Page 7 of Velvet and Valor (Platinum Security: Shadows of LA #4)

JUNE

“So, what do you think I stumbled into?”

“Honestly? I have no idea, but we will figure it out, one way or another. You are safe now, and I intend to keep it that way.”

The sheer determination on his face has my cheeks pinking in shame at my thoughts.

“I’m just happy to be done with it now, whatever it was that I stumbled into.”

A muscle twitches in his jaw as Axel looks at me, his lips pursing into a thin line.

“What?” I ask. “Why are you making that face at me?”

“June, I don’t know how to tell you this, but this isn’t over. Not by a long shot. I may not know what is going on exactly, but men like these… They don’t just stop. Not until they’ve got what they want.”

“I don’t have the time or patience for this Axel. Whatever this mess is, I don’t belong in it. I just want to go back to my quiet little life, sans the guns and car chases.”

“That’s wishful thinking if I ever heard it.” He throws me a sardonic smile.

“Well, what’s next then?”

“No clue. All I know is, my job is done now that you’re safe.”

I give him a dirty look.

“You’re going to leave me stranded here?”

“What? No!” He holds a hand up. “I never said that! I just mean that I am not sure exactly where we go from here yet. I won’t leave you alone, I can’t. You aren’t safe, this isn’t over. ”

Suddenly the weight of everything that has happened seems to collide into my chest in one giant avalanche of emotion. “Oh my god you are right. I know too much! I’ve seen faces, heard names…”

“I’ll take you back to the Platinum Security office,” he says helpfully. “Maybe you can get yourself a bodyguard. Maybe it will even be me.”

He double arches his brows in rapid succession. He thinks he’s being cute. You know, he might almost be cute if he’d stop acting like a testosterone factory for five minutes. Does he not see me losing my mind here? I can’t imagine someone being that obtuse. Maybe it’s an act?

A couple of times during the chase, I saw something in Axel’s eyes that says he’s much grimmer than appearances suggest. His quips are edged with pain. He probably doesn’t think anyone notices. Maybe most people don’t, but I’ve made a career out of reading the room.

So, I’m going to cut him some slack, and not just because he did rescue me…more or less.

“Let’s just go,” I say with a sigh.

I spend most of the ride to the office texting with my peeps at the studio. Despite what’s happened to me I still need to share the good news about our Langston Hughes bio. Plus, a lot of folks want to know I’m okay.

And I am okay, on the outside. On the inside, it’s a different story. This isn’t over. It can’t possibly be over. I’ve seen too much.

But I focus on the positive with my studio team. I guess I should take some comfort from the fact that if I die the studio will live on thanks to my efforts.

I should, but I can’t. I don’t wanna die.

The phone shakes in my hand. All of the adrenaline rushing through my body has faded. Now the full weight of my experience has sunk in.

“Hey,” Axel says. “You all right?”

“No,” I say truthfully.

“You’re alive,” he says. “Focus on that.”

“I’m alive, but for how long?” I say. “Whatever is going on with these people, it’s clearly something criminal. I’m a witness. That means I either have to die, or be put into some kind of protection program…and that would be even worse.”

“How so?” he asks. For a moment I think he’s being flip, but his eyes seem sincere. Huh. He has really pretty eyes, a shade of green that just misses jade…

“Not being able to talk to the people I love, ever again? Dropping out of my entire life and starting over somewhere?” I shake my head. “No, thanks. Especially since they’d probably set me up as a dishwasher or something.”

“Hmm,” he says, nodding. “OK, I get it. That would suck. I’d be bummed out at the prospect, too.”

“You picked a hell of a time to start saying things that make sense, Axel.”

“Better late than never? I mean, it’s literally the first time in my life that I’ve made any kind of sense whatsoever.”

Damn him, but I can’t help laughing. It wasn’t even that funny, it’s the way he said it. Like he’s joking, but not really.

Oh, fuck me. I’m attracted to him. Either that or the adrenaline is affecting me. For god’s sake, WHY, June? Just because he has gorgeous eyes, and a great laugh, and he saved my life…

Yeah, I’m so screwed. And now I’m just thinking about being screwed. He’s looking at me like he knows what I’m thinking. No way can he know what I’m thinking. Can he?

“Hey, are you thirsty?” he asks.

“Yes. Parched.”

“Let’s stop here,” he says, pulling off the highway onto the service road. “There’s a Mexican place that does fresh fruit juice and it’s so tasty you’ll die…er, sorry.”

“It’s all right. I know what you meant.”

The Mexican place is La Autentica. The menu is entirely in Spanish.

“Empanadas,” I say wistfully.

