“Wing man.”
“Wing man,” Lucifer repeated in his smoky tone. “Because you know, I have wings.”
“That's not...” Sam shook his head. “Anyway, I plan to get both you ladies happily tipsy and safely back home. So drink up, and let’s dance.” He downed his shot, loving the burn of the tequila as it went down.
“Are you not having another?” Eva asked him as Lucifer gave out the rest.
Sam smiled, already feeling the slight buzz. “And who will warn away any disgusting men who believe they stand a chance with you beautiful ladies if I’m too drunk?”
“Me?” Lucifer said, his face uncharacteristically serious. “I’ll just kill them.”
“Lucifer, we’ve talked about this,” Alice sighed. “You can’t just casually kill people.”
“No one will know it was me.” Lucy’s eyes darkened. “No means no.”
Eva reached over to squeeze his hand.
“Okay, we need to lighten the mood.” Sam finished the rest of his cocktail, knocking his knuckles against the table. “Finish your drinks, and then let’s get moving.”
Chapter15
Axel
The treadmill whined, and still Axel increased the speed. The rhythmic pumping of his legs was soothing, his breaths becoming more rapid as his muscles burned at the constant movement. Exercise released dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline. A beautiful mixture that helped keep the pain at bay, but only lasted a short time. Impractical compared to drugs.
Axel increased his speed, ignoring the smoke that tickled his nose.
“You’re going to break the machine if you carry on,” Kace said from behind.
Axel glanced up, glaring at his brother in the floor to ceiling mirrors that encircled the entire basement gym. He had sensed Kace enter, and he was more than happy to ignore him.
Kace’s lips thinned as he crossed his arms across his chest. “I’ve just heard you’ve been taken off rotation.”
“Word travels fast.” It hadn’t taken long before Riley had appeared at his bedroom door, and by then he had ripped apart the bed, the mattress torn to shreds as he searched every little crevice in his panic. He didn’t think he would hit lower than rock bottom, but there he was.
Axel increased his speed, and the machine rattled dangerously beneath him.
With a grumble Kace kicked at the plug, yanking the cord from the wall.
Axel almost tripped, catching himself on the treadmill’s frame. “What the fuck? You could have killed me!”
“I’m worried that Hunter may start using again.” Kace said, ignoring Axel’s glare. “I don’t know how to stop him.”
“What’s that got to do with me?” Axel’s ribs ached, his heart thumping aggressively as he tried to settle his breathing. “I have my own problems, if you couldn’t tell.”
“Don’t bullshit me, Pretty Boy,” Kace growled. “We both know why.”
Axel finally stepped off the belt. “Why do I get a shitty nickname and you get something cool like Red?”
“Because you look like a model and I make people bleed for a living,” Kace said, matter of factly. “Now, what did Hunter find in your room earlier?”
Axel reached for his towel, wiping across his face and chest to give him a few more seconds to reply. A lie was ready, but he was so tired of the lying, and the deceit. Of pretending everything was fucking fine when in reality he was at the edge, and the dark abyss was looking more and more welcoming.
“A pill.” Kace’s expression darkened, but before he could comment Axel continued. “I don’t believe he wanted it for himself, he’s a good kid. He was just… he thinks I have an addiction.” Axel sunk to the ground, his legs thankful for the relief.
“Well, do you?”
“I…” He had taken that little white pill without hesitation, his instinct to swallow without thought. It wasn’t about the pain, or even the whispers inside his head. He’d felt its weight in his palm, and all he wanted to was to take it, to feel the familiarity of it travelling down his throat.
