Page 64 of The Sound Of Us

It’s Axel who pulls away first but only to say, “Pepper is scratching at the door.”

I roll off him, pulling him close to my side, and then reach for my phone.

You’ll have to divorce Pepper, I type. He watches me type, so by the time I realize what I’ve written, it’s too late. It was meant as a joke, what with Pepper interrupting us but I know what it looks like. Not that I don’t agree with the idea that Axel should divorce Frank too, but I don’t think this is the way to begin such a discussion.

His eyes look worried again, and he lowers his face.

What happened, Axel? I type.

“He hit me.” He presses his lips together, and his dimples deepen with his shaky inhalation.

Why? Not that it matters, but when I kill Frank, I want to be able to say why.

Axel’s answer causes a kind of fury I’ve never experienced before. “I don’t know,” he says.

And then, when I can’t imagine a fury greater than this, he adds, “With the gun. He hit me with the gun again, Eli, and I don’t even know why.”

I pull him into my arms, my mind racing. I’ll get him the best divorce lawyer in the country. I’ll ask my mother to speak to one of the judges in our circle to see if they can speed things up. The upgrades to the house have been completed. We can do an official opening because I know this town won’t let me leave without one, and I’ll ask Mrs. Dalton to manage everything.

We’ll also need a restraining order. Not just so Frank can stay away from Axel, but to make sure I don’t get near enough to Frank to actually kill him.

I have it all worked out. It’s so easy. I’ll have to communicate all of this to Axel as soon as possible. Maybe not tonight. He’s still shaken up, and I don’t want to overwhelm him.

Tomorrow. I’ll tell him everything tomorrow and I’ll start making enquiries then, too.

Axel shifts, moving away. I let him go, but only so I can get a good look at his face.

“I have to go,” he says.

I give him my most clear you’re-fucking-kidding-me look.

A smile ghosts his face when I turn my phone screen to him. Stay here.

He shakes his head. “I can’t. I have to be there when Frank wakes up.”

What? Absolutely not. I won’t allow it. I type. Fucking why?

His face brightens at my words and his shoulders shake with laughter.

“I love the way you curse,” he says with a smile.

My lips pull upward despite my growing concern over Axel wanting to return to Frank.

He answers me after a long time. “He’ll probably kill me as soon as he finds me if he wakes up and finds that I’m not there.” His teeth clamp over his bottom lip and his eyes search mine. Fear radiates from him. “He’ll kill us both if he finds out.”

I’m not letting you go back there.

Axel stares at my phone screen for a long time. When he lifts his eyes back to mine, I’m surprised by the worry there.

He won’t lay another hand on you.

“Please don’t do anything, Eli. I’ll find a way to handle this.”

I shake my head and his worry expands in his eyes. He gets up. I grab his wrist, pulling him back, but when a flicker of shock and fear pass through his eyes, I drop my hand immediately. “I’m sorry,” I sign.

“I’m just going to get Pepper.”

I nod.

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