Axel flashes his dazzling grin and rattles off an order entirely in Spanish. Good Spanish, not hackneyed high school shit. He definitely orders Empanadas, too.

When we get our order, the empanadas are still literally steaming hot. I nibble the seam on mine until it opens up enough for heat and steam to come out. I blow into the little hole I made in an effort to speed up the process.

“Man, and people say I’m impatient,” Axel says.

“Get stuffed,” I say between blowing in my empanada. “I’ve kind of had a rough day.”

“Touché,” he replies. “Try your drink while you’re waiting.”

I sip the drink, and an explosion of flavor shatters my tastebuds. It’s like the best fruit punch I’ve ever had, times a thousand.

“Oh my god, you weren’t kidding,” I say. “This is better than sex.”

God-damn it, June! The last thing you want to do is encourage him…or is it the first thing? I don’t know, he’s looking over at me again. I’ll just slurp on my straw and pretend to be oblivious.

“So, is there anyone you need to call?” He asks as we pull out into traffic. “Parents, friends…a boyfriend?”

I give him the side eye.

“My parents died when I was too young to remember, and you’re not very subtle.”

Axel has the good grace to look utterly mortified.

“Sorry,” he says.

Well, I’ve learned that he CAN be at a loss for words. I was starting to wonder.

We arrive at the Platinum Security offices, which quite frankly are in a rougher neighborhood than I would have expected. I recognize Jaxon from the couple of times I’ve met him at industry events. Easton’s plus one and all. He hustles out the front door and comes over to greet us.

“You’re totally compensating me for this windshield, boss man,” Axel says, then gestures grandly at me. “Here she is. Not a scratch on her.”

“Were you able to extract her without too much trouble?” Jax asks.

“Piece of cake, smooth sailing all the way,” Axel replies. I give him a sharp look.

“Piece of cake,” Jax repeats, picking up a bit of shattered glass from the rear window. “Smooth sailing. Uhuh.”

Jax gives me a querying look. I shrug.

“I’m alive, and I might not be if he hadn't showed up when he did,” I say. “Smooth enough.”

Axel looks equal parts confused and grateful.

“All right, fair enough,” Jax says. “Please step into my office, June. My wife has given me strict orders to give you the VIP treatment.”

“You already did,” Axel pipes in. “You sent me to rescue her.”

“Don’t push your luck,” I mutter under my breath.

Once we’re in Jax’s office, the big boss stares Axel down. Hard.

“All right,” Jax says. “Tell me everything. And don’t leave the smallest detail out.”

Axel shrugs. “No shit, there I was, cruising along behind this limo and…”

Axel relates the story more or less with accuracy. But between you and me, he’s not exactly a born screenwriter. For all his charm and wit, his narrative skills could use some work.

But it’s good enough for Jaxon.

“Sounds like you did good, under the circumstances,” Jax says. “Though why you didn’t just call the police when you found the limo is beyond me.”

“Traffic was all jammed up. Not sure a cop could have even reached us at that point. Besides, you didn’t say go find ‘em and call the fuzz. You said rescue the damsel in distress, and I, your shiny new Knight, have done just that.”

Jax arches a brow. “So, by saying you’re my knight, does that mean you’re officially accepting the position?” he asks.

“Yeah, sure,” Axel replies with a shrug as if it doesn't matter.

Jax looks over at me.

“And you’re willing to accept a bodyguard detail?”

“I would be, but I need to check with my studio to see if we can afford it–” I begin.

“Don’t worry about costs,” Jaxon says. “Easton has you covered.”

My face flushes red and a grateful smile comes to my lips.

“Thank you.”

He nods, then turns his gaze back on Axel.

“Keep June safe while we get this sorted out.” He picks up the landline phone on his desk. “First things first, though. I have a friend on the LAPD. June, can you tell him everything that you told us?”

I nod, and he dials the number. I haven’t held a phone with a cord since I was a kid. It feels weird in my hand.

I tell the LAPD everything I can remember, which turns out to be not a whole lot. I can’t even remember the color of the limo! It drives me more than a little bit insane.

“Don’t feel bad,” Axel says. “I got run over by a motorcyclist in Thailand and I don’t know what color the bike was, either.”

“How do you get run over by a motorcycle?” I have to ask.

“I’m very clever,” Axel replies with a wink.

Damn it, I laugh before I can stop myself. Now he’s going to think that I think he’s funny and cute.

After I get off the phone, Jax talks to his cop buddy for a little bit. He turns his chair around and speaks in low tones, so I can’t quite make out what he’s saying. I definitely hear the name Moorcrock at least once, though.

Eventually, Jax hangs up and faces us.