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We drive quietly through the city, Peter tapping away at his phone. He’s probably responding to work emails, but even that reminds me of texting Zoey, tempting me to grab my cell.
We pull up outside the halfway house, a sad-looking building. I’d feel like a jerk for coming here to cause trouble if this Axel idiot hadn’t threatened Mallory and, by extension, Zoey, making her feel uncomfortable and scared in her own home.
“Okay,” Peter says. “I think I’ll go in and pose as a… wait… That’s him.”
Peter gestures to the door as a man emerges. He’s tall and well-built, with broad shoulders and thick muscles pressing through the fabric of his faded blue shirt. He’s bald and walks like wannabe tough guys do, swaggering and looking for trouble. Well, he’s just found it.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“Definitely. Older than the photo I’ve got, but it’s the same man.”
“No time like the present,” I say, climbing from the car.
Peter follows me as I walk quickly across the street, right into Axel’s path. The tall, bald man stares at me, his eyes narrowed. I can read the urge to cause pain in those eyes, but something else. Like all cowards, he’s not willing to bully somebody who seems like they could actually fight back.
“Axel Todd,” I say.
He flinches. “Uh… yeah?”
I walk right up to him, staring at him eye-to-eye. It’s a strange feeling, looking at somebody who’s my height.
“I’m a friend of Mallory’s,” I growl.
Peter bristles beside me. Maybe it’s part of the intimidation tactic, wanting to appear as if he’s ready for a fight, or perhaps it’s me calling Mallory myfriendafter everything I’ve told him about Zoey.
“Oh,” Axel says, not so tough and scary anymore.
I walk even closer, enough to smell sweat, cigarettes, and fear.
“My name’s Jaxson Jordan. This is my friend, Peter. We were both in the Special Forces. Do you know what that means?”
Peter steps up next to me, glaring at the man. “It means we’re used to dealing with people far more dangerous than you, Axel. It means that if you ever bother Mallory or her family again…”
“There won’t be a fair fight,” I snarl, causing him to flinch again.
He looks ready to run away the first chance he gets.
“You’ll wake up one day to find us in your bedroom. You won’t know we’re there until we want you to.”
“And then,” I go on, picking up where Peter left off, “we’ll do what has to be done to keep Mallory safe. If that means burying you in an unmarked grave, we’ll do it. We’ve got no problem taking out scumbags.”
We’re exaggerating to scare the crap out of him, and it’s working. His lips are trembling. He looks like a scared little kid. I’d feel guilty if he didn’t deserve it.
“I just wanted us to try again,” he whispers.
“She doesn’t want to try again,” I snap. “She wants nothing to do with you. I know it’s difficult to move on, but you need to leave her alone. No more hanging around outside her house. No more intimidation. No more stalking. If I hear ofonemore instance, there will be blood and a lot of it. It won’t be quick either.”
Axel takes a step back. For a second, it looks as if he’s going to return to his tough-guy act, but then his shoulders deflate. He nods. “I don’t want any trouble.”
“Trouble’s exactly what you’ll get,” Peter says, “if you don’t take this warning seriously.”
“You can look me up if you want. Jaxson Jordan. I’m a writer now, but my service history is listed online. You’re out of your depth. You’ll drown if you carry on.”
“I p-promise,” Axel says. “I’m done. Okay? It’s over. She’ll never see me again.”
“She better not,” I growl, “or we won’t be so nice next time.”
He nods again, then hurries past us, stopping once to glance over his shoulder. He’s wearing a face of pure terror. Our job is done.
