Page 8 of Velvet and Valor (Platinum Security: Shadows of LA #4)

“Unfortunately, there’s no information on anyone named Moorcrock,” Jax says. “From what you told us, June, it’s likely an alias. So, no help there. Likewise, the yacht you mentioned has no registration on file. It’s going to make finding the people who abducted you much more difficult.”

“I don’t even want to find them,” I reply.

“I know.” Jax’s jaw works silently for a moment. “But they probably want to find you.”

“If we find them first, they won’t be able to hunt you down,” Axel adds helpfully.

I sigh and cover my eyes with my hand.

“Good grief. Isn’t there an option C?”

Jax taps an ink pen against his desk like a drum while he gathers his thoughts.

“We could move you to a secure location,” he says. “Which of course means there will be no contact between you and any friends, family, or business associates.”

I pull my hand away from my face and give him a hard stare.

“How long would that be?” I ask.

Jax shakes his head.

“There’s no way of knowing for sure.”

“A few days?” I say, but Jax doesn’t respond. “A week? Months? Years?”

His continued silence is far more telling than anything he could have said.

“I would lose my job, and while I’m not vain enough to think that the studio would collapse without me, I couldn’t live with myself if it did and it was my fault…” the words tumble out of me, and I realize I’m not trying to convince Jax. I’m trying to convince myself.

“I understand,” Jax says, spreading his hands out wide. “But I hope that you understand that is the standard operating procedure in these situations.”

I arch a brow at him. “Yes, but your better half Easton told me that you don’t always go by standard procedures.”

“You can say that again,” Axel says in a sudden eruption. “Me and Dane shot the hell out of…ah, never mind.”

Jax glares him to silence before turning back to me.

“It’s true that we’ve developed something of a maverick reputation. It’s also true that our, shall we say, ‘active’ methods of protection have met with a perfect success rate.”

Axel looks like he wants to say something, but he doesn’t. I can guess what’s on his mind. Platinum Security does indeed have a flawless success rate for protecting their clients.

But they also have a reputation for causing mayhem in the process.

“So,” I say slowly, “my choices are to torpedo my own life, potentially for years, until this all blows over…or to go after the people who are after me.”

“Like a fish hanging out on the dorsal fin of a shark,” Axel says. “They’ll never expect it.”

Jax gives Axel a stare that says he’s not helping. But I’ve already made up my mind.

“I’ve come too far, worked too hard to let this situation ruin my life.” I give Jax a nod. “I’m on board with your methods. Hopefully I’ll survive the experience.”

Jax smiles reassuringly. “Don’t worry. Everybody who’s come through this office door has made it out alive.”

So far, I think but do not say. Let’s hope I’m not an innovator in this regard.

Jax turns to Axel. “Are you going to be able to handle this one? Right out of the box? There is no overstating how important this job is to me, and even more so to my wife.”

“Yeah, I can handle it,” he says quickly, eyes flashing over to me for a brief moment. “I won’t let anyone hurt June.”

“Make sure that extends to innocent bystanders. You can hurt the bad guys all you want, but keep collateral damage to a minimum,” Jax says, giving Axel a serious glower.

“Got it,” Axel replies, not sounding the least bit flip for once.

I sign the contract and obtain my protection. Not what I was expecting when I got off the plane this morning, but it could be worse. I could be dead, would be dead if it weren’t for Axel.

Axel is raring right away to go find Moorcrock. But I have other plans.

“I’m covered in sweat and debris from the limo wreck,” I say, gesturing to myself. “I desperately need a shower and a change of clothes. Also, I need to replace everything that was in my luggage, like a phone charger. I’m down to single digits on charge.”

“Okay,” Axel says.

“So, you need to take me to my place.”

“Not okay!” he says, eyes widening. “That’s the first place Moorcrock is going to look for you.”

“How do you know Moorcrock even knows my real identity?” I counter. “I never told him.”

Axel arches his brows.

“I swear, I’m not trying to be a dick right now,” he says. “But check it out.”

He shows me his phone. The limo chase, wreck, and gun battle are all over social media. Including many, many close up shots of my face. They even have footage of an interview with Bob the Bartender.

“Maybe if you didn’t have such a strong presence on the internet,” he says. “But you have an Insta, an X, a Reddit--you even have a Quora account? Wow, I didn’t know they were still around.”

“I’m an independent film producer, I have to rely on word of mouth and engaging with the public is the best way to do that,” I say, a little miffed.

“I’m not judging!” he says quickly, holding up his hand. “I’m not judging at all. I’m just saying that it will take Moorcrock or more likely a Gen Z working for Moorcrock about five seconds on Google to reverse image search and dox you.”

