"They used to play cards in here."
Axar looked to his left, a wince taking over his face."There was a table in the corner with some glasses and bottles.Neoma served them, and someone wanted to put her in the pot."
"Put her in the pot, as in...be able to win her?"Nausea rolled over him.
Axar nodded, then jerked back as if attacked by something invisible.Without thinking, Franklin stepped between him and where he believed the attacker would be and let out a low growl.He couldn't see anyone, couldn't smell anyone, but Axar acted as if something was there.Imaginary or not, they weren't allowed to attack him.
When he looked at Axar over his shoulder, his mouth had fallen open.
"What?"There was still too much growl in his voice.
"Nothing.You--" He shook his head.
"I what?"
"Protected me."
Franklin didn't reply.He wasn't sure he'd protected him.How could he when he didn't see anything threatening?
"She's agitated.She didn't mean to hurt me, but they often get confused when they're in a location of past trauma."
In a location of past trauma?Franklin had no idea what it meant.Did she die here?In this room?
"What does she need?"Was it the right thing to ask?He didn't have a clue.
Every muscle in Axar's body stiffened."I have to go.They're here.I can't let Axton touch me."
"Who is he?"Franklin could fight him.
"My brother."
"Axton and Axar?"Did their motherwantto confuse their names?
"And Addox."
"Your other brother?"The two who came with his mother to get him every time.
"Yeah, but he's...kind."
Kind?
Axar was moving toward the door."I have to go.I can't be in the same room as them."The fear was more intense than Franklin had ever seen before.
"Let's go."He grabbed his car keys from the desk.Then he raised his voice."Elvin!"
No reply came, but he was pretty sure Elvin could hear him.
"I'll be out for a few minutes.If you could keep them there with you, it would be great."
Then he ushered Axar toward the back door.
Franklin looked around the small parking lot.There was no one there."Let's go."
"She can control me if she's close enough."Axar was huddling by the wall, not looking ready to step away from the building.
Fucking psychics."Come on."He held his hand out, but Axar didn't take it as he'd hoped.He did step closer, though.
"See the red Ford."Franklin gestured at his car parked at the end of the row.
