Hoisting Blaine around the midsection, Axel howls like some kind of deranged animal. He hauls his captive upright then batters him into the wooden coffee table, causing the structure to crack clean down the middle.
Wood splinters and collapses as the pair drop onto the middle of the debris. Even that doesn’t stop their snarling punching match. Axel’s a legitimate challenge to The Phantom’s savage reputation.
The living room is half-destroyed by the time a loud ring disturbs the pseudo cage fight. Both men hesitate but quicklydive back in to resume beating each other. Warner releases me to check his phone, pulling up the penthouse’s built-in security system.
“We have a visitor.” He clicks the live video feed off. “Wait here.”
“With the cavemen?” I heave.
“It’s no better at our front door, love.”
Hyland grimaces, attempting to wrestle himself upright and failing. I dodge the chaos being caused by the raging fight to navigate my way over, offering him a helping hand.
“Do you need anything?”
“Some peace and quiet,” he complains.
“I’ll lend you my cold packs. Works wonders for a headache.”
“They worked?” He brightens up.
“Like a treat.”
“You can apologise to my self-help book later for ever doubting it.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Heaving up the massive grump takes great effort. Even I’m not strong enough to yank him fully up, especially not now with a new myriad of bruises and scrapes. I manage to turn him, enabling his feet to find the floor alone.
Shakily standing, Hyland jams two fingers into his mouth then unleashes a piercing wolf-whistle. It bounces off the high ceiling and around the trashed room, causing both idiots to freeze mid-fight.
“Are you done acting like fucking three year olds?”
Split lip dripping, Axel lowers his fist. “This fucker has ruined my life!”
“You did that all on your own,” Blaine seethes.
“No! You led him straight to me!”
Another punch knocks Blaine back onto his spine, spreadeagled among splintered wood, broken glass andcomplete destruction. He lays there cackling like a madman with blood pouring into his eyes.
“Cheap shot, Ax.”
“Do not call me that.” Axel pants for air.
“Couldn’t even finish the job. I’ll never understand why your brother is so desperate for your life. You are pathetic.”
“You’re dead! Son of a?—”
I release Hyland to step forward, straight into Axel’s path. He halts his advance a second before his next punch would’ve landed directly in my face.
“Enough!” My boom carries all around us.
“Ember, move. Let me take the trash out.”
“No, I’m sick of this. Whatever you’ve done, whatever Blaine’s done… put it aside. We have a job to do, and Gracie’s running out of time.”
“He cannot stay! Madden can’t be trusted!”
