Page 83 of Imprisoned

I shift slightly, trying not to wake Axel, but his breathing changes immediately. Even in sleep, he’s alert, ready.

“Morning,” he murmurs, his voice rough with sleep. His arm tightens around me.

“Hi.” I turn to face him.

His green eyes study my face with an intensity that still makes my heart race. In this light, with his guard down, I can almost forget who he is—what he’s done. What we’ve done.

“Sleep okay?” Axel asks, brushing hair from my face.

“Better than I expected, considering.” I glance over at the bedroom door, wondering how Tommy is doing.

Axel cups my face, drawing my attention back to him. “We’re gonna make it, little pixie. By tomorrow, we’ll be in Brazil.”

His confidence should be reassuring, but the stakes are too high for comfort.

Axel leans in, pressing his lips to mine. The kiss deepens quickly, hungrier than I anticipated. He shifts his weight, moving over me, his body pressing mine into the mattress. I feel the hard length of him against my thigh as he rocks against me, a low groan escaping his throat.

My body responds instantly despite the aches and exhaustion. My hands reach Axel’s back, feeling the muscles tense as he moves.

A sound outside breaks the moment—tires on gravel, an engine cutting off.

Axel freezes, instantly alert. “Contact’s early.” He reaches for the gun beside our bed.

I jolt upright, my heart hammering. Despite Axel’s calming touch just moments ago, adrenaline floods my system as the sound of tires on gravel hits my ears.

“Stay behind me,” Axel orders, his voice dropping to that deadly serious tone I’ve come to recognize.

We’re both fully clothed—neither of us had the energy to undress after yesterday’s ordeal. We’d simply collapsed onto the mattress, bodies intertwined for warmth and comfort. Now I’m grateful for that small mercy as Axel moves toward the door, gun raised.

I follow closely behind him, feeling oddly calm despite the danger. My hand finds the small of his back, a silent signal of my presence.

The front door creaks open, and a man steps inside—mid-forties, with a weathered face. Our contact. Relief floods me untilI notice his gaze narrowing at Tommy emerging from the second bedroom.

“You said two.” The man glares at Axel, who hasn’t lowered his weapon. “Papers are for two.”

“He needs to come with us,” I step forward, moving slightly to Axel’s side, though still behind his arm’s protection. Tommy’s part of our deal.”

The man shakes his head. “Not my problem, lady. Two sets of papers, two crossings. That’s what was paid for.”

I feel Axel tense beside me, his trigger finger twitching. Before he can escalate, I reach into my pocket and pull out a small USB drive—my final insurance policy.

“This contains evidence linking you to three prison breaks in the last five years,” I say calmly, surprised by how steady my voice sounds. “I wasn’t planning to use it, but plans change.”

The man’s face darkens. “You threatening me?”

“I’m negotiating,” I correct him. “Three people cross today, or this information finds its way to every law enforcement agency in a hundred-mile radius.”

A tense silence fills the cabin. I can feel Axel’s approval radiating beside me without looking at him.

“Fine,” our contact finally spits. “But it’ll cost extra. And we leave now.”

I sigh as Gary finally relents. The standoff dissipates, though tension still hangs in the air like smoke.

“Ten minutes,” Gary orders. “Get your stuff and be ready.”

Axel keeps his eyes on the man while I hurry back to gather our meager belongings.

“Tommy, you good?” I ask.

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