by Day, Laura
“Where’s Marie?” he demanded.
“Obviously she’s not here,” Axel said throwing up his hands. “What’s it going to take to get rid of you? We both know you don’t actually want Cate, so why don’t you just leave her and Marie alone.”
“Why?” Austin demanded. “Can’t you see I’m winning? Why would I stop now?” He nodded his head and three men who were standing next to a weight bench stood and made their way towards Axel. Axel slipped easily into a fighting stance. He could see that the first man was big, but he was all fat and no muscle. The second man was strong, but he was hesitating. He wasn’t used to this kind of fighting. The third was a real fighter, but Axel would deal with him last.
Axel ducked under the first punch and landed a solid hit to the solar plexus of the bigger man. He toppled back, hitting the ground hard and staying down. The second man took a hit straight to the face and fell to his knees. The third lunged with a kick Axel easily blocked. He struck out with a jab, but Axel blocked that, as well, and landed a hard hit to man’s face. But the man recovered quickly and kicked Axel right in his left side. Axel took the hit with a grimace and grabbed the man’s leg. The other man hopped, trying to regain his balance, but Axel spun hard and twisted his leg painfully. He punched him three times in the side and then let him fall to the ground.
Axel took a few deep breaths. His heart was pounding. Adrenaline was pumping through his veins. His left side ached from the kick, but he ignored the pain. He noticed everything, every move his enemy made. Two other men came at Axel, one landed a hard hit to Axel’s left eye, before Axel broke his arm and then turned and broke the nose of the other attacker.
Blood trickled down his face and there was a sharp pain in his side. He had definitely bruised a rib. His knuckles were bloody and raw, but he wasn’t done yet. There were two more men down in the gym, but they both backed away from Axel, glancing up at their boss as they did.
So Axel ignored them. He took a step toward Austin only to see that Austin had a gun pointed right at him. Axel stopped moving. He glared up at the other man and wiped the blood from his eyes.
“Did you really think you were going to fight your way out of this?” Austin demanded as he walked slowly down the stairs. The gym was silent and his footfalls echoed all around. He opened his mouth to speak again when suddenly all of the doors were pushed open and the shouts of several different men shattered the silence.
“ATF, nobody move!”
Axel automatically raised his arms above his head as agents in black vests swarmed his gym and surrounded the group, their guns drawn and pointed. Above Axel, Austin looked around fearfully and he hurried down the stairs, his gun already raised in the air in act of surrender. Once on the floor he dropped his gun and fell to his knees, stammering an explanation that the federal agents were not interested in.
“Who are you?” one of the agents demanded shoving the nose of a gun in Axel’s face.
“I’m Axel Connelly. I own this gym. These guys broke in and I was trying to get rid of them.”
“On your own?” the man asked.
“Yes,” Axel answered. The officer permitted Axel to stand up. He patted him down and once. From the office Axel produced paperwork showing he was the owner and everyone managed to relax around him little. “What’s going on?” Axel asked. Austin was currently tied up the ground, his hands trapped behind his back, held there with zip ties. The rest of his men were with him. Axel hadn’t done too much damage. They all needed some medical attention, but none of them were in any real danger.
“We’ve been investigating St. Clare Security for months now to build a case. They’ve been acting as a paramilitary force. The owner’s have been using their employees as personal enforcers. We have half a dozen assault counts on them. But the real issue is the guns. We got a search warrant and found an armory filled with illegal weapons back in Arizona. We also have reason to believe they snuck several high-powered rifles and machine guns onto domestic flights. They certainly didn’t have the right paperwork for the guns they have on them now.”
“That’s bullshit! You’re making a big mistake,” Austin sneered from his knees. “Do you know who my father is? Do you know who he knows? He has dinner with the governor all the time. He has connections and you’re going to lose your job.”
“I would remind you, Mr. St. Clare, that your rights have been read to you and anything you say will be used against you. And please, stop trying to impress me with the fact that your daddy knows the governor. I’m ATF. That’s a federal bureau. The governor’s got nothing to do with it.”
“What’s going to happen to them?” Axel asked as Austin sulked on the floor.
“They are being processed and soon we’ll put them on a plane and take them back to Arizona for them to stand trial.”
“His ex is here,” Axel said quietly to the officer. “She doesn’t want anything to do with him. That’s why he’s here. To take her back.” He was worried about mentioning Marie, but he knew this could be her chance to break free from Austin. He would have a hard time harassing her from jail.
“Look,” the agent said, glancing around to make sure no one could hear them, “you didn’t get this from me, but these are solid charges we have against these guys. They’ve committed felonies and they will be serving lengthy jail times. He might get out on parole during the trial, but he won’t be permitted to leave the state. You tell your girl to stay out of Arizona and she should have an easy time keeping free of him.”
