Page 15 of Axel Martin

My breath caught.

“I was his asset,” he said, voice shaking. “His call. His team exfiltrated. I was taken.”

“You were the hostage,” I whispered.

“I was themission,” he growled. “And heleftme.”

My pulse hammered. “Whatever happened—it wasn’t my fault.”

“But you’rehisnow,” he snarled. “Aren’t you? You wear him like armor.”

I stood slowly, trying not to provoke him. “You don’t have to do this.”

“Yes,” he said, voice breaking. “I do.”

That’s when I saw it.

The knife.

Axel

Ping.Panic trigger. She’d activated it.

“Move!” I barked into the comms as I launched down the trail.

“Rush—south ridge!”

“Turner—flank left!”

I was already running, heart on fire, lungs barely keeping up.

Lark.

I broke through the trees and saw them—on the porch.

Him. Knife raised.

Her, frozen.

I didn’t think. I didn’t hesitate.

I hit him like a freight train, slamming him to the boards. The knife skidded away.

Lark gasped.

I pinned him, fist drawn back.

“You should’ve stayed dead,” I growled.

But her voice cut through my fury. “Axel—stop!”

I froze, still breathing like a bull, my body shaking with rage.

He was already out cold.

Lark touched my arm. “I’m okay. I’m okay.”

I looked at her—and saw everything.

---