Page 96 of Always A Villain
But today, that loyalty can fucking burn.
Every damn thing I am is focused onher.
I pull up, and Griff’s pacing outside. The second he spots me, he’s in my face. “Axe, where the hell were you? I’ve been fucking calling you!”
I don’t answer. Don’t even look at him. I just shove past, storming toward the Command Center, Kane’s footsteps heavy at my side until I order him to stay. Griff’s right behind, hurling questions I don’t bother to answer. When he finally says, “Isaac is waiting.”
I give a sharp nod. “Good.”
Inside the meeting room, the air is thick with tension. Generals and Lieutenants are already gathered, some seated at the large table, others standing. Expressions grim, their eyes shift as I enter. I lean against the wall, jaw tight, hands clenched.
Isaac stands at the front, arms crossed, staring at me.
“Axe. Glad you could finally join us.”
I don’t respond, the fire in my eyes daring him to test my patience.
Isaac resumes, “As I was saying, we have an urgent situation. Conrad has betrayed us. His reckless actions are a threat to everything the Sovereign stands for. We’ll be organizing teams to find him and bring him in for justice.”
“I’m going after Rory.” My voice is stone.
Isaac’s eyes narrow. “No. Conrad is our priority. That’s where your focus needs to be.”
“Fuck your priorities. Rory’s mine.”
“This isn’t up for debate,” Isaac shoots back, voice measured. “You’ll track down Conrad—that’s an order. Rory is not a sanctioned objective.”
“Like hell she’s not.”
I take a step forward, and Griff moves in, trying to hold me back. He’s one shove away from getting put through the nearest fucking wall.
Arsen cuts in. “I’m going with Axe.”
Priest steps forward beside him. “Count me in.”
Spencer steps forward next. “I’m going too.”
I’ll deal with that bastard later.
Isaac’s face darkens. “You will go after Conrad, or there will be consequences.” It’s a warning, but I don’t give a fuck.
“Then I’ll take the fucking consequences.” My voice is razor sharp. “I’ll stand in front of the whole goddamn Council and lay it all out—how you ignored every warning about Conrad, about the Sovereign lives he’s taken, the danger he’s posed long before he dragged the Dolore into this.”
The room falls silent.
Isaac’s jaw clenches, but I hold his stare, daring him to push this further. “You’ll regret that.”
“Not as much as you’ll regret standing in my way.”
Commander Zane speaks up. “Axel’s right. The Dolore need to know what happens when they cross us. This ends now.”
Isaac doesn’t break eye contact with me, but I can see it—he’s weighing the risk.
“Fine,” he finally concedes, his tone clipped. “Go after her. Bring her back. But you’re still under my command. No rogue actions, Axe. Clear?”
“Crystal.”
He leans in. “Get her back, then you’re on a team going after Conrad. No questions. Am I understood?”
