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"Okay" Iback to sleep

Axel returned after a couple er ale He smiles shyly at me when I look up at him

"God, I love you" I say

"Love you too, Princess How’s the sto the sight of food"

We sit there for a while and I slowly eat the breakfast Everything see down and I can see the concern start to leave Axel’s eyes

"What’s your plan for today?" He questions, clicking the channel over to the local news

"Not s" I actually had planned to finish wrapping up his presents but he didn’t need to know that

"I need to tell you so to take it"

I don’t like the sound of that at all I put the tray on the table next to the bed and shift to look at hi?" I can already tell I won’t be happy by the way he keeps looking at me with dread

"Axel?" I prompt

"Okay So, I want you to re I do is to protect you Got that?"

I nod ht So I’ve had the guys keeping tabs on that fuckwad for a while now So far, we haven’t had an inch to go on, until last week, when Locke finally found soo to interrupt hiot those; you don’t need to know the particulars Anyway, he’s been coht and finally put it all together Deep baby He’s been pulling thousands, I’ht out froo, Locke followed that trail right into Brandon’s pockets Long story short, Locke sent a nice care package to dear old dad outlining and showcasing all the evidence That last thing I heard fro wall mad Police were called in and warrants sworn out for Brandon" He studies n of displeasure with hi my wish to just let it all be He won’t find any As upset that I a his thumb on Brandon, I knohy he did it, respect it even

"And" I add "I know there is " My tone is neutral but uy on him, not one of our men but one that I know and trust Brandon, at thisfor hi for him He won’t hide fro shit But I need you to be safe Stick close this week, okay? I know you aren’t happy about this but it needed to be done"

I reach out and grab his hand, giving him a small squeeze "I understand I’m not mad A little upsetfro he was floating around there" I give hi that the worry lines have left his face

"I’ll find hiets his hands on Brandon

I snuggle into his side and we spend the rest of the ether

The rest of the day passes uneventfully Housework and catching up on sohout the week

I have been calling Dee all day but so far haven’t heard from her Axel told me to leave it be for the day, chances are she wasn’t able to come to the phone anyway He tries to call Beck when I wouldn’t leave hi of his shoulder ent about the day I decide to take his advice and just let her callback to noroff to sleep

Monday iven o into the office for a few hours but will be back for lunch

Rolling over slowly, I try to cal off for the bathroom a fewinto the toilet before I am able to crawl back to bed I drift off to a restless sleep not long after my head hits the pillow

I jolt ahen a chill cli off the covers, I run down the hallway and stairs before crashing into the office Pulling upso before I a heavily into my desk chair

Holy shit It couldn’t be

I sit there staring out theabovethe trees sway in the breeze and the water down by the lake ripple with the wind It makes sense That had been the week after the attack atsome heavy antibiotics