Dax
I pull out yet another drawer from the vanity, dumping its contents out onto the floor before moving on to the next. There must be a clue, I need to find her. Throwing her duffle bag onto the bed, I toss the clothes over my shoulder and shakes the bag vigorously until every loose hair tie and stupidly small bottle of lotion falls out. How can there be nothing?! I pick up the bedside table and throw it across the room with a roar, the wood splintering on impact with the opposite wall.
“What the fuck is going on in here?” Huxley bursts through the door.
“You,” I hiss through my teeth. Rounding the bed, I grip Huxley around the neck and push him backwards until his back is arched over the railing. “You must know where she’s gone.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Huxley chokes out, not even trying to overpower me. Releasing my hold on him, I stalk back into the room with my fists clenched.
“She’s said she’s knows where Meg is and left, this time for good.” I clench my eyes shut as the words leave my lips, a fresh slice of pain cutting deeply every time I think of how she left me alone and speechless on the driveway. Huxley curses under his breath, rushing past me towards a makeshift bed on the floor and grabs his bag. Handing me a crumpled letter from the side pocket, he stalks over to the broken bedside table and sifts through the broken slats.
“Has she taken my fucking car again?!” he huffs, dangling himself out the window to search for the burnt orange vehicle he won’t be able to find. Shuffling in the hallway announces the arrival of Garrett and Axel, looking around the trashed room curiously with their hands linked. I scan the letter, grabbing the only information I need – the name of the casino. Huxley fills in the others while I pace back and forth, scrubbing a hand over my face.
“And you just let her go?” Axel turns to me accusingly. His amber eyes are churning with anger, looking to his partner for backup but Garrett is unusually silent.
“It’s what she wanted so yeah, I stood and watched her leave. But about twenty seconds later I realized I can’t let her go and came to find a clue as to where she’s gone. Which I have now, so if you’ll get the fuck out of my way, I’m going to save the girl I love.” I say the words out loud without thinking, attempting to shove through the pair blocking the exit.
“Oh yeah, and how are you going to do that?” Huxley calls over. “We’re basketball players, not felons. You can’t waltz in and say pretty please may I have my ‘would-be girlfriend if she stopped hating me long enough to realise she feels the same way’ back.” I snarl at him over my shoulder, more pissed off that he’s right than by his sarcastic air quotes. There’s no way I will be able to save Avery without back-up.
“Well stop stating the obvious and help me find something to take – a baseball bat, an axe, a hammer. I don’t fucking care but I’m leaving in 5 minutes regardless.” Ramming my shoulder into Garrett’s to escape the negativity holding me in the room and moving onto something more productive. Luckily for me, there’s a driveway full of cars from the weekend workers and a large fishbowl on the sideboard in the central lobby holding all of their keys. Part of some game they are planning on playing tonight but looks like someone’s going to have to sit and watch.
Ascending on the bowl, I skim through looking for the fastest set of wheels in case I need to make a swift exit, preferably with Avery locked in the trunk if she refuses to come back willingly. Logos on keyrings sift through my fingers - Ferrari, Dodge Viper, Porsche, Jaguar. Settling on the Mercedes Benz, silently praying it belongs to the GT I saw earlier in yellow with black race stripes to match the custom alloys, I turn to the three arseholes I love like brothers standing behind me.
“Here,” Axel steps forward with misery etched into his features to hand me a heavy camo backpack. Unzipping the top, I find several handguns and hordes of filled magazine clips. My eyes widen, the danger of the situation settling on me. I’m so not ready to deal with this, but if that’s where Avery is, it’s the only place I should be. Accepting it with a nod, Huxley passes me my grey timberlands and puffer jacket next, like I’m a high-class knight preparing to head into battle with some serious style. Garrett’s hands are pushed into his hoodie pockets, regarding me seriously.
“I’m going with you,” he exclaims, his hazel eyes not wavering from mine. Axel hangs his head in defeat, clearly unhappy with his decision. I spare a moment glancing between the two, but ultimately, it’s not my place to interfere. I could use the help if I’m being honest, even if I know it will affect Axel to be left behind. Huxley steps closer to Axel on instinct, sensing his misery and places a hand on his shoulder on comfort. Aware that I need to get on the road, I quickly pull the two remaining into a one-armed hug and head for the front door.
Pressing the button on the keys, the GT’s headlights flash and I smirk. Fuck yes, let my luck continue until I’m back in my bed with my blonde angel curled into my side, thoroughly satisfied and fully aware of the lengths I would go to for her. Sliding into the driver’s seat, I throw the bag into the back seat and wait for Garrett to join me, tapping my thumb on the
