Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
“What do you mean?”
“I want him to have his brother’s remains.”
Axel was quiet for a while. “When Theo didn’t give you up, Bolton destroyed them.”
“I know that’s what he said, but I don’t believe him.”
“Why?”
“Those bones were the best leverage he had over Theo. He wasn’t the kind of man to throw away an opportunity.”
Axel was quiet for a moment as he considered what I’d said. “Do you know where they would be if they still existed?”
“Not exactly, but I have a good idea. He took me to the Brotherhood over the years. I know my way around there for the most part. I always heard the guys talk about a morgue downstairs.”
Axel didn’t say anything.
“I doubt it’s an actual morgue, but they must have a system to label the bodies they have. Bolton said a contract was only completed when the body was delivered to the buyer. So, there’s a chance Killian is still there.”
“Beau was the one who hired that hit. He’s in Paris.”
“But Bolton said he was still in possession of the bones…unless he was lying.”
“So you want me to go in there and check?”
“No. I want you to come with me.”
Even through the phone, I could hear Axel’s unease.
“They’ll let me in. They don’t know I’m the one who…who killed him. I can say I’m there to get his things, and they won’t think anything of it.”
“And how will you explain me?”
“I can say you’re my cousin or something,” I said. “I would take Theo, but they know exactly who he is.”
“And I’m guessing Theo can’t know about this?”
“He would never let me do it, but I know how much this would mean to him.”
There was a long pause. “Yeah, I do too.”
“So, you’ll help me?”
“You don’t have to ask, Astrid.”
I felt bad for lying to Theo, but I lied straight to his face and said I was going to dinner with Scarlett.
I did drive to her place, but Axel was the one I was meeting, not her.
He met me by the door, dressed in jeans and a tee. He wasn’t armed with guns or a bulletproof vest. “Still want to do this?”
I nodded. “I think it’ll be okay.”
Scarlett joined us and stepped into Axel’s side.
His arm slid around her waist. “It’ll be okay, baby.”
“Bolton knew Astrid was here,” she said. “They might recognize you, Axel.”
Axel didn’t say anything.
“I want Theo to get his brother back too,” she said. “But I don’t want to lose you in the process.”
“What if you wait outside?” I asked. “If I don’t come back within thirty minutes, then you call Theo?”
“It wouldn’t feel right letting you go in there alone,” he said as he rubbed Scarlett’s arm.
“They have no reason to harm me,” I said. “If anything, they might pity me. Now that he’s gone, there’s probably someone else in charge. Bolton’s war with Theo was always a personal vendetta, so I’m not sure why they would care.”
“True,” Axel said. “They have bigger fish to fry.”
“If I ask for Killian’s bones, they probably won’t even care. Just not sure if I can carry them.”
“Well, he’s been dead a while, so…” Axel didn’t elaborate. “I think you can manage it.”
“Then let me go in alone. I’ll text you if I can.”
Axel nodded before he kissed Scarlett. “See you in a bit, baby.”
“Be careful.” She looked at Axel then at me. “Both of you.”
Axel parked at the curb and killed the engine. “You sure about this?”
I nodded.
“Just because he buried Bolton doesn’t make you obligated to do this.”
“I know, but I want to. Theo deserves peace.”
“You already give him peace, Astrid.”
I looked out the window at the sidewalk. “Give me thirty minutes.”
He gave a nod.
I left the car then approached the club. People were gathered outside, and the music was loud. They had no idea what lay underneath. I moved to the front, and no one stopped me from entering the hallway and going down the stairs to the basement entry.
The two bouncers were there, and they recognized me without saying a word. One of them opened the door for me, and I entered the Brotherhood, the underground bar with the topless waitresses. It was a night like any other, and the men didn’t seem to mourn their former leader.
The guys drank from the pints and laughed uproariously at the tables. Music played overhead. I expected to be interrogated or noticed, but they were so busy among themselves that no one even glanced at me.
Guess Axel could have joined me.
I crossed the room and entered the hallway that broke in two different directions. To the right were the bathrooms and the gun room and the private rooms where the guys fucked the waitresses and their whores. I’d never been to the left, so I went that way, exploring the hallways until I found the stairs.