Axel: A Bad Boy Romance (21 page)

Chapter Thirty-Six

She raced back to the daycare and grabbed Cate. The five-year-old was furious and demanded to know why she had to leave. Marie tugged on her hand and pulled her down the road as she frantically looked around for a familiar face. He knew she was here, or he would know soon. She had to leave. She had to take Cate and go.

It wasn’t supposed to be this hard. She hadn’t planned on settling down so quickly. She was going to work a series of odd jobs, hop from town to town for a couple of months before finally settling down. She was supposed to leave a trail that would be impossible for Austin to follow. But instead she had fallen in love with the first town she had stopped at.

She fought back tears as she pulled her daughter down the street. Finally, she had enough and she stop and knelt down in front of her crying daughter. “Cate,” she said, trying to keep her voice even, “I know you don’t want to do this, but we have to leave. Today.”

“Why?” Cate demanded and tears streamed down her face. “I like it here. I don’t want to leave. Why do we have to go?”

“Because I said so,” Marie said standing back up. What else should she say? Your father’s coming and he’s dangerous and violent so we’re running away? No, Cate was too young. She wouldn’t understand. It was easier this way. There would be no more questions or discussions.

She continued to walk while, next to her, Cate’s tears dissolved into hiccups as she demanded to know why over and over again. But Marie remained stern and she walked Cate up into the mansion and then their apartment and told her to wait in the living room. Once she had started to move, everything became easier for Marie. This was normal; she remembered how to do this.

She would pack one bag for each of them. They would have to leave a lot behind. Cate’s drawings from daycare that were taped up around the walls would have to be left. The giant stuffed panda Axel had won her at a carnival, too, there wouldn’t be room for all of it. Marie focused on essentials. Shoes, clothes, coats, nothing else.

Cate refused to look at her as she moved across the living room. She crossed her arms and pouted on the couch and Marie did her best to ignore her. The materials for Elmsworth College sat on her dresser and she dropped them into the trash before grabbing some jewelry. The necklace Axel had given her, her grandmother’s ring. She packed only the most essential items. Her fancy dresses from her dates with Axel were left on the hangers.

She called Ingrid from inside the closet. “I’m sorry to do this to you on such short notice. But there’s an emergency back home and I have to leave. I won’t be able to come back. I’m really sorry,” and here she began to cry, though she fought the tears as hard as she could. “I really liked working here.” She hung up before Ingrid could say anything.

By then her bags were packed. She grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge and took one last look around her little apartment. They had only been there about two months, but already it felt like home. It wasn’t Arizona she would long to return to; it was this place, this small town and this mansion that had harbored her for so long.

There was one last thing to do. She grabbed every picture of Axel from every picture frame and pushed them into her bag. If Austin was going to come here, she didn’t want him finding out about Axel. Austin would want to go after him; he could kill him. Axel was strong, but he was also honorable. Austin wasn’t. He wouldn’t bother with a fight; he would just shoot to kill.

“Let’s go,” Marie said standing at the front door. She couldn’t think about what she was doing or what she was leaving behind. She would never meet a man like Axel Connelly again and she knew it, but she couldn’t let that stop her.

“No!” Cate screamed and then the little girl jumped off the couch and raced to her room slamming the door behind her and then locking it.

Marie looked aghast at the locked door. She raced over to it, but the knob wouldn’t budge. “Catherine DeSantos, you open this door right now young lady. You are in a lot of trouble.”

“No! I hate you! I don’t want to leave,”

Marie looked around desperately. Not now, she did not have time for Cate to throw a temper tantrum now of all times. Marie dropped the bags and ran to the kitchen where she ripped open drawers in her search for a screwdriver. She knew there was one around. Her one window had been rattling something fierce and Axel had fixed it for her. He told her to leave a screwdriver in the kitchen because she would need it again sooner rather than later.

She found it in the knife drawer and she raced back to the door and took a deep breath. “Cate?” She called out. “Honey, I know you don’t want to leave. But we have to. I can’t explain right now. You just have to trust me.”

“But why?” Cate screamed again.

“Open the door, Cate. This isn’t funny. You can’t be alone in there. What if something happens? How am I going to get to you through a locked door? Please, baby, please open the door.”

“No. I don’t care if anything happens to me.”

Marie quelled a scream as she got down on her knees and began quickly unscrewing the doorknob. The screw moved slowly and it seemed to go on forever. Patiently Marie continued to spin. What would Axel think when she just disappeared? She had already thrown her phone away. He would have no way to get into contact with her. They would never see each other again. He would go on to have a great career and be a famous fighter and she would be working in some diner off the freeway.

She could already see herself as a worn out old woman working at a greasy spoon regaling the younger girls with the tales of her wild youth.
Did I ever tell you about the time I dated a MMA fighter
, she would say? What else could he hope for in this life? She would always be running from Austin. She could never really be settled. She could never have a real life and a real family.