My heart sinks. He’s probably right.

“So, I can’t go home?” I ask.

“Not for the moment, I’m sorry,” he says as he bats his eyelashes at me. “But I can take you to get some new clothes, and we can shower at a place I know.”

I give him a long look.

“I mean, so you can take a shower,” he amends hastily. “I mean, I don’t need a shower…or do I? Do I smell?”

He sniffs his own armpit and I slap a hand over my face. Unreal.

“Do you think I need a shower? I mean, obviously, I won’t take it at the same time you do, but if I need one don’t be afraid to—”

I slap my hand onto his face, and I cover his mouth.

“Shut. Up.”

I hold my hand there for a moment until I’m sure he gets my meaning. Then I take it away. He starts to open his mouth, probably to say sorry but I start to reach for his face again and he stops.

Note to self: Telling Axel to shut up has an efficacy of about four minutes. Not two miles down the road from the security office and he starts talking again.

“Is this mall off the freeway going to work?”

“Sure,” I say, not bothering to look.

The mall he speaks of has seen better days. About half the shops are closed, but there are enough clothiers that I can pick out a few outfits. Nothing I’d wear to a premiere…or a first date…but passable enough garments.

Axel takes me to a hole in the wall apartment next. It’s quite small, but there’s plenty of room due to the fact that there is almost no furniture. Or kitchen appliances. Or dishes…

There’s a big screen TV on the wall, a beanbag chair, and a PS5 sitting on the box it probably came in. Other than that, nothing. Not even curtains.

“Ahem,” I say. “Which way is the bathroom? And do you even have towels?”

“Through that hallway, should be towels in there. It’s my buddies place, closest thing to us at the moment,” he says, indicating the only hallway. I nod and start down it.

He stares for a few moments before I clear my throat.

“So, I’m going to shower now—”

“Right, sorry.”

He has to move out of the hallway in order for me to close the door. It’s that cramped. The shower head in the tub is just a bare inch over my head. How does the six-and-a-half-foot tall Axel manage? He must really have to crane his head to even get his hair wet.

I clean my body, disappointed that I’m in yet another unfamiliar bathroom. I really was looking forward to spending some time at my own house. I dress business casual, with pants instead of a skirt, and pair it with flat shoes. If I have to run, I want to be prepared.

When I leave the bathroom, I find Axel pacing back and forth in the living room, texting up a storm with someone. Whoever is on the other line has much shorter responses than Axel.

I feel a bit awkward, because there’s nowhere to sit but the bean bag chair and I’m not about to do that. It looks too dubious to support me. I’m left standing around watching him text and pace.

There’s a raw energy in Axel’s movements. Something primal. I saw a mountain lion on a hike once, far enough away that I didn’t soil myself but too close for comfort. Axel has the same energy as that mountain lion. Sleek, almost majestic at times, but lethal.

I realize I’m starting to look at Axel the way he watches me when he thinks I’m not looking. I remind myself he’s a bit of a goof who doesn’t take life seriously enough in a vain attempt to deny my own truth.

Finally, he grins in triumph and stows his phone away.

“All right, I got us a lead,” he says proudly. “Our first step to finding Moorcrock.”

When we go to the apartment parking lot, I’m surprised to see one of those auto glass replacement people finishing up the rear window. Axel waves the red-shirted employee off.

“Looks good, man,” he says. “You can stop now. I don’t care about a couple of finger smudges.”

“That was quick,” I say. “I can’t even get a same day appointment with those people, and you got one in an hour.”

“The owner had an ex-boyfriend that wouldn't leave her alone,” Axel said. “I straightened him out with one visit, and ever since then I get the VIP treatment.”

“I see. So, you slid right into her DMs, right?”

A laugh rips out of Axel that’s so spontaneous and infectious I can’t help but smile.

“Oh my god…sixty. She’s sixty! The boyfriend was like seventy. I mean, not that it’s a deal breaker for me. The older the berry the…”

He stops himself and turns a little red.

“Sorry. Army humor.”

“I work in a male dominated industry, Axel,” I say with a chuckle. “I’ve heard much worse, but I appreciate you trying for my sake.”

“Yeah, well…”

He holds the door open for me, which is both gentlemanly and unexpected.

“There used to be a guy in my unit,” he continues, getting behind the wheel of the Charger. “His name was Daniel, I think. Anyway, he was short, Italian, and had a mustache so I called him Mario. Like Super Mario brothers?”

“I get the reference.”