“Good to hear.” He shook the officer's hand and gave him his information. Austin had broken into Axel’s gym and attacked him. It was another charge to add to the pile and Axel was only too happy to help the feds make their case. “Whatever puts him away for the longest time.”
“Well thank you, Mr. Connelly. And, I hope this isn’t too improper, but some of the boys over there are big fans. Do you think you could maybe sign some autographs and pose for some pictures?”
“I’d be happy to,” Axel said.
When the agents were finally done with him Axel walked back out to his car and was surprised to see Hayden still sitting in the passenger seat. He had managed to find his way out of his duct tape restraints, but he hadn’t gone anywhere.
“Axel, I’m sorry,” he said as Axel slid into the driver’s seat.
“I don’t want to hear it.” Axel said as he started the car. “You and me are done. For good. You’re fired as my coach and as the manager of my gym. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll go and start another life somewhere else. I don’t want to see you in this town ever again. I know you took a bribe from him, Hayden. Consider it your pension. Take it and go start a new life somewhere very far from me.”
“Don’t do this. We’re best friends. Don’t throw all that away.”
“We were friends. We’re nothing now. Get out.”
Axel pulled his car in front of a ramshackle-looking house. It was the same one Hayden had grown up it. Hayden looked forlornly from Axel to his house hoping for a last minute reprieve. But Axel held firm. Finally, Hayden stepped out of the car and walked towards his house. Without another look, Axel stepped on the gas and drove away.
Chapter Forty-One
He left. He just drove away with Hayden in the passenger seat. Marie watched with open-mouthed horror as the car made its way down the dirt road.
“What’s happening?” Marie demanded.
Elizabeth stood next to her, but the old woman seemed rock solid. She stood up a little straighter and swallowed. “I don’t know, dear. We’ll just have to wait and find out.”
“What?” Marie demanded. She took a step towards the door then paused. Every thought was arguing with every other thought. She wanted to run and hide all at the same time. He was already gone. He was down the driveway. Should she follow him? She couldn’t. Her car was back at the mansion.
She ran to her bag and grabbed her cellphone. She called Axel but there was no number. She texted him, but there was no respon
se. From behind her Elizabeth pulled the blinds shut and made her way through the kitchen. She grabbed a spray bottle and a rag and she began to meticulously clean the shining table.
“He’s not answering,” Marie said. She ran her hands through her hair; she was near tears. She had no idea what was happening, but her imagination was spinning out every nightmare scenario. “What if he’s going to confront Austin, my ex?”
Elizabeth paused for a moment in her cleaning and then looked up at Marie before continuing. She said, “We have to wait. I know it’s not easy, trust me I know. But it would be foolish for us to leave this house. We are safe here and we just have to wait for Axel to come back.”
“I can’t do that,” Marie said.
“And what about your child in the other room?”
Marie closed her eyes. Cate, she couldn't leave without Cate and she couldn't take Cate to Austin. Elizabeth was right. They had to wait. Or Marie could run again. That was her only other choice. Take Cate and go. But she had nowhere to go. Harskburg had been a miracle and she doubted she would ever find another place that would be this good for her.
“Come here,” Elizabeth said. She smelled of Pine Sol and it was oddly comforting. Marie allowed herself to be led to the couch where she sat down on the couch and rocked back and forth. “It will be all right,” Elizabeth said.
“How do you know that?” Marie asked desperately. She wished she had tried harder to stop Axel. She had just let him go. He could be shot, his body never recovered. He could be beaten half to death. He could be lying in a ditch somewhere crying out for help. Why had he gone?
“Axel knows what he’s doing and he knows how to take care of himself. He won’t do anything foolish. He’s hotheaded, but he’s not stupid. He’ll come home. You just need to sit and wait.”
Marie paced through the house. She went outside and paced around the yard. Her hands grabbed at branches and she yanked leaves off trees in her frustration. She went back through her mind going over every mistake she had made that brought her here. She could have stopped this. This was her problem and Axel was fixing it for her.
Finally, as darkness was setting a car came down the driveway. Marie ran outside, her heart racing. In the darkness she couldn't see who was driving the car. She shielded her eyes against the bright lights as her eyes strained to see.
Then she saw him. Her heart began ramming against the walls of her chest as she tried to remain standing. He was back. He was okay. A great burden was lifted from her shoulders as she ran to him. She grabbed him in a huge hug wrapping her arms around him. She could finally breath. She could finally relax. Beneath her she felt him flinch and she pulled away and looked up into his bruised faced.
“It’s not that bad,” he said holding up his hands. “It just looks bad.”
“It looks terrible,” Marie said. “What happened?”
He filled her in as he walked inside. Together Marie and his mother patched him up as he told them everything that happened. They put ice over his cheek and gave him an aspirin for the pain. “It’s really not that bad,” Axel said. “I’ve had training matches that have ended worse than this.”
“He was really arrested?” Marie asked as she wiped the dry blood from his face. “I can’t believe it.”
“Federal charges. He could go away for a long time.”
