I waited.
“Your ex.”
I followed him into the kitchen, my bare feet padding against the cold floor. “What do you mean, Mathew’s part of?—”
“What isthat?” Axel stopped dead in his tracks.
I followed his gaze to the crystal vase on the counter. “The flowers you sent me. What do you mean about Mathew?—”
“I didn’t send you flowers.”
Oh. “Maybe they’re from Mathew then?”
Axel turned to face me, his expression dark. “Blackroses?”
I shrugged. “Figured you were being all dramatic and ordered some kind of dramatic delivery?—”
“I didn’t.”
Okay …
“Who cares about the flowers? Tell me about Mathew! He’s working with them now?”
But Axel wasn’t listening. His entire demeanor shifted like our fake engagement didn’t matter right now, like he sensed something I didn’t. “Did you read the note?”
I frowned, moving closer to the expensive-looking vase. “I didn’t see one.”
The tiny card was tucked deep among the black petals. I’d been so distracted, worrying about Axel’s reaction to my prank, that I’d missed it completely.
Axel plucked it from the flowers.
“What does it say?” I asked.
He handed it to me without a word.
To the lovely couple. You messed with the wrong person.
27
DEATH THREATS MAKE HIM GO ALL PROTECTIVE, AND I’M TRYING TO NOT FIND IT ATTRACTIVE. #MIXEDPRIORITIES
DAKOTA
Ryker’s hand gripped my shoulder. “I’ll make some calls and figure out what’s going on, okay?”
“Please don’t tell Knox about this.” My stare was undoubtedly pleading.
Ryker exchanged a look with Axel, but after a few seconds, he pressed his lips together and nodded. “If that’s what you want.”
“It is.”
We sat in Axel’s living room, which had once again descended into chaos with all of his found family. Blake stood against the opposite wall, his arm draped around Tessa. Jace lounged by the window, his hand possessively resting on Scarlett’s hip. Axel paced like a caged panther, fresh scotch in hand, his shirtsleeves rolled up to expose those annoyingly distracting forearms. Ryker sat beside me, and Faith perched on the chair to my right.
At a time like this, it was really nice to have friends that were like family. People who would drop everything and rush over at the whisper of a problem. It made everything feel less terrifying.
“Maybe we’re jumping to conclusions?” I suggested, voice pitched higher than I’d like. “I mean, our romance went public, so maybe this is some creepy fan or something?”
The guys exchanged one of those loaded male looks.
