He looked like he was about to shut the door in Skylar’s face, but Skylar slapped his hands out to stop it.
“Wait,” Skylar demanded. “Are you sure? Can I just come in and check?”
Axel made a sour face. “I’m kinda busy right now, man. I told you, come back tonight and we can look for it together.”
“I’m not coming back tonight,” Skylar stated.
Axel narrowed his eyes. “Then you’re not comin’ in at all.”
Skylar shoved his foot in the doorway. “Don’t! I need my wallet, Axel! Do you know how important it is?”
“If it’s so important, why’d you leave it here in the first place?” Axel growled.
“So you admit it. Itisthere.”
Realizing his mistake, Axel clicked his tongue angrily. He used his height and strength to push against the door as Skylar grabbed it, trying to stop him from shutting it.
“Please!” Skylar begged. “Please, I’ll do anything, just let me have it!”
“Anything, huh?” Axel’s face split in a disgusting grin.
Bile rose in my throat.
“Then I’ll tell you what, omega. You come back here tonight. We fool around a little, I fill up your hole, andthenyou can have your wallet back. How’s that?”
“Fuck you!” Skylar spat.
As Axel reached for Skylar, I ran out from behind the corner and pulled Skylar out of the way. His eyes went wide as I held him against my chest, protecting him from Axel, who looked even more surprised to see me.
“Who the hell are you?” Axel barked.
“A friend,” I stated firmly, glaring at him. “You should think twice about putting your hands on Skylar.”
Axel spat out an ugly laugh. “I alreadyhadmy hands on him, and he wasn’t that good.”
Skylar let out a small horrified gasp. His face fell, and he went pale. At the same time, fury boiled in my chest like lava. My skin burned with anger, making my fists ball up as I held them crossed against Skylar.
“My friend’s wallet,” I demanded. “Now.”
Axel glared at me, but didn’t shut the door in my face like he was going to a second earlier.
“And what if I don’t?” he said.
I met his glare evenly. “Then you and I are going to have a problem.”
Axel ground his teeth, and for a moment I thought he would try to fight me. But then he stormed inside the apartment. He returned and threw the wallet at me. With my arms still protectively around Skylar, I couldn’t catch it, and it fell to the floor. Its contents scattered across the carpet.
“There’s your stupid wallet,” Axel spat.
He went to slam the door shut, but I grabbed it. My muscles strained with the effort to keep it open while Axel was furiously trying to close it.
“Wait,” I growled. “Skylar, make sure everything’s inside.”
Skylar got to his knees and quickly scanned his belongings to make sure they were intact. Then in a quiet voice he said, “Um, there’s a twenty missing.”
“Give him his money back,” I said firmly to Axel.
“Bite me.”
