Maybe he could ask Averett to take care of the brother?He glanced at Axar.No.They'd have to deal with this.
* * * *
Chapter 9
Elvin had driven to his house, where he'd handed Franklin the keys, and gone inside after having told Franklin they'd have to come up with a plan once they'd gotten some sleep.
Franklin drove home in silence.Axar appeared to be a mile away, and he didn't want to interrupt if he was thinking.Once he parked the car outside, he sought Axar's gaze in the rear-view mirror."Okay?"
"She knows where you live.She said your address is listed online."
Ah, explained how they'd found Axar the last time."I'll lock the door and keep you with me at all times.No guest room for you."He winked then chuckled at Axar's stunned expression.
"Come on.Let's go inside."He wanted to check Axar over.He was still smelling of blood, nothing life-threatening, but Franklin suspected there was a need for band-aids.
They got out of the car, but as they neared the stairs, Franklin remembered the cuff around Axar's ankle.He pulled him into the garage where he had his tools.What to use?Hacksaw.Perhaps not the safest method, but it would be quick work.
"Do you trust me?"
Axar grimaced, then nodded slowly.
"Great.Sit here."He patted the workbench and waited.When Axar neared it, he helped him up.How injured was he?
Then he grabbed the hacksaw, positioned Axar's leg, and got to work.Axar didn't say a word.It only took a couple of minutes before Franklin put the saw down and grabbed the cuff.It snapped without too much trouble, but it left a ring of wounds in its wake.Franklin showed teeth, then he helped Axar to the floor."Let's go inside."
They left the garage, closed it behind them, and walked up the stairs to the door.Franklin unlocked it and gestured for Axar to enter."Head to the bathroom."
Axar did, but his fingers were moving nervously by his sides.
"Strip."
His gaze flew to Franklin's."What?"
"I smell blood."
Axar grimaced."It's nothing."
"Honey, I will not have blood on my sheets."
Axar's eyes slid away, so Franklin moved closer and carefully gripped the hem of his snowflake pajama T-shirt and gently moved it upwards.
"Why Christmas motifs?"
"Huh?"
The skin was covered in bruises in various stages of healing.Franklin swallowed a growl and continued in a calm voice."Every time I've seen you, you've worn something Christmas-themed.Why?"
Axar gave him a wobbly smile."They're from Addox.He loves Christmas.We used to write letters to Santa together, wish for some miracle to take us away from Foolshope, but it never happened.Some years, we got a present or two, but never anything fun."He sighed."It's become a thing.He always wanted Christmas sweaters when we were young, but he can't wear the fabric, so he buys them for me.He has a few pajamas for himself, but the knitted sweaters are too abrasive."
Franklin liked Addox a little better now and forced himself to smile at Axar despite seeing what was hidden underneath this particular Christmas pajamas.
This damage couldn't have been done today.Some of it was, but psychics didn't get to yellowing in only a few hours.There were cuts, places where the skin appeared to have been broken by a ring, perhaps.
"Your brother did this?"
"Mom either tells him to do it or has me do it to myself."
"And your brother can't disobey her order."And Axar couldn't stop himself from hurting himself if she ordered him to.He shuddered but froze when Axar winced.
