Page 84 of Axel

“Does Ruby know this?” Concern grabs Scarlett’s voice.

“Yes, Ms. Jones is the best paralegal on my pro bonocases,” I answer. “She’s invaluable to our mission and at risk because of it. So, please understand my concern when she informed me that she’d be traveling out of the country and away from my protection.”

Luca snarls, “Your.Protection?”

“Yes, myprotection.”

Let him read between the lines.

Luca Mercier is no fool. Neither is his wife. Let them assume what they want about me, but don’t let them doubt my loyalty to Ruby and my intentions to make her mine.

“Look, Mr. Cummings,” Zar mediates. “Ruby is my ride-or-die. I love that little firecracker, and I’ll be there. I’m crashing the Jones sisters’ getaway, and I can assure you of her safety. Of everyone’s safety.”

“Ruby will be a target, which makes others around her a target, too.” I don’t fuck around with this. I tell Scarlett, “I respect you and your family. This is why I’m disclosing the risk. I have grave concerns about Ruby’s safety.”

Scarlett narrows her glare at me. “Like I won’t killANYman who hurts my sister.” It’s a thinly veiled threat I respect.

“And like I won’t help my wife,” Luca adds coldly.

“I trust that’s true.” I nod. “Please, kill any man who puts a hand on Ruby.” Scarlett cocks a brow. “Anyhurtinghand, because I will never hurt her. I’ve vowed to protect her.”

“Listen,” Scarlett warns. “We’re not canceling our vacation, and you’re not coming.”

“Indeed, I can’t. I have work here. So promise me that you’ll spare no expense to protect Ruby. To appreciate the risk she’s in now that…” Something grabs my heart, my voice. “Now that sheworkswith me.”

Now that I love her. Now that I’m fighting like hell to make her love me, too.

They nod, and with a few awkward pleasantries Zar uses to ease the tension, we rise to leave.

While Sire politely pecks Scarlett’s cheek goodbye, Luca Mercier threatens me with his handshake, “Hurt Ruby, and you die.”

I look him in the eye. “If Ruby is ever hurt, itwillkill me.”

The man can figure it out. I don’t need to say who I really am for him to hear the truth in my voice. The love, too. I trust it’s what Luca feels for Scarlett, too.

“Well, if that wasn’t a meeting of the alphas, I don’t know what was,” Sire boasts in the elevator to the lobby. “We should make Scarlett Mercier an honorary queen.”

“She’s close enough. She’s partnered with Nick and Zar.” I worry. “Our worlds are colliding and fuck … with this Olan Turner shit and our side missions, too; something’s going to break. I can sense it.”

Sire’s quiet as we step into the sunshine, steaming the pavement over Meeting Street. We walk in stride for several blocks toward Delta’s, and from behind my sunglasses, I catch the tourists craning their necks at us.

Maybe Ruby’s right.

We should tone down our fashion. Dark suits. Sunglasses. Ink. Scowls. I could change more to blend in, but I won’t be caught dead in Madras shorts.

I grin at all the shit Ruby gives me. What I wear. What I say. How I’m a smug, protective dickhead. How she said shelikesmy dickhead.

Then I glower about our conversation yesterday. I felt sick, not telling Ruby the whole truth about Alena.

But what if, as I fear with everyone else, Ruby leaves me over what I did for Alena? It’s Ruby I fear losing the most, and that’s if Nash doesn’t kill?—

“What in the hell is bothering you?” Sire has the uncanny ability to dive into my soul, any soul, and find your burden.

“Rewind the past hour, and you’re up to speed.”

“Stop lying.” He stops in front of an artisan selling Palmetto Roses. “Long before today. Even before Ruby worked for you. What is it? What makes you act so damned. Literally. And don’t say it’s Katya because I’m not buying it.”

God, if I could tell any brother, it’s Sire.

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