Page 150 of Pretty Broken Wings

“Would it change anything if you knew I killed your ex?”

“What?” I start to dry off, then Axel’s words register. I blink, looking up. “What?”

“Would it change anything,” Axel raises an eyebrow, face deadpan, “if you knew I took a bat to Max’s head last night?”

I’m stuck, staring at him. There’s no way he’s serious… right?

He looks fucking serious. A multitude of emotions rush through me. Axel killed someone? Killed Max?

No way. No fucking way?

Axel’s expression doesn’t change. He doesn’t say, ‘gotcha’ or ‘kidding.’ Just stares at me.

I laugh. And as I laugh, Axel just stares, which makes me laugh harder.

“That’s what I thought.” Axel turns away.

“Wait.” I take a step towards him, then stop. This man says he killed someone. He’s dangerous. That thought makes a forbidden thrill rush through me. If what he’s saying isn’t a joke, it wasn’t just someone. It was Max. Fear, shock, and disbelief roll through me, but there’s something else. It almost feels like… relief.

“A bat?” I ask.

Axel looks at me like he wasn’t expecting that response.

“My bat?” I ask.

“Yes.” There’s the tiniest eyebrow raise.

“Oh my god.” I’m trying to process the information. Max. Max is dead? He usedmybat? A feeling of rightness fills me.

Axel turns to leave again, and I grab his arm this time. “Don’t go.”

Axel stares at me, his gaze conflicted. His eyes dance between mine, then drop down to my lips. He licks his. “Don’t make me say it.”

My heart is racing. “Say what?”

Axel steps into me. Just a tiny step, and I find myself sucking in a breath, heat rushing over me. Axel is hot, just like his brother, but it’s more than that. He’s an asshole. But I’ve seen under that mask. And now… he killed Max? For me? To… protect me?

I’m fucked, but among the conflicting emotions that brings me, it also makes me want to kiss him.

Axel takes another step, brushing my chest.

“What about Gage?” I ask breathlessly.

“Who do you think sent me in here?”

I’ve become a broken record of ‘no way.’ I’ve seen the way they bicker. No way Gage wants to just… share.

Then I remember the change in Gage. How the brothers seemed more at peace with each other.

Axel’s gaze is locked on me, and his entire body is tense. “I’m not a gentle person, Raven. I can’t be. I–” His voice locks up, then the mask falls back over his face. “That’s Gage. It’s not me.”

My heart is racing. This is crazy. Is this happening? Could I have both of them? What about my plan to run?

While I’m frozen, Axel drops his gaze and then turns back to the door. Oh my god. He’s going to leave, and this chance will be over. Axel is like me, and he’ll never offer twice.

“Wait,” I croak. “Wait.”

Axel freezes.