Page 138 of Pretty Broken Wings

Axel looks pale for a second. Then I see the thoughts rolling in and recognize the second he thinks about turning this on me.

Oh god. Instead of scaring me, his challenging look just makes me want to fight harder. I’m going to poke the bear. Because I can. Because he deserves it.

I raise an eyebrow. “You’re going to fucking throw it away.” I may be shorter than Axel, bending low to hold Buddy, but I still do my best to look down my nose at him.

A mean smirk crosses Axel’s face, making goosebumps run across my arms.

Then, Axel drops to his knees beside me. He lifts a hand, and I flinch, but he only brushes away hair that had fallen into my face. Gently. Then he runs a finger down my cheek, and god, if I’m not turned on by it.

Axel talks low, leaning in, “At a certain point, I’ll think you’re asking for it, brother or not.” His breath brushes my neck. “Don’t tempt me, little bird.”

Goosebumps run up and down my arms. He looks at them and smirks. Then, gently, he runs his hands across them. “Your lust feels so pretty.”

Then he gets up and stalks out of the house.

I have a second to catch my breath.

Fuck. I got caught up in… him. Just like I do with Gage. Just as soon as I think that though, I realize it doesn’t matter. I’m leaving. None of this matters.

That sobers me. I try to get my body to calm down because I’m not done with my task. I’ll be damned if I leave the house without at least cleaning up the mess I made.

When Axel comes back in, I throw a rag at him. “I'll spray, you wipe.” My thumb is getting better. Still sore, but I have a lot more movement now. I spray enough cleaner on the couch that it’ll be wet to sit on. But I need to get as much milk out as I can.

I expect Axel to say something. To keep flirting. But he doesn’t. He just gets to work beside me, silently cleaning.

“You’re leaving today,” Axel says. It’s not a question.

I glance at him, a little startled. How the hell did he know that? Is he going to try and stop me?

There’s a glint of mania in Axel’s eyes, then he goes back to the couch.

“You’re a coward for leaving.”

The accusation cuts deep. I jerk back. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me, little bird.” His voice is quiet. Soft.

Anger fills me, and my cheeks get hot. How dare he? I’m my own person. I’m allowed to go and do whatever I want, especially if that means leaving a place I was forced to stay in.

Slowly, I suck in a breath. “You know, you act like some meathead who only wants to get his dick wet, but I think, deep down, you’re just a scared little boy.”

Axel freezes, and I know I’ve hit something sensitive. He watches me, and I see his tongue moving along his teeth behind his closed lips. “Makes two of us, huh?” Then he drops his rag and steps away. Just in time for Gage to walk in, sans shirt.

“Oh. Hey.” He narrows his eyes at Axel, who tenses.

Axel’s trying to throw on his mask with a joking smile, but I see how thin it is. He doesn’t want Gage to see the real him.

Too bad. If he’s gonna call me out on leaving, I’m gonna call him out on his bullshit. I throw a blinding smile at Gage.

“Axel was just offering to stay. He’s gonna help clean, then have lunch with us.”

I hear Axel make a sound of disagreement. Gage frowns for a second but then says, “Oh. Okay. Sounds good.”

And Axel shuts up. Like I knew he would.

“I'll get something started.” Gage moves to the kitchen.

I throw a triumphant grin at Axel, who glares at me in return. Then, I send him a wink and get back to cleaning.