Page 16 of Velvet and Valor
JUNE
“So, what do you think I stumbled into?”
“Honestly? I have no idea, but we will figure it out, one way or another. You are safe now, and I intend to keep it that way.”
The sheer determination on his face has my cheeks pinking in shame at my thoughts.
“I’m just happy to be done with it now, whatever it was that I stumbled into.”
A muscle twitches in his jaw as Axel looks at me, his lips pursing into a thin line.
“What?” I ask. “Why are you making that face at me?”
“June, I don’t know how to tell you this, but this isn’t over. Not by a long shot. I may not know what is going on exactly, but men like these… They don’t just stop. Not until they’ve got what they want.”
“I don’t have the time or patience for this Axel. Whatever this mess is, I don’t belong in it. I just want to go back to my quiet little life, sans the guns and car chases.”
“That’s wishful thinking if I ever heard it.” He throws me a sardonic smile.
“Well, what’s next then?”
“No clue. All I know is, my job is done now that you’re safe.”
I give him a dirty look.
“You’re going to leave me stranded here?”
“What? No!” He holds a hand up. “I never said that! I just mean that I am not sure exactly where we go from here yet. I won’t leave you alone, I can’t. You aren’t safe, this isn’t over. ”
Suddenly the weight of everything that has happened seems to collide into my chest in one giant avalanche of emotion. “Oh my god you are right. I know too much! I’ve seen faces, heard names…”
“I’ll take you back to the Platinum Security office,” he says helpfully. “Maybe you can get yourself a bodyguard. Maybe it will even be me.”
He double arches his brows in rapid succession. He thinks he’s being cute. You know, he might almost be cute if he’d stop acting like a testosterone factory for five minutes. Does he not see me losing my mind here? I can’t imagine someone being that obtuse. Maybe it’s an act?
A couple of times during the chase, I saw something in Axel’s eyes that says he’s much grimmer than appearances suggest. His quips are edged with pain. He probably doesn’t think anyone notices. Maybe most people don’t, but I’ve made a career out of reading the room.
So, I’m going to cut him some slack, and not just because he did rescue me…more or less.
“Let’s just go,” I say with a sigh.
I spend most of the ride to the office texting with my peeps at the studio. Despite what’s happened to me I still need to share the good news about our Langston Hughes bio. Plus, a lot of folks want to know I’m okay.
And I am okay, on the outside. On the inside, it’s a different story. This isn’t over. It can’t possibly be over. I’ve seen too much.
But I focus on the positive with my studio team. I guess I should take some comfort from the fact that if I die the studio will live on thanks to my efforts.
I should, but I can’t. I don’t wanna die.
The phone shakes in my hand. All of the adrenaline rushing through my body has faded. Now the full weight of my experience has sunk in.
“Hey,” Axel says. “You all right?”
“No,” I say truthfully.
“You’re alive,” he says. “Focus on that.”
“I’m alive, but for how long?” I say. “Whatever is going on with these people, it’s clearly something criminal. I’m a witness. That means I either have to die, or be put into some kind of protection program…and that would be even worse.”
