Page 16 of Axel Martin

The terror. The strength. The trust.

And something more.

I pulled her into my arms.

She didn’t resist. Didn’t speak.

She just held on.

And in that moment, I knew—

I wasn’t letting her go.

Not now.

Not ever.

13

Lark

Ididn’t say a word on the ride back.

Neither did Axel.

He gripped the wheel with one hand, the other clenched so tight on his thigh I could see the tension running through him. Rage. Guilt. Maybe even fear.

I just stared out the window, trying to breathe past the drumbeat in my chest.

I’d faced tornadoes. Lightning strikes. I once watched a power line explode ten feet from my boots.

But nothing had ever scared me like that man’s eyes.

And nothing had steadied me like Axel’s hands.

When we reached his cabin, I got out first. He followed.

The door shut behind us, and suddenly everything was still. No radio. No sirens. Just us.

I turned—and he was there.

Raw. Wide open. Burning.

“I should’ve stopped him before he got close,” he said, voice low and tight.

“You did.” I kept my voice soft. “You saved me.”

“He touched your trailer. He threatened you. And I let it get that far.”

“Axel—”

“I promised I’d protect you.”

“You did,” I said again, walking toward him. “You were the only safe thing in the whole damn world tonight.”

I reached for him, but he caught my wrists gently, like he wasn’t sure if he could hold on without breaking something.

“I’ve been holding it together since the second I met you,” he whispered, voice rough and shaky. “But I can’t do that anymore.”

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