page39 (1/2)

My voice starts to crack, but I clear my throat and press on

“I wasn’t ready I’m still not ready None of us are But we have to pretend like we are, otherwise, someone else will step in, and who knoill happen then If Phillip is in charge, it’ll be like the early years of the ain, and trust me when I say that will only benefit him He’d have more control over the US than the Cartels have over Mexico”

You knohat? I’ all

“Go away I’m tired This day has sucked, and I’m ready for tomorrow”

I drop to the bed again and screw my eyes shut as I jerk the covers back overtoward me A thuive in

I track the sound of his retreating footsteps that sound like he’sclick that assures me he just left

My eyes open to look at the table beside es, and I’ me, or if it simply means he doesn’t want to trust me

Instead of analyzing it, I close h I knoon’t fall asleep until he’s beside me in bed Since the explosion, I haven’t slept; I’ve only crashed

I’ll stay awake for days until my body demands I sleep, and I collapse from exhaustion It’s how I’ve operated It’s the only way I could operate

Then I cahtmares still come, but they’re not as bad Not as painful The false security could be the effect of having a guy like Axle so close

Guess I’ll find out

CHAPTER 16

AXLE

I aith a start, feeling the bed besidethe damn pillow she put between us instead of her A sense of panic hits me when I see her side of the bed is empty, ands into my jeans

It’s after two in the fucking afternoon, so it’s no surprise she’s not in bed She could be any-fucking-where by now Damn it!

I don’t even bother with a shirt as I sling my door open…only to sla through the speakers as Maya skates backwards, e loop around Dash, Drex, and Eve as Drex tries to talk to her

He’s having to yell over the ht up over her head