Page 131 of Broken Souls

When I step out of the prison into the daylight, it's a little easier to breathe. I walk to Dash's house but I don't even remember walking there with the turmoil my mind is in. Ryleigh is holding Cash when I walk in.

“Is everything okay?” she asks, concerned.

“I don't know,” I murmur.

“What happened? Dash got a mind link and was gone immediately.”

“Axe lost it. Would it be too much for me to ask you let Cash stay here tonight? I don't know how Axe will react when he wakes up.”

“No, that's okay. Do you want to bring some baby stuff here?”

“Okay.”

I go next door to pack a bag for Cash and then drop it off to Ryleigh. I mind link Dash.

'Has he woken up yet?'

'No.'

I decide to walk around the pack, to get some air, to clear my head. What will Axe do when he wakes up? Is Joel dead? I really have to put a stop to the violence now that we have Cash. I will never let Cash grow up and witness that side of Axe. I see Jayceon walking in the distance.

“Jayceon,” I call.

“What?” He frowns.

“Can I ask you something?” I stop in front of him.

“You will anyway.”

“Did Axe ever hit Alina?” I whisper. Jayceon's eyes go wide, beyond wide.

“No, Axe worshipped that girl. Who told you that?”

“Dash asked me if Axe has ever hurt me. He seems to think he would,” I tell him.

“Dash means when Axe blacks out, he'll destroy anyone, including you. When he gets angry, it's like he goes blind. He doesn't know who's around him.”

“Do you have any advice on what I should do when he wakes up?”

“I don't know. But the Joel situation is taken care of.”

“What do you mean?”

“Dash is going to tell Axe that's Joel’s dead. He's not. But Levi and I dragged Joel out of the territory, way beyond the boundary. He most likely will die out there in his state. But maybe now Axe will be secure with you. Don't ever mention to him that Joel may be alive. Levi and I propped some dirt up in the cemetery to make it look like someone was buried so Axe would believe it.”

Wow. Joel still went free. But given how bloody he was, maybe only his spirit was set free.

“Why didn't you actually kill him and bury him?” I question. Wouldn't that have been easier?

“Because we're not killers,” Jayceon says aggressively. “We might be soldiers but not every one of us has killed. Only a few of the soldiers have killed a rogue before.”

“Ohh.” I look down, just completely disoriented by everything.

“Joel is as good as dead out there anyway.”

Chapter Eighty

I'm lying here in bed waiting for Axe to get here. I'm not sure how long a sedative lasts but he should be awake by now. I bounce my leg in anticipation, waiting for his arrival. The door eventually opens downstairs and I hear two sets of footsteps so Dash must be with him. They come upstairs and when Axe opens the door, his eyes stare at mine but he doesn't say anything. He looks normal.