Page 11 of Savior
“No, not everything… But I caught a glimpse of her back when the doctors were examining her… I was standing on the outside of the curtains... I thought you’d want me to keep near her. Wasn’t trying to see anything, before you go postal on me… But I saw what I did, and I heard some of what she said.”
“Viking… It’s over. Not anything I want to rehash. I was there. I know what happened.” Just stop… I don’t want to think about it… I’m scarred for life after nearly being forced to witness the love of my life being raped while I was handcuffed and unable to do a fucking thing to stop it… I still carry that pain with me. It’s barely subsided at all in the two months since we survived the ordeal. Slugging me in the gut whenever my mind wanders back to that night.
“I’m not going to ask for specifics… But I’m here for you, if you need to get anything off your chest.”
“I don’t.” I insist. “Jack’s dead. That scum-fuck accomplice, is dead. All that matters is that she’s safe. We’re alive. There’s nothing we need to talk about.”
“Alright. I’ll let it go.” He sighs, resigned.
“Good.” I turn to exit the War Room, barely making it three steps, when I hear him let out another grumbly exhale, halting me once again. I glance back at him. “What now?”
Viking is leaning forward on the table, his knuckles against the carved oak wood, his expression still looking rather glum.
“Yeah, there is something else. You need to talk to Axel. I tried. Needs to come from you.”
“Axel?” I look at him curiously. “What’s wrong with Axel?” He was quiet during Church tonight, but that’s not completely unusual.
Viking shakes his head at me. “I don’t know, bro. I’m not good at this… feelings shit… He’s all fucked up about everything that happened… Not to bring it up again, but,” he nearly winces, “the cabin… he’s the one that went back there after the cops collected their evidence. I knew he was shaken up after that… But then he had to sign for some paperwork or some shit from your lawyer a couple weeks ago… And something set him off. I know you’ve been preoccupied with your recovery, getting engaged to Vanna and everything else that’s gone on since... I thought him seeing you officially back at the head of the table, would have bounced him back… but he was the first one out of the War Room tonight.”
I nod as I listen to Viking. It was the paperwork I had drawn up in case Jack managed to take me out. My Will, leaving Axel the Saviors MC club house and the Twisted Throttle, along with Viking, in the event of my death. Must have shaken the kid up all over again. I’ve been distracted and didn’t think to call my lawyer and tell him not to send those papers out. Not that I have any intention of changing my beneficiaries.
“What has Axel said to you?” I ask.
“Not a lot… He doesn’t want to talk. He just wants to train. That’s about the only place I can get two words out of him… It’s like he’s having a hard time wrapping his head around the fact that you’re not invincible or some shit.” Viking explains. “You know the kid looks up to you like some kind of hero, Dean. Hell, he’s probably in the gym now as we speak, trying to burn off whatever’s eating at him, the way you do… He’s a lot like you.”
“Alright. I’ll go talk to him. I’ll meet you back out on the floor in a bit.” I say, before I make my way to the double doors of the War Room. As I open them, the familiar sound of fists slamming against leather resonates in the hall.
When I enter the gym, Axel is in front of the punching bag, throwing combination strikes. He’s still wearing the ripped denim jeans he had on during Church tonight, and his motorcycle boots. His shirt and cut are haphazardly tossed over the dumbbell rack. He’s already worked up a sweat, the dirty blonde hair he usually wears slicked back like I do, flopping forward into his blue eyes. There’s a sheen of perspiration covering his torso. A more defined torso, now that I’m looking at him. It’s been a few months since we’ve sparred. Axel has built up some muscle on his lean frame, training with Viking in my absence.
“Looking good, kid.” I say as I approach him. “Great form.”
“Thanks.” His reply seems cool and clipped, and he doesn’t bother to look at me.
“How long you been at it?”
“Since you closed out Church.” He answers between slugs.
“Mind if we talk?”
“You’re the Prez.” It’s obvious to me that he wants to come across as indifferent.
“You got a problem with that?” I ask. “Maybe you prefer Viper remain at the head of the table? He’s accomplished a lot in my absence. I really have to hand it to him. Maybe he’s the man for the job, after all.”
Axel finally stops hitting the bag, letting his arms fall to his sides as he steps back and finally looks at me. “Why would I have a problem with you coming back?”
“Why don’t you tell me what the problem is, then?”
“I don’t have one.” His words lack conviction, so I continue to stare him in the eyes. He lets out a sigh and shakes his head, bringing a hand up to drag through his tousled, sweaty hair.
“You can talk to me, kid.” I gently remind him. I have a solid idea what’s going on here, thanks to Viking, but I don’t want to put words in Axel’s mouth. I’d rather Axel un-leash on me, without any influence. And I can see he wants to, as the expression around his eyes slightly tightens and his lips press tensely together. He’s almost glaring at me.
“My problem is you calling me kid all the fucking time.” He finally says, bringing his thumb up to swipe his nose before he balls both fists at his sides. “I’m a fully patched Brother of this MC. Yet you still treat me like I’m that eight-year-old you’ve been protecting for thirteen years.”
Oh... “Axel… I didn’t mean to-”
“Just shut up, Dean.” He mutters, shaking his head and glaring down at the floor now. “I know you love me.”
“Like a brother, Axel.” I place a hand on his damp shoulder. “More than even that.” Like the son I’ll never have…
