“Sure.”
There are so many things I want to ask him, but right now we need a lighter topic. “Why do the guys call you Axel?”
He laughs. “That’s actually a fun story. I won an ax-throwing contest years ago. One of the guys kept calling me Ax because of it. Somehow that changed to Axel, and it’s stuck ever since.”
“An ax-throwing contest?” I ask.
He stands up and points to himself. “You’re looking at the tri-state champion right here.”
“Wait, there’s a competitive ax-throwing league? I haven’t heard of this.”
He shrugs and sits back down. “Well, the competition was at a bar one night, but I’m pretty sure I’m the best in the area.”
I stare at this man, waiting for him to laugh, but he doesn’t. He’s serious. No, he can’t be. I have to find out.
“I’m afraid you’ve met your match because I am an actual ax-throwing champion. Not here but back home in Connecticut, where they have real lumberjacks.”
His eyes widen. “Are you demeaning my win?” Oh no, he is serious.
“No, I’m not trying to demean it. I’m saying it’s something I’m good at, too.”
A chuckle escapes his lips. Apparently, he can’t hold it in anymore, and he rolls onto his side on the couch, laughing.
“I thought you were serious!” I say. “I was worried for a minute.”
“Worried about what?”
“That you have ego issues.”
“ThatIhave ego issues?”
I think he emphasized the wordI. “What do you mean by that?”
He laughs more. “I think I like messing with you too much.”
His gaze turns heated. I lean forward and kiss him. When I pull back, he’s smiling.
“I could get lost in you,” he says. “But we do need to get out of here.”
“Do we?” My hand goes to his hair. It’s soft and thick.
He closes his eyes. “Yes. Bennett could have already told his cousin about this place.”
He’s right. We need to get out of here now.
CHAPTER 22
Axel
It’s been a few days since we’ve been hiding out at a motel in New Jersey. Stevens claims they have eyes on Bennett but not Marco. Apparently, no one is watching Bob.
Durango was unable to trade off with me as he had hoped. He was sent out on an assignment. Reed said I could handle this on my own.
The bathroom door opens, and Savvy steps out after her shower. Her damp hair is clinging to her neck, and suddenly the air in the room feels a little too thin.
She smiles when she sees me, unaware of the inappropriate thoughts racing through my mind.
“Hey, I’m going to grab a pizza from the place down the street. You good with a combo pizza?” I ask.
