Page 82 of Durango

“Nothing more than usual.”

“And why would he follow you?” Axel asks. “He knows where you live.”

This is true. There was a time when he stayed in my home, protecting my cousin, Piper.

“Well, I hate to believe it’s true, but how else do you explain that the guys who kidnapped me knew I was in the woods with Damien and that he told me something in Russian?”

CT stares at me. “You speak Russian?”

“Yes. And so does Moose.”

“He does?” Axel asks.

“That hasn’t come up on any of your assignments?”

Axel shakes his head. “Not that it would need to, but I guess I figured when we were chatting about our lives, he might bring it up. I mean, I told him about my ax-throwing skills.”

CT groans. “Not this again.”

“What?” Axel asks. “I’m proud of winning that trophy.”

I laugh. He’s very proud and has managed to make sure everyone he meets is aware he is the tri-state area ax-throwing champion. Hell, it’s why everyone calls him Axel. Although, I’m not too sure how formal the title is, given that he won it at a bar.

Axel drives through a pothole, and the motion makes me carsick.

“Guys, I don’t feel so good.”

“Don’t puke in my car!” Axel yells. “Do you need me to pull over?”

Instead of responding, I lie down in the backseat.

“He’s lying down,” CT says. “He looks pale. Go faster.”

CHAPTER 25

Willow

Samantha walksinto the kitchen as I’m ending my call with Durango.

“They found him? He’s okay?”

“Yes.” I take a deep breath, but it doesn’t help.

She runs up and hugs me. “That’s great news.”

“It is. But I’m still so wound up. He was kidnapped but managed to escape. He didn’t say by whom, but it has to be Tyler.”

“Once you see him for yourself, you’ll feel better.”

She’s right. I need to see him. He’ll come home as soon as he can.

“I didn’t want to tell you this, but since I need to leave, I have to,” Samantha says.

Leave? Is she crazy? “You can’t leave! Tyler might be looking for you, too.”

“I got a call, and it’s not good news,” Samantha says. “Someone broke into the apartment. The police are there and want me to check it out and see if anything is missing.”

That’s when I notice her purse over her shoulder. “Wait, you can’t seriously be considering going?”

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