“And this is exactly why I didn’t tell you,” he growls, running a hand through his hair. “Your first instinct is always, ‘how can I get myself killed the quickest?’” My mouth falls open, but I can’t deny that he’s right.
“Okay, fine,” I relent, tugging Axel’s feet back into my chest, the weight steading on my legs. “But we could at least track it? Dax’s cousin has done similar things for us before.”
Wyatt pauses, his green eyes narrowing. He shifts his weight, his hand still resting on the back of his neck. Finally, he lets his arm dropand glances toward the window, the late afternoon light casting shadows across the room.
“Maybe,” he admits grudgingly. “But we do it my way. No reckless stunts. We’re already in over our heads, and I’m not losing anyone else.”
I nod instantly. “We’ll be careful,” I promise. Wyatt doesn’t respond immediately. Instead, he reverts back to stroking Axel’s head, soothing the pair of them.
“Fine,” he says. “I’ll call Dax’s cousin. But if this goes south, you stay out of it, Avery. Promise me.” I nod, though we both know it’s a promise I might not be able to keep. Axel sighs heavily, that tiny rattle still present each time he breathes. His hands come to rest over his stomach, where he toys nervously with his fingers.
“Since we’re having difficult conversations,” he glances at me from beneath hooded eyelids. “I’ve heard mutterings about an auction tomorrow night. What’s the plan with that?”
“The plan is to stay the fuck out of the way,” Wyatt snaps quickly. Axel’s lips press into a thin line, his jaw tensing as he forces his eyes to mine instead of Wyatt’s. His shoulders rise, then fall in a measured breath, clearly trying to keep his composure.
“I think you guys should go,” he says quietly, his head turning to face away from us both. Wyatt jolts, just narrowly stopping himself from shooting upright from the sofa.
“Are you out of your damn mind? You want us to walk into your mother’s circus of horrors like it’s a fucking cocktail party? It’s not happening.” Axel doesn’t flinch at the outburst, his calm almost unnerving.
“Axel…” I start gently, trying to deescalate the sudden rise in tension. We need to keep Axel relaxed, the doctor said so. “What do you think we could even accomplish by going?” Axel’s hazel eyes flick to mine with a sharpness I rarely see in him anymore.
“The type of people who attend the auctions are beyond wealthy and have a lot of connections. They use the events to network as much as… other things. We’re way out of our depth here. We could use as much help as he can get.”
“Not by rubbing shoulders with those sick sons of bitches. We will make connections another way.” Wyatt grunts, his expression fully shut down. A darkness falls over his green eyes, worlds away from theman in the gym who had his hands on my waist and his gaze on my mouth.
“What way? With what time? We can’t just sit here and do nothing, even if Dax’s cousin manages to get us an address. You just said yourself, we’re in way over our heads, and we’re not thugs, Wyatt. We don’t go around killing people.” A stab of anguish passes Axel's features, and for the first time, I see how haunted he is by what happened. I only know what Dax told me, but it seems Axel has another uphill battle to climb, and this one will test him far more than his physical recovery. Licking his cracked lips, Axel looks like he’s barely holding it together. “We need help.”
My chest tightens as I glance between the two of them. Wyatt twists to stare out of the window, resting his elbow on the sofa arm, effectively shutting up out. The pause is deafening, the weight on my chest crushing. Axel is spared the ticking of Wyatt’s jaw from his upside-down angle, but I have a full, uncensored view.
“If Axel thinks it might be helpful,” I start. Wyatt’s head whips to me, fire burning in his eyes. I half shrug, hugging Axel’s feet closer to my body. “I’m just saying we’re a team, right? Everyone gets a say.”
For a moment, the room falls silent, the weight of the conversation settling around us like a thick fog. Then Wyatt straightens his spine and rolls his neck. I can see his denial before he even speaks.
“You think Sharon is just going to let us waltz in there to snoop around?”
“She won’t,” Axel agrees, but the strain in his voice betrays him. “But I’ve heard… well, that she’s taken a liking to Huxley…” Wyatt sucks in a sharp breath, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Are you trying to kill me?”
Axel swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he starts grasping for reason.
“Sharon was too focused on appearances to risk causing a scene at her own event. The guests aren’t all high-flying members of society. They are people who have a dirty secret to hide, and that gives us leverage. And not just on who’s attending and who’s bidding, but with what deals are being made in the back rooms. That’s what people like Sharon do. They create alliances. We could use an alliance when we find Fredrick, someone unsavory to do what needs to be done.”
Ilean forward, reaching across the back of the sofa for Wyatt’s hand. After a pause of hesitation, Wyatt stretches out and links our fingers. Between us, Axel stares at our hands like he’s in shock.
“Axel has a point. As much as I hate the idea of going, we can’t keep pretending this will all blow over if we ignore it. If Fredrick’s making moves, we need to be prepared before he gets the upper hand.”
Wyatt looks at me, his wild green eyes searching mine. He’s torn, and I can feel the weight of his fear. Fear for me, for Axel, for all of us. Axel takes a shaky breath, his hands gripping the hem of his damp T-shirt. Sweat patches are increasing around his neckline, his body burning up with the strain.
“There’s another reason as well. I know it’s stupid. But…I kinda thought if you guys went, it would be like we’re sharing the trauma. Like it might be a little bit less for me to carry on my own.”
Wyatt runs a hand through his hair, muttering under his breath. Finally, he exhales sharply, looking down at Axel with reluctant acceptance. Axel nods, his relief palpable, although his skin is sheet white now. Wyatt notices it at the same time I do.
“Alright. Enough adventuring for today. Let’s get you back upstairs before Garrett throws a fit.” With a groan, Axel obliges, allowing us to slowly help him back onto his feet. I take his non-injured side, allowing his arm to drape over my shoulders heavily.
“Hey, I have an idea.” I grin up at Axel as his face is pinched with pain. Wyatt is doing his best to shoulder his weight on the other side, but it’s going to be a while before Axel is up and about properly. “How about a bath together? I can get Dax to read one of his new dark romances to us.”
“Is it hot and spicy?” Axel peeks at me beneath his lashes. I snort and roll my eyes.
