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“Any intel that might represent a breach of safety to our team or family is a mandatory silence order until that threat is cleared. Adrian and I can’t even reach our team,” Axe explains.
“Then we know something went wrong,” Mia replies, “aside from the obvious house exploding.” She gives an awkward laugh. “I guess that was a stupid statement.”
“There’s a difference between getting your mind around something,” Axe replies, “and stupid. That wasn’t stupid.”
I walk to the bar and pour a whiskey for me and Axe. If he won’t drink his, I will. I return to the living room where Mia has flipped on the news on the big screen and claimed the couch, while Axe is now sitting in the chair to her left. I set the whiskey in front of him and then claim a spot next to Mia.
“As much as it pains me to decline yet again what I’m certain is a fine, and expensive whiskey,” Axe says, “I must. Chocolate is my only on-duty sin.”
Mia perks up. “Did someone say chocolate?” She casts me a hopeful look. “Please tell me you have some?”
“We have plenty,” I assure her because she loves chocolate and it just became a habit to keep it in the house. “Always.”
Her eyes soften with the knowledge that any stock of chocolate is about her, not me, and she kisses my cheek before she walks to the kitchen. “We both know that whiskey isn’t going to affect you.” And because I’m an observer, a man who reads people fast and well, I add, “We both also know that you’re a duty kind of guy, a rule-maker, and follower. Drink it. I won’t hold it against you.”
Mia deposits a big bowl of chocolate on the table. “I claim the Heath bars. I’ll chew your arm off for these things.”
Axe studies me a moment, grabs the whiskey glass, downs the bourbon, and smiles. “Damn that’s good. Thank you.” He then grabs a Mr. Goodbar. “I’d chew your arm off for one of these things, I love them so much.”
Mia laughs and hands me a basic Hershey’s. “That’s all that’s left for you.”
She manages to tease a hint of a smile from me, that I don’t expect. I down my whiskey, set my glass down, and accept the candy.
“Did you know that chocolate really does affect the stress cortisol levels during an extreme stress spike?” Mia asks. “If you eat it every day just to eat it, then it increases your stress cortisol but during stress, it lowers it.”
“Well, then I better have another Goodbar,” Axe says, snapping up a second candy bar.
“What’s your story, Axe?” I ask.
“Ex-CIA which means I have no story.” He down his candy and grabs three more.
“Of course you have a story,” Mia insists. “Do you have family?”
“No,” he says.
“Where are you from?” she asks.
“All over.”
Her brow furrows. “Considering you don’t talk unless it’s about chocolate and all Adrian does is talk, how do you put up with each other?”
He holds up a miniature Goodbar. “I eat candy so I won’t kill him.” His eyes catch on the TV before he points to the remote. “Turn that up.”
I down the chocolate in my hand and grab the remote, turning up the volume as a picture of a man flashes on the screen. “In a bizarre twist,” the newscaster is saying, “This man, Brian Johnson, was not home when his home exploded tonight, but he was later found dead in his car outside an event he attended tonight. The cause of death is yet to be determined.”
Axe grabs his phone from his pocket and dials. “Adrian,” he says. “Yeah. I just saw it on the news.” He listens a minute and hangs up. “He’s on his way to the lockdown location to try to get answers.”
“Lockdown location?” Mia asks before I get the chance.
“If our team locked down for safety reasons,” Axe explains, “that’s where they’ll go.”
The doorbell rings and my spine stiffens, my eyes narrowing on Axe. “If Adrian isn’t here, who is that?”
Axe is already on his feet, drawing his weapon.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Grayson
“Grayson?” Mia asks, pushing to her feet, all doe-eyed with fear, and why wouldn’t she be? Axe has a gun in his hand, charging for the door that he knows is protected by a security system. I like the guy but damn it.
“Not enough chocolate or whiskey clearly, baby,” I reply mildly by intent. I’m not going to add to her stress with a bombastic reaction. “Stay here just to be safe.” I kiss her temple and force myself to walk with measured steps toward the door when I’d rather fucking run.
Still, I manage a fast enough pace to be on Axe’s heels when he enters the foyer. “There’s a security camera,” I say because maybe I’m wrong and he doesn’t know.
