Page 158 of Axel

We stand at the bottom of the boarding stairs to Axel’s jet. The clock is ticking down. I need to get to Atlanta before the kick-off, but I don’t want to leave him.

“Baby, I need to fix this.” Axel wraps around me tighter. “I need to fixus. What can I do?”

With everyone else, Axel’s a cold, ruthless king.

But with me?

“I don’t know.” Tears well in my eyes. “I want to trust you again. Believe me, and I’m trying. But I don’t know how and…”

I trail off and let him take me in a deep kiss. Most of me is here, forever with him, but a piece of me is distant.

“Be careful.” He sighs over our lips. “Be my queen and stay safe.”

“Always,” I promise.

Reluctantly, he lets me go.

As the jet taxis down the runway, I peer out of the window and blink back tears at Axel, still standing there, watching me leave.

He’s waiting for me.

And I’m waiting for … something.

In a haze, my quick flight to Atlanta passes. Using the small bedroom at the back of the jet, I change into the emerald dress Vale picked out, while all I can remember is my first flight with Axel. The trip that started this whole thing.

Our first kiss.

Our love.

Our partnership as king and queen.

Our mission to help another king and queen, too.

It feels like a lifetime ago. I don’t recognize that wild woman anymore.

I’m still fearless, but now I’m focused. Now, I’m helping others, and I understand how Axel’s addicted to this, too.

Justice is a powerful drug.

“The maître d’says there’s at least a dozen waiting outside for us tonight.”

Beau Bronson, Atlanta’s quarterback, sits with his arm around Blair, but glances toward the restaurant window, worried about the paparazzi waiting for us when we leave.

“We got this.” Colton elbows me, winking.

And I wink back.

Is Colton Hawke a tall, blonde, inked skyscraper of muscles with a sexy hair knot? Yes. And he’s all Blair and Beau’s; he just can’t show it.

“Are you wearing your touchdown panties again?” I tease Blair about our last double dinner date when the paparazzi swarmed us.

When one aggressive photographer heckled Blair, causing her to trip and fall in her cute dress, exposing her TOUCHDOWN panties, which were meant only for Beau and Colton’s eyes.

But instead?

They went viral.

“Yes.” Blair bounces her raven brows at me. “I took your advice. I’m spinning the whole panty scandal to my advantage. I’m wearing BALLER panties tonight, and selling copies on Etsy, and donating everything to charity.”

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