Page 106 of The Saviors: Part One

“She’s had a tough couple of days.”

He nods. “I know. Do you think we’re doing the right thing?”

“What do you mean?”

“By disturbing her life. She was fine on her own.”

“Was she, though? Or did she just think she was?”

He scrubs both hands down his face. “I don’t fucking know. Look at what she’s gone through just since we’ve been here.”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Chelsea can speak her own mind. If she didn’t want us here, we wouldn’t be.”

He chuckles at that. “You’ve got that shit right. I’m just worried about her.”

“That’s love, man.”

“I do love the hell out of that woman. I’ve never felt like this.”

I haven’t since her.“It couldn’t have happened with a better person, Sean.”

“Do you think Axel’s going to be okay?”

That I don’t have an answer to. The look in his eyes when I walked into that room is the same look he had when he shot my dad. He looked like a scared kid and not the leader I’ve come to know. Axel turned off a lot of himself to become who he is, and us being here has brought all that shit crashing down on him, forcing him to feel again. It’s just a matter of time before Charlie comes after Axel, and he needs to be at his best to face him. My only hope is after his bender tonight, he’ll be okay tomorrow. The Saviors don’t exist without Axel because none of us can make the calls he has to make.

“Maybe you should chill on the booze,” Kai says to Axel.

Axel snorts. “I’m fine.” Axel tips a bottle to his lips, and Kai shakes his head.

“Do you think we should stop him?” Nolan asks, worried.

“Do you want to walk over and take that from his hands?” Sean asks. “Because I don’t. Axel’s a big boy. He can handle it.” I wasn’t going to disagree with that and worry Nolan anymore. But the truth is, Axel can’t handle his liquor. Just like his father.

I stand up and take matters into my own hands. I walk over and pull the bottle from Axel’s hands. “Alright, it’s time for bed,” I say.

“Who died and made you fucking boss?” he slurs.

“Your alcohol tolerance died and made me boss. Now, stand the hell up.” I throw his arm over my shoulder and pull him up. He staggers so bad that it almost takes us both down. “Jesus Christ. Where can I lay his drunk ass down at?”

“Any of the rooms upstairs is fine,” Kai answers. “Do you need help?”

“No. I’m good.” It won’t be the first time I’ve dragged his drunk ass to bed. “Come on.”

With Axel leaning heavily against me, we make our way inside and up the stairs. Barely. I push open the first door I find and dump him into bed. I get his legs onto the bed and pull his boots off, then his jeans. He flops over onto his stomach and tucks his arms under the pillow. I shake my head and go to leave the room.

“I’m so goddamn sorry, Cole.”

I walk back over and sit on the side of the bed. “For what?”

He turns to face me. “Why did you stick by me?”

“Because you’re my best friend, Axel. You need to sleep.”

“I don’t deserve it. I don’t deserve you, Nolan, or Chelsea’s forgiveness.”

“Fuck, man.” I lay down on the bed beside him. “You’re just drunk.”

“No,” he argues, but I hear his voice drifting off. “I should have never gone after your dad.”