Page 47 of Velvet and Valor
Our enemies are better prepared than I thought. I can only hope that June escapes. I need to be sure, though, before I start doing drastic shit.
“Hey, call Logan Sharpe, LAPD,” I say from my position on the ground.
“You can call him yourself at the station house,” the maybe fake cop snaps. “It can be your one phone call.”
“I don’t think you heard me, officer. Logan Sharpe.”
I study his face carefully. Zero reaction. He’s never heard of Sharpe, which is highly unlikely. Not impossible, though. I need to make a decision, now.
Are these real cops, in which case it will be uncomfortable and inconvenient, but ultimately harmless to be taken into their custody?
Or are these agents of the triad, or Moorcrock and the people he works for? In that case, letting them take us anywhere is a really bad idea.
I’m still waffling when the second cop comes back with a furious, fire-spitting June.
“I know my rights,” she growls as he pushes her forward, hands cuffed behind her back. “You can’t arrest me without probable cause.”
“A dead body is pretty good probable cause,” the cop answers back.
I called in the body to Platinum Security. They should have been on it, or at least told Jax’s contact Sharpe about the situation. This does not feel right. My gut is screaming at me that if we go anywhere with these people, we’re dead.
13
JUNE
“Don’t worry, June,” Axel says as the police SUV pulls out onto the road. “It’s going to be alright.”
“Maybe for us, but not for them,” I grumble, glaring at the cop who tackled me on the beach. He straight up tackled me! If it had been something other than sand I’d fallen on, I’d have broken something for sure. “I’m going to sue their pants off.”
“Hey, lady, you ain’t gotta go through all that to get into my pants, am I right?” says one of the cops.
They fist bump each other in the front seat. My fury mounts.
“Unbelievable! Now you’re going to get hit with a sexual harassment suit, too!”
“June,” Axel says, shaking his head. “Drop it, okay.”
“But–”
His eyes turn to steel, his voice to iron.
“Drop it.”
It’s not a callous or cruel command. But neither is there an inch of leeway. The Soldier is back in control of Axel’s body. I close my mouth and obey his command.
Once Axel is sure I’m going to remain silent, his expression softens. He leans in close and puts his mouth right next to my ear. His warm breath tickles the hair on the back of my neck when he whispers.
“Don’t speak, don’t react in any way to what I’m about to tell you, June,” he breathes. “These men are not cops.”
He waits a moment so that his words can sink in. My heart jumps up to top gear in my chest, but I manage to keep my face carefully neutral. Fortunately, the cops in the front seat seem focused on picking their route through the tricky Cali Mountain Road network.
“We’re going to have to make a break for it,” Axel says. “I can get out of my cuffs. When I do, I’m going to make my move. Be ready.”
Be ready for what? But I can’t exactly ask him as he slides over the seat. His eyes grow distant with concentration. Axel’s jaw flexes as he clenches it tight. He gives a quick jerk with his arms behind his back and then groans.
One of the cop glances back at us. I sit up and glare at him to distract his attention away from Axel.
“My legs are falling asleep. How much further is it?”
