“When he called that last time,” I swallowed against the sudden lump in my throat, “he had information on the club. He swore he could send every single member to prison.” I pushed past the sudden, overwhelming tension in the room. “He knew your grandmother was in a nursing home,” I rasped, turning my eyes to Axel. “He said he could cut off funding immediately.”
I looked down at my hands, my knuckles white around the bottle I held.
“He told me if I stayed, he’d make sure my child’s father rotted in jail. That if I went through with it and had the baby, that they’d t-take him from me.” Tears fell in earnest as I continued. “I never knew he could be so evil.” I sucked in a ragged breath. “So I told him I’d leave town and that I’d get rid of the baby if he’d leave everyone alone. The night I left, I bought a new phone, used a different last name and tried not to look back.” I expelled a breath, leaning back against the couch cushions, relieved to have it out.
“Fuck, Sophie,” Sal grunted, at a loss for words.
“I believed him, Sal. I still do. You guys should go back to Hawthorne and pretend you never saw me.”
“Like hell,” Axel growled, rising to pace the room. “First of all, I doubt he has jack shit on any of us,” he bit out. “We run the club clean, except when we don’t, and if any motherfucker I’ve jacked up has something to say, then it’s their fucking funeral,” he growled. “As for my gran; he cuts off funding, the club will pay for it. I don’t give a fuck. What I care about is that your parents are twisted enough to pull this kind of shit. I want you back in Hawthorne where I can take care of you. I don’t like that you’ve been alone this whole time. I want you with us where nothing can touch you or Maddox,” he decreed. “No one threatens my family.”
I felt my eyes widen at the ‘his family’ part.
“He’s right, Soph,” Sal spoke up as Kat put a steadying hand on his back. She was always so good in these situations. So calming for my brother. “I understand why they scared you. But even if they had anything, I’m going to dig up enough shit to bury them both.” His eyes glowed with emotion as he spoke. He put a hand on my knee and squeezed briefly. “Come home. You belong with us.”
Tears once again filled my eyes. Could that really be true? Could we really go back?
“I’m so sorry, for everything,” my voice cracked.
“You were trying to protect us and Maddox. I get it,” Sal replied. “But, Soph, no more lies. No more secrets, yeah?”
“Yeah,” I sighed.
“All right, we gotta jet. Kat’s tired,” he spoke up, and for the first time, I noticed she looked exhausted.
I smiled at her sympathetically, remembering those days well.
“We’re flying out tomorrow. Let’s get with Cole in the morning before we leave.” Sal shot a look at Axel.
“Right,” Axel agreed.
“It’s gonna be okay, Soph,” Kat whispered in my ear, giving me a reassuring squeeze. “Love you, sis.”
“Me, too.” I squeezed her back.
Then they were gone, and I was left alone with Axel.
“I’m kind of talked out,” I warned when I got a look at his pensive expression.
“There’s just one thing I need to get straight,” he replied, sitting close to me on the couch.
Great. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like that ‘one thing’ whatever it was.
“When you said you didn’t think there was going to be a you and me, what the fuck did that mean?” he demanded.
Exasperated, I sighed, “Axel, what else would I have thought? We slept together and you were freaked.” I winced at the memory.
“You should have told me it was your first time!” he growled. “Christ, Soph, you deserved so much better than me. You’re so innocent and sweet and you’re my buddy’s sister. I had no business going there. None.” He shook his head.
“Yeah, well, you did,” I grumbled.
“You think I forgot? That night, it’s been with me ever since. I can still smell you. Still feel the softness of your skin. I can still taste you.” His eyes turned dark as they swept my face.
Heat blazed across my cheeks as I forced myself to stay calm, outwardly at least.
“Then why? Why didn’t you want me when I came to Hawthorne?” I demanded heatedly.
“Not want you? Fuck, I’ve never wanted anyone more. But I still thought you deserved better. You’re younger than me, Soph, and on top of that, you were so damn sheltered. No matter how much I fucking wanted you,” he emphasized his words as his eyes lit. “I wasn’t sure I could be good for you. You’re Sal’s only family. He loves you. I knew I couldn’t just fuck around with you, so I acted like an ass.” He admitted. “But when you disappeared, I was haunted by it, Sophie. Haunted.” His voice grew hoarse with his declaration. “I knew I may not deserve you, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re mine. That’s why I came here. I came for you. The second Henry found you, I was on the first flight out. Maddox is just a big, unexpected bonus.” He looked over at me, his eyes shining with sincerity.
