Page 102 of Taking Denver

He tears his gaze from Hayes’s body. “What?”

“Axel, 1182 Forster’s Avenue. Say it.”

“1182 Forster’s Avenue.”

“Good, you need to go there. Do not stop. Do not speed. Do not call anyone. Do not tell him what happened. Someone there is going to look after you. Okay?”

I hope.

“Aren’t… aren’t you coming with me?”

“I have to fix this. Go. Now,” I say. “I’ll be right behind you.”

He nods and looks at Hayes once more before turning for the door. He opens it, and the cold air blows in, and now I’m shivering, too.

Chapter 34

Ethan

“Do you love me?”

I sit up in bed, phone to my ear. It’s the middle of the night. I nearly missed the call, and when I saw Denver’s name on the screen, I almost ignored it altogether.

It’s been almost a month with no word from Denver, but I fully expected her to cut me off. But now she’s back, calling me in the middle of the night, asking me if I love her. And I’m too weak to pretend I don’t.

“You know I do.”

“I need you to do something for me. Axel is coming to you.”

“Axel? Why?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Jesus Christ, Denver. Are you serious? You wake me up in the middle of the night after not speaking to me for weeks, ask me for a favor, but don’t trust me enough to tell me why I’m doing it?”

She sighs. Wherever she is, her voice echoes.

“I’m only asking because I’m desperate.”

“Then call Ranger.” I sound bitter. I sound jealous. I’m both.

“I can’t,” she says, and her voice cracks. “Axel is in trouble, and you’re the only person I trust. You wanted to save me from this world, Ethan? You can’t. But you can save him.”

I swing my legs over the side of the bed and wonder if this will ever stop. I vow every time she walks away that I won’t let her back into my life, but whenever I close the door on Denver Luxe, she cracks it open again.

“What do you need me to do?”

She exhales, relief filling her voice. “Let him shower. Give him some clothes and something to eat and keep him calm. Someone will leave something in your mailbox in a few hours. When it’s time, drive him to the airport.”

“‘When it’s time’?” I ask. “Be more cryptic, please.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what flight he’s getting yet. I’ll let you know.” She pauses. “You can’t tell Archer this is happening.”

I squeeze my eyes closed. “I won’t.”

“Promise me,” she says. “Promise me you’ll keep this between us because I can’t lose Axel, Ethan. I can’t.”

Truthfully, I haven’t spoken a word to Archer since the night Ranger came to the house. I refused to help him anymore, not that I would be much use after Denver cut me out of her life completely. I’d driven to Sebastian and asked him to do what he could for my busted face and ribs, and he vowed not to say a thing to his brother. But even if Archer had been in constant contact, I’d make this promise to her, if only to make up for the pain I’ve caused.

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