A staff member—some guy in khakis and a polo—steps forward. “Mr. Kane needs to complete the program. We don’t recommend—”
“It’s for his safety,” I say flatly.
“He’s safe here,” the guy insists. “This is a secure facility—”
“Not secure enough. Axel.”
Axel shrugs at the guy and follows behind me. The staff member follows, still protesting, but we ignore him.
Outside, Axel asks, “What the hell is going on?”
“Get in the car.”
“Not until you tell me—”
“Your sister’s in trouble. Get. In. The. Car.”
That shuts him up and gets him inside the car.
We drive in silence for the first few minutes. Axel stares out the window, jaw tight.
Finally, I ask, “What do you know about your dad?”
He turns to look at me. “Nothing.”
“Bullshit.”
“I’m serious. Nothing. He left when my mom died. Haven’t seen him since.”
“Does Lexi know anything?”
His expression hardens. “Where is my lovely sister? After all, I’m doing all this shit for her, right?”
I grip the steering wheel tighter. “Yeah. About that.”
“Where is she?”
“The Reapers have her.”
He’s silent, trying to process it.
“Reapers? Why?” he finally asks.
I don’t know how to answer, so I don’t.
We arrive at the warehouse twenty minutes later.
“Thought you said you’d handle it alone,” Oxy says.
I shake my head. “Need backup in case shit goes south.”
I look at Axel in the rearview mirror. “Stay here.”
“What—”
“Stay. Here.”
I get out, Oxy following close behind.
