"He's a grown man.He can take care of himself."Axar had said he was the youngest, hadn't he?So Addox must be in his mid-thirties.
"He's sensitive."
Franklin sought Elvin's gaze, not sure what to do.
"We can get him out later, Axar."Franklin nodded at Elvin's words and made a gesture for him to continue.Maybe Axar was more willing to listen to him."First, we have to get you out, okay?We can only help Addox once you're safe.We'll leave here, then come up with a plan to get him out, and we'll find out what happened to Neoma."
"Go away.Axton is coming."
Franklin cursed under his breath, but both he and Elvin moved away from the window.The garden didn't have any good hiding spots, so they jumped over the fence into the neighboring one and crouched by some shrubs.
"The bars are fastened on the outside.I think we can get it loose with a screwdriver."
"What?"Franklin couldn't make sense of his words.
"The prison bars over his window.A screwdriver.We have to be quiet and careful, so no one sees us.Who wants to live like this when all the neighbors have to do is look out the window to know exactly what you're doing?"
Franklin didn't have a clue.It was his biggest nightmare to be trapped in a fucking suburb."Do you have a screwdriver in your car?"
"No, but I know of someone who builds houses for a living who lives pretty close."
Franklin gritted his teeth.He didn't want to talk to Averett.It was bad enough he'd known of Franklin's wolves kidnapping a psychic when he hadn't.Having to beg for help on top of it did not sit well with Franklin."I'll buy one.There has to be a store nearby."
Elvin gave him an unimpressed look."There are no stores open in the middle of the night."
Sure there were.The gas station in Ulledo was open around the clock.Although, he may as well drive all the way home and get one as go to Ulledo."Wait here.I'll be back in an hour."He clapped Elvin's shoulder.
"Seriously.Asking the Foolshope wolves will be so much faster."
Franklin shook his head.Nope, it was bad enough he had to inform Averett of being in his territory.He would not beg for help.
* * * *
When Franklin crouched next to Elvin, he had several screwdrivers in his hands.Showing up with the wrong size would've been catastrophic.
"I think they hurt him."
Ice washed over Franklin."What?"
"Shortly after you'd left, I heard some thuds followed by a cry."
His heart banged in his ears."Who?"
Elvin shrugged."Axton?I'm not sure."
"I'm gonna kill the fucker."
"Let's focus on getting him out.The house has been calm for about forty-five minutes, so I think they're asleep."
Soundlessly, they jumped over the fence and crossed the lawn to the window.Franklin handed Elvin a screwdriver, and both of them started unscrewing the bars.Hadn't the neighbors reacted to there being bars over his window?What kind of people allowed a grown man to be held captive by his mother?Insane.
"Ready?"Elvin held onto the bars, having dropped the screwdriver to the ground.Franklin hurried to get the last screw loose.He put the screwdriver in his back pocket and nodded for Elvin to lower the bars.The paint peeled away where it had been fastened, and a low clank sounded when Elvin rested the iron against the wall.
A rattle sounded from inside, and Franklin slid his fingers along the edge of the window to try and open it, but the crack was too thin for him to get a grip.
"Axar?"He kept his voice in a whisper.
The window opened and slid past where it normally hit the bars.The blinds were pulled up, and on the other side of the glass stood Axar.He was beaten black and blue, and there was a look of shock on his face.
