Page 29 of Property of Brute & Axl
Well, there’s that answer, I suppose.
“Did anyone know she was going there?” Axl asks. Viking and Priest stand behind the doorman now; his fear is a scent in the air.
Viking leans in, growling in his ear, “You were asked a question, little man.”
“Sorry, sorry,” he stutters, shaking slightly. “Nora knew. A couple of your neighbors that you’re friendly with. Me,” he gulps loudly. “You asked if I’d keep an eye on Flip for you because Nora would be out of the country.”
“Has anyone else been around?” Axl questions him.
“No, just Mr. Reynolds. He collected a few things and was gone.” The name causes a buzzing in my head, making it hard to focus.
“You have keys to her condo?” Brute holds out a hand.
The man points inside. “Locked in the safe under the desk. I’ll grab them?”
“You do that,” Brute says, and the doorman scurries off like he’s been released from a leash. “Stay with us, princess.” His tone and eyes soften as he takes my jaw in his hand, forcing me to meet his stormy green eyes. They’re so dark and intense, speaking a thousand words without making a sound.
I agree, and he brushes a thumb across my bruised lip, redirecting my focus to the promise he made earlier. The distraction works. My body lights up for him. Nipples pebbling, sex pulsing with need, and breathing labored as I feel the ghost of their touches.
“Good girl.” His jaw ticks as his eyes wander down my frame before he releases me and turns to lead the way into the building.
He snatches the keys from the doorman without a word, while Izzy holds the elevator for us. Entering the lift with the five men accompanying me must be a sight because the doorman makes the sign of the cross as the doors close.
“I’m surprised he didn’t piss his pants.” Izzy’s sinister tone has the other men chuckling on the way up to the eighth floor.
The door panels slide open silently, and Brute leads the way out, down the hall, and to my condo at the end of the wing. Key in hand, he unlocks the locks, allowing Priest and Izzy to do a sweep of the rooms first. They told me this was how it would go before leaving this morning.
The prospects had been instructed to ignore everyone and just scope out the building after checking that the door was secure and there were no signs of forced entry.
“How did he get my key?” The words spit out without permission.
“Who?” Viking looks at me, a frown on his face, causing the scar to stick out more.
“Shawn Reynolds…. How did he get a key?” I don’t know why I’m expecting an answer.
“Your dad is trying to get you to marry him. Maybe he gave him one?” Axl offers.
“Maybe.” But it doesn’t feel right.
“Vik, go ask scaredy pants downstairs.” A sick smile crosses his face as he moves to carry out Brute’s instructions.
“All clear.” Priest reappears with Izzy. They remain in the hallway as we enter, leaving the door open.
My steps go slow as I take everything in, trying to ignite the locked memories unwilling to reveal themselves. Being here is a bit terrifying and relieving, all at once. Wandering into the open concept kitchen, dining, living room space, tears well in my eyes when I find Flip soaking up the heat lamp on his little rock—tank clean, and looking happy as can be.
“Flip!” Rushing over to him, his eyes open for me, and I like to think his croak is one of greeting. “He looks good.”
“He’s a frog.” Brute bends over to get a better look at him. Flip shoots his tongue out, smacking against the glass. “Asshole.”
Hiding my smile as Brute backs off, Axl opens the lid and reaches inside, scooping his little body up.
If frogs could glare, he’d be doing so at Axl for interrupting his tanning session. Holding him at eye level, Axl inspects the little amphibian as he snuggles down into his palm. “Never took you as a slimy critter kind of girl.” Returning him to the tank, Axl goes to the kitchen to wash his hands.
“Me, either,” I say, adjusting the placement of a few plants in the tank. “I was lonely, and Flip was too, so it just kind of happened.” There’s no regret about it, either. “Is he going to be a problem?” My chest squeezes uncomfortably just thinking about leaving him behind.
“No.” Brute still glares at my leaping friend. Relief knocks the weight off my shoulders. “He can come.” His head tilts as his lips curl. “Prospects will have fun figuring out how to keep him happy.”
Shaking my head as I move around the room, I try to find anything else familiar. A spark of joy or anger. Everything feels…foreign. Though pictures on a corner shelf by a window grab my attention.