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That’s how I used to roll before Axel and his damn hypnotic eyes ran me off the slutty rails.
Now, apparently, I’ve lost my mind and pussy. They only want to kneel for him.
“He’s being bribed.” Instantly, I figure it out. The connections. The reasons. The crime. “Put your damn guns down. He’s one of us.”
Grant lowers his, but Axel is breathing hard with his muzzle aimed at Brayton.
Yep. Imighthave set him off with that whole biblicalknowledge thing. Maybe I should’ve kept that to myself, but how else can I explain this?
“Brayton is friends with Nick Barinov. You know, yourclosefriend, too.”You know, your brother?I try not to reveal too much. Just enough to turn the volume down. “I met Brayton at one of Nick’s parties, and he must be here because he rented this chalet and…”
I pause, cautious and protective, but Brayton nods like he’s desperate and caught, and my heart breaks for him.
“Can I?” I ask, and Brayton finishes, “Tell them.”
“Brayton is married to a beautiful man named Jim,” I calmly share, “and they must’ve rented this chalet. Probably heard about it through the NFL grapevine, and now they’re being bribed. Right?” Brayton nods. “And these guys are helping someone being bribed for the same thing,” I tell Brayton. I hope I’m right. “They can help you, too.”
“Walk me through it,” Axel orders.
“We heard about this place a few months ago,” Brayton explains. “We spent the weekend here and thought nothing of it until a few days ago when my husband got a text with a video, demanding five million or they’ll out me.”
“See,” I huff at Axel. “Put the fucking gun down, Goodfella, or you’re going to shoot an innocent man.”
Slowly, Axel lowers his weapon. “So, what was your plan? Come here and kill the owner?”
“I don’t know.” Brayton drops his hands. “I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
“Have you arranged to pay him?” Axel asks.
“Not yet. We replied that we needed time to move that kind of money around.”
“Get in your car and follow us.” Axel holsters his gun. “Let’s clear out and talk about this.”
Reluctantly, Brayton agrees. He and Grant follow us in their rental cars, and I know better than to utter a peep lest Iset Axel’s jealous green giant off again, so I rely on his classical music to calm him.
Once we’re safe at the airport, we talk. We get Brayton’s details, and Axel and Grant let him go with a handshake.
You’d think all would be hunky-dory, but not in this ex-Bratva world.
Grant fires up his laptop after we’re seated in the jet. I buckle up, remove my glasses, and slide my wig off before shaking my hair free. I’m trying to relax, but Mount St. Axel is about to blow in his seat in front of me.
“What?” I confront his spewing glare.
“Biblical?” he snarls.
“Yes. It was a religious experience. ‘Oh god’ was moaned several times while Brayton, Jim, and I shared a private night.”
“What happened?”
“Um, you can open a business called ‘None of Yours’ because I don’t fuck and tell.”
Grant snorts, but Axel leans forward. “Youwillfucking tell me. It’s my business when men you knowbiblicallycome looking for you with a gun in their hand.”
“He wasn’t there forme.”
“We can’t be sure.”
“Look,” I roll my eyes, “while I’ll admit my pussy is worth dying for, that’s not why Brayton was there. He’s like Nick. He’s trying to protect his career. His safety, too.”