The screws moved ever so slowly. Finally, one fell out and she moved onto the next. What if she confronted Austin? What if she took him to court over Cate? She had a job and place to stay; she could win custody. But what if he fought for custody and won, or what if they had to share it? She would have to see him and deal with him all the time. She would need to move back to Arizona. What if he decided not to bother with the courts? Austin had always considered himself above the law. He would never abide by the ruling of some judge. He could grab her and Cate and then what?

The second screw came out and then the third. Her hands were starting to cramp and she could hear Cate quieting herself in the room. If this were any other time she would let Cate tire herself out in there. Eventually the little girl would come out with an apology on her lips ready for her punishment. But Marie didn’t have time for that.

Her heart was pounding. She kept glancing over her shoulder thinking a shadow in the corner was a man watching her. She would see it over her shoulder and gasp as her heart sped up, only for her to realize her mistake a minute later. She was driving herself crazy. She needed to leave. She needed to be on the road. She wasn't planning on leaving any clues anyone could find, but they still needed to be gone before Austin arrived.

Finally, the final screw came off and Marie opened the door and Cate looked over at her confused. “Didn’t know I could do that, did you?” Marie demanded. “Car. Now.”

Marie wiped her eyes and headed for the door. They left the apartment behind and walked down into mansion. Leslie, the part time grad student, was at the foot of the stairs wringing her hands. “Marie,” she said as they came down the stairs. Leslie saw their bags and she looked confused as Marie pushed right past her. “Is everything okay? Ingrid said she doesn’t want you to leave before she can talk to you. Are you leaving?”

“Yes, I’m sorry,” Marie said struggling with her bags. “But I do have to leave right away.”

From downstairs the bell rang. There were people here for the tour. “Go and get that,” Marie said. “That’s your job.” She turned away and headed down the back stairs and she was pleased to hear Leslie head in the other direction. She slipped into the office. There were a few things in here she still needed to grab before they could go.

“Hey, babe,” she heard a familiar voice say.

Her stomach dropped and she squeezed Cate’s hand. Slowly Marie turned around until she was facing Austin. He was leaning against the doorway to the office smirking at her.

Marie glanced behind her, hoping Leslie wouldn’t come back. “What do you want, Austin?” she asked as she stepped in front of Cate.

“What do I want? Is that a serious question? You took my kid, Marie. You just left in the middle of the night. You made me look like a man who can’t control his woman. You made me look like a fool and I had to spend a lot of money to find you this time. But now I’m here and it is time for all of us to go home.”

“No,” Marie spit. “I’m not coming back with you. Not ever.”

“Oh yes you are. Let’s go. Time to get in the car.” He said reaching towards her.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Axel looked around the mansion. Even in the bright afternoon the interior was dark. The wood paneling was absorbing the light, casting everything in a dark shadow. He walked to his left and looked in the ballroom, but she wasn't there. He heard voices upstairs, and one he recognized as Marie’s. He couldn't hear what they were saying. But he heard hurried footsteps heading to the back. It was more than one person. There was a strong steady gate, and then one that was lighter and faster. It was Marie and Cate; it had to be.

Axel moved through mansion travelling through the formal living room, the kitchen, the gift shop and then finally the office door. He felt alert and ready. His every sense was on high alert. He heard everything. His eyes were wide and nothing was missed. He moved smoothly towards the door, his footfalls silent on the floor.

He heard voices, a man’s and a woman’s.

“No, I’m not coming back with you. Not ever.”

“Oh yes you are. Let’s go. Time to get in the car.” Axel swung the door open moved into the room. His arms and limbs were loose; he was ready for whatever might come. MMA fighting wasn’t boxing; it was real fighting, street fighting. He didn’t need to be a ring to win a fight. He looked at his opponent. Austin St. Clare was tall and thin. He had a sparse head of short dark hair and a clean-shaven face. He was wearing a black suit and a skinny tie and Axel could see the bulge of a gun under each arm.

“Holy shit,” the man said, he was reaching towards Marie, but his hand had stopped in mid air. “You’re Axel Connelly,” he stood up and ran his hands through his hair nodded at Axel before coming towards him with his hand outstretched. “You won me five hundred bucks in the last match.”

His hand hung in the air between them as Axel looked down at it and then over at Marie. She looked shaken. Her face was pale. Cate was hiding behind her knees and there were two suitcases next to her. “This is my girl, Marie,” Austin said he put his hand down awkwardly as Axel clearly had no intention to shake it. “But you can ignore her, she doesn't know anything about MMA fighting. She probably doesn’t even know who you are.”

“Who are you?” Axel said, although he knew all too well.

“I’m Austin St. Clare of St. Clare Security,” he reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a card that he tried to hand to Axel. Axel looked at the card then back up at the man. Austin smoothly moved the card back into his pocket and continued, “We’re just in town for a few days.”

He wanted to hit him. He wanted to punch him right in his smarmy face. But Axel held himself back. He would get arrested for that. His getting arrested would upset Marie and that was what he was trying to avoid. Besides, he knew guys like this. They talked the talked, but the second someone hit them they’re running to their lawyers and you're getting sued for assault. He wasn’t worth it.

