Page 148 of Finding Denver

I lock my phone and stand. “We need to go.”

She blinks. “Go?”

I reach her and squeeze her shoulders. “There’s something about me you don’t know, and I’m sorry to dump this on you now, but I need to tell you before we get on a flight.”

“A flight? AJ, we have to open the store tomorrow?—”

“Harriett,” I say. “This is serious. I need you to listen to me.” My heart is beating too fast, and I still don’t know if I should call Dad or not. “My name isn’t Aaron. It’s Axel. Axel Luxe.”

She laughs. “AJ, I’ve seen your passport?—”

“It’s fake. I didn’t move here for school. I came here because my dad is a dangerous guy, and I needed to get away from him,” I say, and she stares at me, lips parted. “But something has happened to his wife?—”

“Wait, I thought your dad was dead. Does that mean they’re coming to the wedding?”

“Enough about the wedding!” I say, exasperated. “Mydad is a drug dealer. He’s a killer. But I need to go home because Denver might be hurt.”

I release her and stride to the bedroom closet. I move aside boxes from the top shelf and grab the carry-on, unzipping it and emptying the cash and gun onto the bed. Harriett freezes, her gaze flicking between me and the cash.

“Why do you have a gun?” she whispers.

“Because there was always a chance they’d find me,” I say and move to her, but she steps back. It hurts, but I get it. My life is terrifying, so I can’t expect her to be on board this quickly. “I understand if you don’t want to come, but I have to go.” I go back to the closet, grabbing one of the two backpacks. One for her, one for me, ready to run. Always fucking ready to run. “Are you coming?”

“No,” she says. “Stop saying all this stuff. What is wrong with you?”

“You need time. I get it. Call me when you’re ready to talk.” I pack some of the cash, sling my backpack onto my shoulder, and head for the door.

“AJ, if you walk out, do not come back! This is clearly some fucked-up cold feet situation, and?—”

I face her. “Harriett, google my name. Google the Luxes. If you’re ready to accept what you read, then call me.”

I’m halfway to the car when I press dial.

“Hello?” His voice is rough but exactly as I remember. It brings out the visceral urge to lock myself away and hide, but I’m older now. I’m nothing like the man who ran a year ago.

“Dad?”

Silence. “Axel?”

“Is she alive?”

“… Yes. Yeah, she is.”

I unlock the car. “I’m coming home.”