Page 86 of Durango

We get into the back, and Axel drives to the next block and parks.

“Get down on the floor. Stay low. I’m going to help Reed.” He gets out of the car, and then the doors lock.

A few minutes later, the doors unlock. Axel jumps into the driver’s seat, and Reed gets into the passenger seat. I sit up and look out the back window. We speed around a corner.

“Where’s Tyler?” I ask.

“He got away,” Reed says. “The asshole pulled a gun on me when he got inside. Before I could disarm him, he ran backoutside. I chased him, but he got into a car waiting for him that drove off.”

I’m shaking, so I wrap my arms around myself—Tyler is still out there. “He’s still free,” I say.

“Yeah, that’s unfortunate,” Reed says. “But our priority is to keep you safe.”

I stare out the window as my tears fall. Now that he knows I’m here, I need to leave. And as long as he’s free, I’ll never be safe.

Dammit, no! I will not leave the life I want because of this asshole. There has to be a way to fix this.

“Wait! If he goes back to the house, he’ll get the files,” I say.

Samantha pulls the USB stick from her pocket. “No, he won’t.”

I hug her, thankful that we still have them. Although, they haven’t helped us yet.

“There’s the car,” Reed says. He snaps a photo of the back.

“We should drop them off at my apartment. I don’t think it’s a good idea to pursue Tyler with them here,” Axel says.

“Agreed,” Reed says.

It’s a short drive to his apartment, and Axel leads us inside. It’s what I’d expect for a college bachelor, not a man in his thirties. There is very little furniture and nothing hanging on the walls.

“Did you move in recently?” Samantha asks.

He shrugs. “About five years ago.”

Her eyes widen, and I cough to stifle my laugh.

“I’m not home much, so I never bothered to decorate.” He claps his hands together. “Okay, help yourself to any food you find.” He scratches the back of his head. “There really isn’t much, but I’ll get something after we deal with this asshole.”

“We’ll be fine,” I assure him. “But what about Durango?”

He types on his phone. “I’m filling in CT about what happened. He’ll get a car to take Durango home.”

“Home? No, not if Tyler is there,” I say.

“I meant here. I’ll make sure they come here.” He finishes typing. “Okay, stay inside.”

He and Reed go out the door without another word.

I walk to the kitchen and sit at one of two bar stools near the counter. Then I check my phone. I have a missed message from Durango.

Durango:Are you all right? CT told me Axel took you to his apartment because Tyler found you.

The last message was only a minute ago. It’s nice having someone care about me.

Willow:I’m fine. Yes, we are in Axel’s apartment. Can you come here when you get released?

Durango:That’s the plan.

---