Page 78 of The Way We Are

“How much?” I ask again, knowing I’ll do everything in my power to weaken the hold he has over Savannah, while also praying I have enough stashed to repay the amount owed.

My hopes are left for dust when Axel replies, “A little over two hundred thousand.”

“Whoa. What? Fuck.” My shock has turned me into a speechless idiot.

Although it's more than I have, I’m still stunned by the amount. That’s way less than I calculated earlier today. Waywayless. If Savannah’s mother did steal the three million dollars two years ago, how is it possible Savannah has repaid so much in such a short period of time? With her father’s disease rendering him unable to work, I doubt she has access to that kind of money.

Like a freight train smacking into me, reality dawns: Savannah’s house isn’t undergoing refurbishment; she sold all their belongings to repay her mother’s debt. This wouldn’t be the first time she has placed her needs last. She will never admit it, but I’m certain the time I spotted her handing my mom a sneaky twenty years ago wasn’t the first. She sold her retro Barbie dolls with the hope I could escape my life, so who’s to say she didn’t do the same thing for her mom?

I’m drawn away from my shock when Axel asks, “Do you have a spare 200K sitting around, Ryan?” His voice is the regular pompous-ass one he frequently utilizes.

I swallow the brick in my throat before answering, “No. But I can get it.”

Axel laughs, seemingly amused.

“You’ll get it?” he quotes when my sideways glare halts his laughter. “This isn’t fucking Kansas, Golden Boy. Even if you were lucky to pick up a fight or two every week, it will still take you six months to repay Savannah’s debt. That means she still has six months remaining on our agreement.”

I grit my teeth. I knew there was more to their relationship than mutual attraction. He's using Savannah’s predicament to his advantage with the hope that once he has milked the cow dry, she will be so dependent on him, she’ll have no choice but to stay with him.

I’ve got news for him.

“I’ll get you the money,” I say, my tone confident. “But if you get within two hundred feet of Savannah, I’m not only going to tell your uncle about his missing millions; I’m gonna put all the blame on your shoulders.”

Axel’s lips twitch as he struggles to hold in his smile. “I like a man with gall, but there's no fucking chance in hell you can pin that bitch’s theft on me.”

“Don’t underestimate me, Axel,” I warn, stepping closer to him so his whiskey-laced breath fans my lips. “You were surrounded by the law yesterday, yet you still left with a black eye. Do you really want to test my pull for a second time in under twenty-four hours?”

“The law doesn’t belong in our negotiations, Ryan,” he replies with a huff. “Involving them will bebadfor all involved—including Savannah.”

I shrug, acting impassive. “They don’t have any interest in a small fry like Savannah. They want the big fish. I can give it to them.”

“Then you’ll be a dead man,” Axel snarls.

A smile cracks onto my lips. “As long as I take you down with me, I’m okay with that.”

Axel glares at me like I have two heads. “You’re serious? You’re willing to die for her?” he asks, the fire in his eyes matching mine.

Ignoring the way he sneered “her” made my back molars grind together, I nod my head. I’ll do anything to save Savannah—even diving into the depths of hell to save her for the second time.

Axel scrubs his hand along the stubble on his chin. Although he has a good poker face, his eyes are his enemy. They reveal that not only is he devastated at the prospect of losing Savannah, but also that, just like me, he's contemplating facing a death sentence for her. That pisses me off more than anything. He left her to die yesterday, only to pretend she's worth fighting for today.

He isn’t just unstable; he is insane.

Just when I think Axel is never going to respond to my proposal, he says, “You have a week. If the 200K isn’t in my hands by next Sunday, our deal is over.”

I glare at his hand as if it's covered in spit when he holds it out in offering. I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him, but I still accept his gesture. I’m man enough to know nothing in his industry is approved without official confirmation, but I’m not stupid enough to see it as any more than a lie.

Axel stiffens when I use our joined hands to pull him into my chest. “If you even think about playing me, I’ll know. Then I’ll be forced to retaliate.” My voice is so rough, it sounds like it was delivered straight from hell. “I won’t just die for Savannah, Axel. I’ll kill for her as well.”

It's lucky Axel can’t see my face, as even it acts surprised by my threat. My eyes widen as sweat dots my top lip. I’ve never been an overly violent person... until it comes to protecting the people I love. I love Savannah—more than she will ever know.

31

Ryan

Axel leaves my room without another word. I wait for the rev of his engine before darting to my bed. The shuddering of my heart wreaks havoc with my hands when I attempt to grip the box my bundles of notes are stashed in. I’m terrified I’ve just made a horrible mistake.

I have seven days to turn a little over fifty thousand dollars into two hundred thousand dollars. If that isn’t concerning enough, I then have to hand my hard-earned money over to a man I trust even less than my father. This is all kinds of fucked up.

---