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"Yeah, avoid Got it Dresser, grab some sweats and a new tee I’ll meet you downstairs" He is so quick that I don’t have a second to turn as he whips the sheet off displaying his body coed, ht With heavy steps and a tense body, he walks into his closet and slams the door I run to the dresser and then enter the bathrooet dressed

Thirtyhall and stairs, searching for the kitchen It shouldn’t be too difficult but this house is huge and judging by the s turns and only find more empty space He must have justhere

Rounding the corner, I finally walk into the kitchen Axel is standing next to the island stove flipping sos already dished off to the side and soe juice filled in a cup next to the stool

"Sit and eat Greg and the gang should be here within the hour" He leaves no rooiveshiainst the island before digging in

We sit like that, in silence, while we finish up He doesn’t even look at lanceif I said it didn’t bother ht, having hi withjust wash away; forget the world

Clearing my throat I break the silence, "So, what happens noould really like to go hoht, ould discuss where to go with everyone else You will go hohtly, Iz, we ht not knohy he sent that but it was for a reason My job is to find out why and what kind of threat, if any, it holds on you"

"Ho ho I want is for him to be a per and Dee can keep quiet about everything else they know that Axel doesn’t

I a over ould happen if Axel finds out everything else, when a door slahout the house If Axel’s relaxed body language hadn’t stayed the sa

"Yo, Reid Where you at?" Voice one boo starved, Coop, Reid better have some food this time" Voice two says

"Too early for this shit, ht buried balls deep in Jasru, I know that voice anywhere I look up when Axel slaives a hard look to the open doorway

It is the soft giggling after Greg’s voice that haswith hih first, and immediately rushes over to wrap her slim arms around me "You okay?"

"I will be; I just want to leave"

"Soon, Iz, you have to trust these guys I know that won’t be easy but they knohat they’re doing" She whispers intake you hoht?"

She pulls back and looks away but not before I catch the blush that dances across her skin What the hell is that about?

"You two done with your female shit? We need to talk"

I look up to Axel’s storreen eyes and frown "Reet a stick up your ass because you got your deroup behind runts, either in humor or shock that I would snap at the bear I look over at this testosterone driven group, avoiding Greg’s face but nottheir best to not laugh, Locke looks like he has better things to do but I don’tin his dark eyes

"Shut up, Izzy, this isn’t a fucking game Locke, you find out where the ex is?"

"Yea, California, business convention or some shit The chippie secretary told irlfriend Doesn’t seem to have a care in the world"

"What?" I ask, "Really, he can’t sign the divorce papers but he can keep his bed warain an ansasn’t really needed

"Coop, background check back?" Axel continues

"Clean Few parking tickets but nothing serious Looks like he had so past college Credit card debt sitting at a nice 65K," He looks over at , "Escorts, there was so, but most of it is racked up in escorts and some local strip joints" He continues

That threw me for a loop As much of an asshole Brandon was, he was always there and always controlling How did I not even know about this side of hi?" Axel asks, his tone harsher than before

"Notfor me locally, if it’s there, I will find it"

What? "What are you talking about?" I directmy luck for an ansould be better with hi for you to worry about" He has a s the seriousness in his posture

"Ah, no This is my life and I don’t want to be kept in the dark Do not expecth I know thesejust a little control