“That’s amazing,” Marie said. It was all of her dreams come true. She had always fantasized of going to police. She would press charges and he would be found guilty and go to jail. She liked to imagine him in an orange jumpsuit behind grey bars. Now it was really happening. She wouldn’t need to worry about him getting out any time soon.
Elizabeth went to bed, leaving Marie and Axel alone in the living room.
“I’m so mad at you,” Marie said. She was leaning against him, her hands running up and down his chest.
“You’re mad at me?”
“Yes,” Marie breathed. She kissed his neck. Running her tongue over his stubble, tasting the sweat on his skin. She loved the taste of him, he was so soft and warm and she was lost in the art of kissing him. “You went out on your own and didn’t tell me anything. I am furious with you.”
“I didn’t think you would like that,” he said. He tilted her chin up and she looked into his bright eyes. A shudder ran up her spine as she stared into his eyes. “But I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t let him threaten you. Don’t you understand, Marie? I can’t live without you. I love you.”
His lips crashed onto hers. His hand was on the back of her head, his fingers tangled in her hair. He was holding her tightly and Marie leaned into him, slipping her tongue over his. She whimpered as he bit her tongue. Finally, she pulled away.
“I love you, too.” Their arms wrapped around each other. Marie threw her leg over Axel’s lap until she was straddling him. She sighed and licked her lips as she looked at him. “You didn’t have to go,” she said holding his face in her hands. She ran her fingers along his chin and leaned down to plant a light kiss on his lips.
He moved his hands through her hair. She loved the way he touched her. There was such confidence in his movements. He never doubted anything. His hips moved beneath her as his erection pressed through the fabric of his jeans. His hands were around her waist and he began to massage her and move her over him.
His hands found the hem of her shirt and lifted it over her head. Marie smiled down at his as she reached around and unsnapped her bra. She leaned back as Axel tore the bra from her skin and began to massage her breasts. The hairs on her skin stood on end as he touched her. His fingers stroked over her nipple and it rose under his attention. She sighed and leaned back, closing her eyes and the sensation of his hands on her became all-consuming.
Axel leaned forward and took her breast in her mouth. Marie gasped and grabbed his hair and then ran her hands up and down his back. She was rocking back and forth on top of him and she stroked his erection with her body. Axel growled and pulled Marie down. He kissed her fiercely, the scruff of his cheeks scratching her sensitive skin making goose bumps erupt all over her.
“I want you,” he whispered in a low growl. His hands grabbed her ass and he pulled her even closer.
Her breath hitched in his ear. “Yes. Keep going,” she whispered. Her mouth was at his ear and she reached out and bit his earlobe gently. She pushed herself against him, wanting him more and more.
He stood up with Marie in his arms. He lifted her straight off the ground. Her legs were wrapped around his waist and they continued to kiss and grope at each other as he walked her towards his room. One inside he closed the door and pressed Marie back against it.
Her skin was hot and her hands were clawing at his back. She was desperate for him. She couldn’t get enough of him. She was pressed between him and the door and she writhed against him, somehow it still not enough. Her pulse raced as he attacked her neck, the scruff of his chin scratching on her sensitive skin, his tongue sliding along her, soothing and shocking at the same time.
She gasped and shuddered and tightened her grip on his shoulders. He groaned loudly.
“Shh!” Marie said, putting her hand on his chest. “We don’t want anyone to hear,” she whispered. He stopped, her body still held up but his. He growled and bit her lip and clenched her legs around him. He swung her around then she was falling back on his bed. She bounced once and then settled back. Her arms were stretched above her head. She was topless wearing her jeans.
“I left my bra in the living room,” she whispered with a naughty giggle.
“I’ll get it later,” Axel said. He leaned over her chest and kissed the sensitive space between her breasts. Marie sighed and settled onto the bed as he kissed all along her skin. He kissed over her breast, stopping to flick his tongue on her nipple. She strained underneath him, his touch so intense. He kissed his way down her stomach and then unbuttoned her jeans. He lowered the zipper and pulled them down her legs, over her ankles, and tossed them aside.
He slipped her panties
off of her next and when they landed on the ground Marie sat up. She smiled up at him. Her exposed skin tingled in the cool air. His hands played with her hair. Marie ran her hand over the bulge in his jeans and she felt him shudder from her touch. She looked up at him as her hand continued to slide over him.
Axel groaned quietly and Marie felt a shudder go up her spine. She unbuttoned his jeans and slid them down. His boxers went with them and his erection sprung forth. Marie slid her hand up and down him as he ripped his shirt off and threw it in a corner.
He reached down and took Marie’s face in his hands. She stood up and kissed him as he pressed against her. She grabbed his shoulders and pushed him back down on the bed. She kissed a violent, purple bruise on his side and he grabbed a condom from the nightstand and she unrolled it over him. He slipped into her and she arched her back as he entered her.
