“It’s still coming together,” Aksel replies, his eyes focused on the road ahead. “We need to bring down this illegal fighting ring. They won’t ever let Blaze go, so our only option is to end them.”
Blaze shifts uncomfortably in the front seat, his silence finally broken by a low growl. “They’ll do anything to keep their investments,” he warns, his eyes dark.
Aksel’s grip tightens on the steering wheel, a steely determination settling over him. “We’re an elite team, remember? We just brought Killian down. We can handle this.”
I swallow hard, my heart pounding against my rib cage as I weigh the enormity of our task. “But how do we even begin to bring them down?” I ask, my voice barely louder than a whisper.
Aksel hesitates, and it’s Blaze who reluctantly provides the answer. “We’ll need to do it from the inside,” he admits, his voice strained. “Which means I have to keep fighting.”
My stomach churns at the thought of Blaze once again being subjected to the brutality of the ring, and I clench my fists in frustration. We’ve come so far together, and the prospect of him going back into that hellish world is almost too much to bear.
“No,” I insist, my voice firm. “There has to be another way. We can’t just send you back into that hell, Blaze.”
“Not alone we can’t,” Aksel says resolutely.
“We can’t sit and do nothing. They’ll catch up to us eventually.” Felix squeezes my hand.
“So, we stick together and protect Blaze?” Griffyn asks.
Blazes chokes out, “I’m not worth this.”
His words make me so furious I hiss at him with my fangs out. “We aren’t doing this again. You are worth it. End of story. I am furious with you but that doesn’t mean we are throwing you to the wolves!”
Everyone is looking at me shocked but I’ve had enough.
“Anna is right. If you’re going back in so we can take them down from the inside then we are with you every step of the way. Decision final.” Aksel’s voice is firm and even I wouldn’t argue with him right now.
Luckily, we are on the same side.
We continue discussing possible strategies as the car rolls along the highway, never settling on anything concrete. It’s frustrating, but I know we’re all committed to finding a solution that doesn’t put anyone in unnecessary danger.
Conversation finally lapses and I watch as the landscape outside blurs together. Suddenly, Aksel swerves off the road and pulls into a secluded car dealership. He hops out of the vehicle, motioning for us to stay put.
I see his darkness swarm around him, hiding his actions from any cameras.
“Switching the plates,” he explains, his voice muffled through the closed window. “Can’t be too careful.”
I nod, understanding the importance of covering our tracks. As Aksel carefully removes the license plate, I can’t help but wonder if our efforts will be enough.
Hours later, we pull up to our destination, a modest but well-maintained house nestled among tall trees. Aksel opens the door and ushers us inside, his expression unreadable.
“Anna,” he says, turning to me. “You’ll take the biggest bedroom.” He points down a hallway, and I can’t help but notice the quiet authority in his voice.
“Are you sure?” I ask, feeling somewhat guilty for taking the best room. But Aksel simply nods, leaving no room for argument.
“Go on,” he urges, and I obey, the weight of my bags suddenly feeling heavier in my grip.
After depositing our belongings in our respective rooms, we reconvene in the living room, none of us eager to be alone with our thoughts just yet. There’s a palpable tension in the air as we sit on mismatched furniture, all facing one another.
“Okay,” I begin, curious about the logistics of our current situation. “Aksel, how do you set up these safe houses? How can you be sure they’re untraceable?”
He leans back in his chair, taking a moment to collect his thoughts before answering. “There’s a network I can utilize. It’s made up of people who specialize in providing safe havens for those in need. But I don’t rely solely on them. I take extra precautions to ensure our tracks are covered.”
“Like switching the plates on your car?” Rion interjects, and Aksel nods.
“Exactly. I also make sure there are no electronic transactions or digital footprints that could lead back to us. Everything must be done under the radar.”
As he speaks, I find myself studying his face, all I see is determination, and an unwavering commitment to keeping us safe.