“Marie, you ready to go? Car’s out front,” Axel said. He stared into her eyes. He willed her to understand what he was thinking. He understood everything, he knew Austin was here to take her back and he was offering her a safe refuge. He just needed her to take it.

“What’s this now?” Austin said turning from Axel to Marie. His smile turned into a grimace as he looked between the two. “You been seeing someone else, Marie? Did you really cheat on me?”

“We’re not together anymore, Austin. You know that.” Marie said and Axel was proud to see her look him in the eye.

“Look, babe, I know we had a couple of fights, but just come home and we’ll talk about it. We’ll work it out. We always do.”

“No,” Marie said. “I’m leaving.”

Axel tensed as she grabbed her bags and moved to walk past Austin. Axel watched and waited and he was ready when Austin’s arm shot out at Marie’s. Axel darted forward easily grabbing the other man’s arm before he could touch Marie. “Don’t do that,” Axel said and then he squeezed Austin’s arm with his strong hand. He could feel Austin’s arm start to twitch. The other man grimaced in pain and Axel held on for a moment longer before finally letting go.

Marie and Cate were on the other side of him. Axel and Austin stood and faced each other. Austin massaged his wrist and glared at Axel. “Don’t be an idiot,” he said. “I’m a powerful man. You don’t want to anger me.”

“I’m not that worried about it,” Axel scoffed.

“Really?” Austin demanded. “You think everything is a fight in a ring with a ref. Not where I’m from. In my business attacks can happen anywhere at anytime. You could be asleep and alone in your bed when BAM! the hit comes. You have to always be on your guard. Sometimes it’s snipers; sometimes it’s poison. Rarely does a man ring a bell before the fight begins.”

“Stay away from her. Marie doesn’t want anything to do with you,” Axel said ignoring the other man’s threats. He turned around and with Marie and Cate in tow they made their way to the front door, passing a terrified looking Leslie and into Axel’s car.

“Get back here!” Austin screamed. He came running around the sidewalk. He was in good shape and his lithe body moved quickly and easily. “I am not done with you.”

“Get in,” Axel said taking Marie by the elbow and ushering her inside. He buckled Cate in the backseat and headed for the driver’s side. From behind him he saw the flash of a gun as Austin drew his jacket aside. But Axel was already at his door and he slid between the wheel and peeled out before Austin did something he would regret.

“Mommy...” Cate cried from the back seat.

Axel looked over at Marie and she was staring at him. She was breathing heavily and almost in shock. He reached out and took her hand, feeling her pulse racing on her wrist. “It’s okay.” He didn’t know why he was saying that. Things were far from over. But it was all he could think of and it seemed to work. “It’s okay now,” he repeated as Marie managed a weak smile.

She closed her eyes for a moment before turning back to look at her daughter. “It’s okay, Cate,” she repeated. It was like a mantra they were sharing between themselves.

Cate held out her arms and cried out again and Marie sighed and undid her seatbelt. The car was moving but she slid between the seats and made her way to the back where she gathered Cate in her arms and rocked her back and forth.

He could see her eyes in the rearview mirror and she could see him. She mouthed the words
thank you
and he nodded. For a while he drove around in circles. He was looking for a tail, trying to see if he was being followed. He also wasn’t sure where to go and the movement of the car was soothing to Cate who was dozing in Marie’s arms. After twenty minutes of aimless driving he parked his car in the parking lot of a local grocery store and waited.

Finally, confident he hadn’t been followed, Axel headed for the forest. He left the small downtown behind and headed for the long dark stretches of road that led out of town. The streets got thinner and the trees closed overhead. Everything was quiet, sounds muffled by tree limbs thick with summer leaves. He drove instinctively towards the only place he could think to go.

The road was familiar. There was his old bus stop. There was the busted-up, abandoned Trans Am he and Hayden used to play in when they were boys. They were planning to be racecar drivers back then. He made his way slowly down the long dirt road. As the house came into view his mother came out onto the porch. She was drying her hands on a dishrag and craning her neck to see who it was.

“Where are we?” Marie whispered from the backseat as Cate slept in her arms.

“My mom’s house,” Axel answered as he parked the car. He watched as Mare looked around at his childhood home. He wondered what she was thinking of when she saw it. Did she see the peeled and chipped green paint on the front of the house, the lovingly tended garden out front? He tried to imagine the place as she saw it. Was it as warm and inviting to her as it was to him? “We can stay here until this is all sorted out.” The day was still bright above them, but old pine trees shaded the house as they made their way inside.

Axel lifted Cate and held her as Marie stood up and got out of the car. Mrs. Connelly raced towards them and held out her hands and quickly took Marie’s. “Mom, this is Marie. Marie, this is my mother, Elizabeth.”

Marie managed to let out a weak
hi
. She was still struggling to hold back tears. But that was all that was needed. Mrs. Connelly embraced Marie in a long hug and then took her by the shoulders and led her inside to the house locking the deadbolt behind them.