’t there for her, just like with Natalie.

“Thank you.” She sniffled then kissed right above my ear and I turned my head just in time for her lips to brush my cheek. I placed a kiss on the corner of her mouth then rested my forehead against hers as I held her.

“It might take time, but soon you’ll feel safe here and even walk around freely and enjoy your freedom. Even if Jeremy is right outside the gates, he will not reach you. You are free, Belle.”

I had my eyes shut but I knew her chest was rising and falling with each heavy breath. The attraction with her was unreal, and I don’t think I ever felt the magnitude of our attraction with anyone else. Not even Natalie. She had no idea how hard I was fighting not to kiss her. It was like a spark of life being held just out of the reach of the desperate and dying man. I squeezed my eyes shut, dammit I could feel myself growing weak. “We better be going. I’ll wake Koty while you pack your things.

“Okay.”

It took me a few moments to rip myself away from her, but when I did, her nightgown caught my attention. Holy shit…nipples against satin. I swallowed hard before I left the room.

“Wake up, sunshine.” I turned the lights on in Koty’s bedroom and he jumped out of bed with wild eyes and a knife in his hand. “Chill out, Vin Diesel, it's just me.”

His body relaxed. “Is something wrong?”

“Nope, just taking your sister to stay with me. She’s been in her room scared to death and crying all night. It’s up to you if you come with us or stay here.”

“You’re just taking her? I’m her brother, and I’ll make the decisions.” He snapped at me.

“I thought you escaped with her, so she had a better life and freedom to make her own decisions? Your sister wants this, Koty.”

He sighed. “You’re right, but that doesn’t mean it’s appropriate.”

I didn’t have the time or patience. “Are you coming or not?”

He groaned. “I don’t think I have a choice. What kind of brother with an innocent little sister just lets her run off and live with a man in sin?”

I patted his shoulder. “Amen brother. I happen to have one of those myself. My sister plans to save herself for marriage, so you're damn right I’ll hold her to it. I keep a pretty close eye on Kayla.” I felt like an asshole. I was about to devour his sisters’ lips before I walked into his bedroom. “By the way, you have an appointment at the clinic in the morning, but the Originals would like to have a few words with you. We’ve been doing some research, and we think we might need you to confirm a few things, and we may need to pick your brain with a few questions we have.”

“Sure, anything I can do to help, I’ll do. I’ve done some thinking, and I can’t protect my brothers any longer. John Henry betrayed my father and Belle.” He spoke in almost a whisper, almost like he was scared to admit it out loud.

“That’s the right decision and it’ll be worth it in the end for everyone. Just think of the young girls you will be sparing from that life. Let’s get ready and get Belle settled in over at my place.”

I went to help Belle, and she had things sorted so I grabbed the bags. “You’ll be fine, it’s cold out but you have a nice down coat and the side by side will be warm.” She was trying to figure out what to change into, but like usual I loved to torture myself and told her not to change.

I glanced at Belle a few times as we drove to my house. For as rigid as her upbringing was, she didn’t hold back much with me. She was timid around others, and she warmed up to Bolton, but with me it was like she knew me for an eternity. She didn’t even look concerned as we made our way home after crying most of the night. She seemed to enjoy looking at the houses with Christmas lights. Once at my place, I explained lockdown and that we were on it just as a safety since they just arrived. I didn’t bring up anything Magnus saw because Belle was already scared half to death. I then showed Koty to his room on the first floor, and he just wanted to get back to sleep. I then tookBelle upstairs to the spare bedroom closest to mine. “Your home is beautiful, Michael.”

“Thanks. The Originals vote on everything, and Creed suggested we build log homes to make it feel more rustic and homier. Not everyone agreed because of the price of upkeep, but he got the majority vote.” I set the bags down on the bed. “He also wanted all the Original’s homes to be family homes with no less than three bedrooms.”

“It is very charming, and I can’t thank you enough for everything you’re doing and have already done.” She took her coat off and I walked over to the closet to get a hanger.

“Just so you know.” I slid the barn door to the closet open and she blushed.

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