Axel’s thrown down beside me, still gagged, still tied.
“What are we doing here?” I ask, my voice steady despite the panic clawing at my throat.
Koa doesn’t answer. Just stares at me with those cold gray eyes.
And I realize—whatever deal I thought we had?
It’s over.
13
Koa
It’s funny that I have her brother gagged and tied up.
I did it for the theatrics, really. Because I need this girl to take me fucking seriously. If she doesn’t, then what? I’m left hooking up with easy puck bunnies swarming my lap at parties, girls who say yes to everything and mean nothing.
Can’t have that.
Not when I’ve got something far more interesting sitting right in front of me.
Lexi’s on the couch, hands clenched in her lap, staring at her brother like she wants to strangle him herself. Axel’s next to her, still gagged, eyes wide and panicked. The duct tape across his mouth is starting to peel at one corner from all his struggling.
I lean against the wall, arms crossed and cock my head to the side.
“Your brother told me some key information I really needed to know tonight,” I say, letting the words hang in the air. “Thanks, big brother.”
Axel tries to say something through the gag. It comes out muffled, pathetic.
I turn my attention to Lexi. “You’re brought here tonight to tell me what the fuck he’s talking about. You’re a narc?”
I raise my brow at her, waiting.
She looks at Axel like she could kill him. Actually kill him. Then she reaches over and rips the gag from his mouth in one swift motion.
Axel gasps for air, coughs. “Jesus Christ, Lex—”
“Drugs and alcohol make you do stupid things, you know that?” Her voice is sharp, cutting.
I cross my arms tighter, watching their sibling love play out like a car crash in slow motion.
“He should know the truth,” Axel says, still catching his breath.
Lexi turns to me. “I did call the cops in high school, but I really needed—”
“To control me,” Axel spits. “I told her not to come to this college.”
She narrows her eyes at him. “I’m transferring anyway.”
“Good.”
“Good.”
I can’t help it—I laugh. This is getting interesting. These two together are like tying grenades together. One’s about to blow up, and I don’t know which.
“Children,” I say, lifting my hands in mock surrender. “What the hell am I going to do with you two?”
Lexi stands, faces me head-on. “He’s made it clear that I’m intervening and should stop, so the deal’s off.”
