Page 62 of Guarding The Phoenix: Vol. 1

Axel placed a palm against my knee and squeezed in support. “Now I don’t want you to worry, but when you’re done with the shake, we’re heading up to your bedroom.”

I gave him what I hoped was a saucy smile, even though I didn’t want to go anywhere near my bedroom right now. Maybe we could go to his instead.

He scowled and chastised me. “Not for that, woman. As much as I love your naughty ways, you’re injured, Angel. You need rest. And I won’t be touching you until you’ve healed a bit. The reason we’re heading to your room is we need you to pack a bag. Anything you can fit in the black duffel bag that Mateo put in your room.”

I stopped drinking long enough to mouth.Why?

Axel stared for a minute, gaging how much to divulge, and then said, “Because Gideon is worried—we all are—that Santos isn’t done with his attacks on you. He’s fixated on you. And we’re taking you to a safe house. But you need to trust us and do exactly as we say. Can you do that for me?”

Since their advent into my life, I had periods of time where I forgot about Santos. Forgot that I had a mafia kingpin after me. Forgot that my life was in danger.

Because they made me feel safe. Because when I was with them, everything else went away.

But Axel waited patiently for my response.

Nodding my head, I mouthed,yes.

And then I slurped down the rest of the shake and laid the empty glass on the coffee table. When I went to stand, Axel stopped me.

“Put your arms around my neck, Angel. And no arguing. We need to move fast. I’m going to help you pack, too.”

Because I was still shaky, I did as he asked. Not that it was a hardship. I loved being held by him because he made me feel cherished.

He hoisted me into his arms, holding me like I was precious, and headed up the stairs to my bedroom. On the bed was a black duffel like he mentioned. The reality of the situation hit me. This was it. I was leaving the only home I’d known for the past few years.

“I’m going to put you on your feet. Dress first, think layers and tennis shoes. Then I want you to grab the essentials. Pack for a week away, choose comfortable and functional over style. Then put it on the bed and I’ll pack it in the duffel. Okay?”

Nodding, I ignored the shattered remnants of the door and the mangled bedding, heading directly into my closet. I removed the torn nightgown and dressed in jeans, a tank top, sweatshirt, and hoodie, with a pair of sneakers.

Then I went through my closet and pulled out panties and bras, shirts, leggings, cargo pants, jeans, shorts, a bikini, and socks. I grabbed an extra pair of sneakers and some sandals and tossed everything on the bed. While Axel packed the stuff in the duffel, I went into the bathroom and packed toiletries, including a small makeup bag of my favorites. I added a box of tampons too, since I didn’t know where they were taking me nor for how long.

Then took that into the bedroom and tossed it on the bed for Axel to pack. And I noticed he had the pill bottles from the doctor.

I let him handle packing it all. Because then I went back into my closet and grabbed a travel backpack I’d used years ago on my honeymoon. It had a lock on it and would be perfect for what I was going to put inside it. I gathered a few pieces of jewelry that I had bought myself and packed them. I put my wallet and my favorite pair of sunglasses in the front pocket. And then I opened the fireproof safe in the corner. I grabbed my passport, birth certificate and social security card, and bank account information that was in a folder. It had the full list of all my accounts and holdings with account numbers and logins. I wouldn’t leave this stuff behind for Santos’s men to find. Because I wasn’t ignorant enough to believe that his men wouldn’t clean out this safe.

And it’s why I removed the hundred thousand in cash I had stored inside, too.

“Fuck, that’s a lot of money, Angel. Almost ready?”

I glanced over my shoulder and gave him the one-minute signal. Then finished clearing it out, shoving everything inside the backpack and zipping it up.

Then hefted it onto my back as I stood. My legs were still wobbly, but I didn’t want to falter, not when he was trusting me.

“All done?”

I nodded.

“Great. Let’s head down to the living room and wait for the others. And I want you to rest when we get down there. It’s all right if you fall asleep, I’ll take care of you. I won’t ever fail you again.”

Because he needed reassurance, I went up onto my tiptoes and brushed my lips over his for a brief, chaste kiss. I wasn’t up for more than that when I felt this battered and bruised. But I needed him to understand. He didn’t fail me. He had reached me in time. No one had taken such gentle care of me before. This man had wriggled his way into my battered heart and broken soul and I—BOOM!

BOOM!

The ground rumbled beneath my feet. The house shook like there was an earthquake. Axel jerked back with his gaze sharp. His flip from lover to hardened warrior tossed me for a loop. “Fuck. We’re under attack. Stay with me. We’ve got to get to the boat.”

He grabbed my hand and led me from the closet. Shouldered the duffel bag crosswise over his body, and left his right hand free. Then he yanked his phone out of his pocket just as it rang.

He answered and put it on speaker as he steered me toward the door. “Mateo, what the fuck?”

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