Page 24 of Not Her Day to Die

“Sunday, that is the least ‘weird’ thing in our lives. It is honestly what makes the most sense. Even if it did take awhile for us to listen to Axel.”

“Axel?” My memory snaps back to the roof with him. To him explaining his plans. “Of course it would be him.”

“But I get your point on being thebait.” The word hisses out between his teeth. “I don’t agree with it. I don’t think it’s right. But I understand that you are stubborn and even if we say no and try to stop you, you’re still going to do it.Just promise me, promise me that we can be with you every step of the way. And please remember, that woman, that agent. She’s a mother first and FBI second. She will cross any lines she can if it means reuniting with her daughter.” Grayson reaches down, squeezing my hand. “And I may be agreeing to this, but that doesn’t mean Axel will. In fact…I’m going to head to the restaurant for a bit and try to see if anything is needed.”

The restaurant. “Is it okay? How have you been running it?” From what I gathered when I woke up, he had barely left my side in over a month.

“It’s fine, I was able to hire some help and a few of our veteran cooks stepped up to manage. With everything that happened, well to be honest…it’s been more busy than ever because of what Darius did. There are people from all over the country coming out to support us.”

My stomach rolls. I can’t exactly describe the feeling of knowing that when I was at my worst, when I was bleeding out on the ground, thatmillions saw it, but I also know that if Darius hadn’t done what he did, I would have died, and we probably would be right back in a new cycle.

And we would have to go through all of this again.

Grateful, but embarrassed.

“Go inside, check on Axel. See if you can convince him. I’ll be back in a few hours.” Grayson reaches out, gifting me a comforting hug. “And Sunday? I understand that this is ‘weird,’ but I accept that my brothers share your heart too.”

On that parting note, I smile at him before sliding across the seat and exiting the truck. The purple strand between Grayson and me pulses just as strongly as before.

But there are two more.

One leads inside the house.

But the other?

Grayson backs out of the garage, shutting it behind him, but as he does I can see the third purple strand sprawling outside the garage, past the truck, all the way to the woods. It is iridescent in the setting sun’s glow.

It is in the direction I know the Thorne’s house to be, and I want more than anything to chase it down. I know with certainty Darius is at the end.

But first, I need to talk to Axel.

To convince him to let me do the opposite of what he wants.

To let me run face first into danger, if only for his brother’s sake.

I owe it to Darius. To Grayson and Axel. To Tripp. To Auggie. To all of the victims of this town.

My heart pounds painfully in my chest as my vision blurs. Wiping the tears from my eyes and trampling down the crippling depression that threatens to consume me, I make my way into the house.

11

September 23rd

What can I say to a man that has tried to keep me alive foryearsto persuade him that it is perfectly fine if I use myself as bait?

The idea sounds stupider laid out like that, but I know with certainty it is the only way Darius will come out of this unscathed. Nobody else cares if he is collateral. It is up to us to bring him home.

Axel and Grayson will be slaughtered on sight.

But me? Well, like Grayson said, the video Darius made garnered me fame. Surely, even the Thornes aren’t stupid enough to kill me so shortly after that.

“Axel?” I call out, but he doesn’t answer.

Walking through their house, I find my way to the stairs. There still isn’t any sign of Axel.

The house’s lights aren’t on, but the AC is running and the cool air leaves goosebumps across my skin.

Slowly I make my way up the stairs. “Axel?” I call out again.