Page 86 of Axel

“Goddamn,” I huff, “I hope you don’t counsel your parishioners like this because I want to jump off the Ravenel bridge. So, you’re saying toexpectthe worst outcome?”

“Nah.” He huffs sarcastically, “Maybe Nash, your best friend and our brother, will beperfectlyfine that you fucked his daughter and took her virginity. And Loch willsurelylove that you fucked his wife first and lied about it.”

“You don’t have to be so crass.”

“Is there another way to spin this shit show?”

“What else can I do? You’re right. This will tear us apart if anyone finds out.”

If we pull this thread, our whole world will unravel, and Alena will know everything about her father, our brothers, my mom, and worse,myfather. And nothing will destroy Nash more than if I put his daughter in harm’s way.

The less Alena knows, the safer she is.

That vow I can keep to Nash.

“Look.” Sire throws his arm around me. “I’ll give them both five rounds with you. Nash gets to beat your ass into oblivion first. Then Loch. Oh, and then Mom. She’ll fucking kill you. But let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. I’m here for you, brother. I’ll help you fix your fucking mess, literally. Just make me the same promise one day.”

“Why, holy fucker. Who’d you fuck? And you get a hall pass if it was Katya because I don’t care.”

It makes him chuckle. “I never touched Katya. Only forher initiation. But if I touch Ruby when it’s her turn to be tested?”

“I’ll cut your dick off and boil it in holy water.”

He smirks like the Devil. “Ah, but dear brother, my big dick would only rise again.”

He makes me laugh, and I need it. “Fuck off, Sergei.”

After our meetingat Delta’s, where I get an earful from the Queen of Snark, Vale Monroe, and the biggest confirmation that she will indeed be Nash’s queen one day soon, I’m emboldened to talk tomyqueen.

Sire turns one way to go home to Wren, and I turn another to go home to Ruby.

I’ve trusted her with so much already. I can trust her with this. Right? She won’t think I’m a perv or a predator?

If I tell her I had sex with my best friend’s daughter, my goddaughter, and took her virginity because she asked me to … Ruby will bewonderfulwith it.

Yeah, I’m wide awake.

I can smell the shit I’m shoveling, too.

But I have to do it. I’ll tell Ruby and stand in her wildfire until it’s burned out, and we move on.

Like Sire said: Believe.

It’s an enchanting walk from Delta’s to my home. Jasmine perfumes the air. The church bells ring with seven chimes. Pink azalea petals fall from their blooms, fluttering by on sidewalks where strangers say, “Hello.”

I like this city.

My mother chose it as our new home because she’s a history buff. She said if a city like Charleston can go from onewith an evil past of trafficking enslaved people, into a city of churches, hope, and freedom, then maybe we had a chance here, too. Maybe it would be the last place my father would look for us.

It puts me in a pensive mood.

Then, a hopeful one.

Yes, then a little romantic when I spot purple lilacs blooming in my neighbor’s flower box.

Sorry, Mrs. Aiken.I snap a flower stem off.I’m trying to woo my woman.

I feel seventeen again, about to ask a girl to prom, though I never did, as I reach to unlock my iron gate…

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