Page 36 of Axel Martin

I held up the screen. “She scrubbed everything.”

He nodded. “I saw.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means she’s either in deep trouble… or she’s preparing to go somewhere she doesn’t plan to come back from.”

My stomach dropped. “You think she’s planning something that dangerous?”

“I think Marley doesn’t do anything halfway,” he said. “And she just stepped into one of the most volatile regions in the world with zero backup.”

I sat down slowly. “I should’ve stopped her, talked her down. Something. She thinks she can save every child in the world, at least she wants to save every child.”

Axel crouched in front of me, hands on my knees. “You couldn’t have. People like Marley only listen when they’re ready. You can’t carry that weight.”

I met his eyes, heart pounding. “I still love her. Even when she drives me nuts.”

“I know. And we’re going to find her. I promise.”

Axel

I didn’t make promises lightly. Especially not ones I couldn’t guarantee.

But this one—I meant it.

I stepped outside and grabbed the satellite phone I hadn’t used in months. I hit the contact marked onlyBishopand waited.

One ring. Two.

Click.

“You shouldn’t have this number,” came a low, even voice.

“Neither should Marley Bennett. But she does. And now she’s missing.”

Silence.

Then, “Who’s this?”

“Axel Martin. We met in Caracas.”

Another beat. Then: “The guy with the busted shoulder who punched the Russian diplomat.”

“He insulted my teammate’s mother.”

A pause. “Fair enough.”

I didn’t smile.

“She sent me a pin,” I continued. “Amman. Outskirts. Hotel under a false name. No communication since.”

“Did she mention a file?”

My blood went cold. “No.”

“She found something,” he said grimly. “And now the people who lost it will kill to keep it buried.”

I gripped the phone tighter. “Then I need to get to her.”

---