Axel

As I walked through the kitchen, a strong scent of spices invaded my nostrils. There was no time to bother about what was cooking on fire but my brain acknowledged it had to taste nice. I didn't fail to notice the surprised slash confused stares from the two staffs until a different another hurried to my path. "Sir, you're not supposed to be here. Please have your seat with..." I brushed him off with a quick, "yeah, I know. I just want to leave through the door right behind you." Then tried to walk past him but he was rather quick to block my path.

"You can't be here..."

"I said, I know. Let me walk through that door." Another attempt to walk past him was futile. His height and build was similar to mine. His Nigerian accent was heavy on his tongue. He put out a hand between us, trying to create a greater gap and forcing me to take steps back away from him.

"Please, turn and leave through the front door if you wish to."

Now, irritated at this point, I ran a hand through my hair and thought about throwing him a punch and quickly running through that door. It was seeming like my only option as the man drew closer and I'm forced to take involuntary steps backwards. Well, I'll just go for it. What is the worst that could happen?

I felt a warm grasp on my hand. "He's with me." Reyna told him and dragged me along with her as she walked past him. He seemed rather surprised than eager to block my path again. We walked right through the door and stopped on our tracks. Although she looked ahead, I stared at her. She'd caught me off guard and my only reaction at the moment was staring at her.

Reyna turned to me. "See, you do need me." She said with a bit of pride and a faint smile. In my head, it seemed like a while of staring at her and that was just ridiculous so I looked away for a few moments. When I shifted my eyes back in her direction, it was to look at our hands still together. She noticed and quickly, yet somewhat awkwardly unbind our hands.

The warmth is gone. My mental-self noted which immediately, I tried to shrug it off.

"Thank you for the help." I said and was on my way again.

"Don't shrug me off. We need each other." She came after me. I stopped walking yet again and turned to her.

"Look, this isn't some movie or a fiction novel. You will get hurt if you continue to insist on going around with me. So, go home and continue to be a kid. Live your life."

"I'm not a kid." Her reply was right away. A frown wore itself well between her brows and her gaze was intense. "I'm twenty-two and I'm well aware of the decisions that I make... besides why do you care if I get hurt?"

"I don't." Even in my own ears, it sounded too defensive but I brushed it off almost as soon as I realised that.

"Fine, then it's settled. I'm coming with you and even if I die tomorrow, Axel will not care."

Even after she said those words, her gaze never left mine. It was an intense mixture of amusement; I dare you and I think I just won. Truly, it was an annoying trait of hers.

"Rather than care, I worry you'll slow me down."

The smile on her face grew cockier. "Oh, another excuse. I promise, you're allowed to abandon me when that happens."

Unable to bear the look on her face anymore, I looked away.

"Rey." The call for her name forced the both of us to look in the direction of the sound.

"Afam." She said in a rather low voice. There, the young man stood by the door to which we came through.

More drama. Those were the only words that popped up in my head and I looked away from him.

"How do you guys' plan to leave? Rey, your scooter is parked in front. On foot, those men will surely spot you."

Slightly, I opened my mouth to let out a few words but his statement right away hindered that.

"I've got my mum's car keys. I'll drop you off." The smile on his face was clear excitement and when I looked at Rey, hers was painted on as well. What do they think this is? A school trip? This early, it's best to shoot down all this expectation of thrill and excitement. Before I could get a word out, Afam led the way and Rey followed. When I didn't do the same, she turned to me and gestured for me to follow. Well, on the other hand, it might not be so bad to use them. I'm not dying now. At least not until I was sure Mordecai was going down to hell with me.

So, we sneaked our way to the front of the restaurant where the car was parked, further to the side. Both Reyna and myself got in the back seat and Afam in the driver's seat. We crouched down on our seats so our heads were not visible through the windows. We could only feel the car moving and hoping we succeeded in driving past the men that were after us.

"You can sit properly. They're not following."

A light sigh of relief was unavoidable from either of us.

"Rey, should I drop you home?"

"No. I'm going wherever he is."

I rolled my eyes away from her and caught the intense glare Afam threw at me through the rearview mirror. Again, I brushed it off and chose not to dwell or think about it.

"Where are you going?" I could sense the reluctance in his voice and it just... forget it, I'd decided I wasn't going to get involved in whatever the two had going on between them.

"To my apartment. I'll direct..."

"Your apartment?" Both repeated at once and yes, I did sense the difference in tone and the probable difference in meaning as well but I chose to ignore it. The least thing I wanted to do was explain myself so I rolled my eyes away from either of them and unto the view through the window.

I shut the car door behind me and went straight ahead towards the building entrance. Reyna and Afam seemed to chat a bit. I wasn't interested so I paid no attention. It was quick because she'd hastened her steps and was behind me by the time I walked into the building. Once, I spared her a look and she was quick to catch me.

"Don't worry, Afam understands that he can't come along." She said, almost like an explanation just as we stepped into the elevator.

"Really?" Mine was a question with a hint of sarcasm. I didn't look in her direction, therefore, I couldn't tell if she made a facial reaction. The ride up was quiet until finally, the doors opened and I led the way once again.

"Wait here." I said to her once we drew closer to my apartment and I noticed the door slightly ajar.

"W-wait? Why? I thought we came to an agreement."

"Sshh." My steps became slower and lighter. Not for a second did I take my eyes off the door as we got closer. Reyna probably understood because she was quiet and kept following from behind.

When we were in front, we exchanged glances and first, I casually reared my head into the apartment. There were no signs of a person but the place was the opposite of how it used to be. A light sigh left my lips as I pushed the door open and walked in. Steele's men were here.

"Do you have something they would want?" Reyna's question reminded me of her presence. It made me think about what his motives could be. He was definitely looking to check if I had any kind of important leverage against him. I knew he wanted me out of the picture for his own safety but somewhere deep down, I didn't believe he would want to get rid of me so bad.

Not once in the past did I ever betray him or display any sign that could happen in the future. Did my loyalty mean so little to him? There was a quick wave of memories. I stared at my hands. The recollection of all I'd done on his behalf. The bad and the ugly. There was an upsetting feeling right in the pit of my stomach. It reminded me of the feeling I had as a child. The one I'd fought so hard to ward off. Was everything a waste?

"Hey, are you okay?" She'd brought her head right below mine. Instead of a view of my hands, I had her face. Her eyes were a little wider than usual. Her brows raised and somehow, she looked sincerely worried. Worried? I must've read them wrong.

"I'm fine." My words sounded cold even to my own ears. I let my hands fall right to my sides and walked past her.

"You're lying but it's fine. You don't need to tell me anything." She tattled as I walked towards the bedroom.

In the room, I looked in the bathroom and under the bed for any sign of Thunder. I played a few scenarios in my head on how he must've reacted after Steele's men broke in and how they could also have reacted. There was no blood anywhere so he's definitely alive. Perhaps, did he run out? Was he taken? I ran both hands through my hair.

I took out a small suitcase, packed in a few clothes and some important items. I would've preferred to wait in case Thunder found his way back but knowing what I do, I'm sure Steele's men will be back. Thunder has to be fine. That was my only wish and when things settle, I'll look for him.

"Change of plan. You have to go home." I told her as I walked into the living room and she looked up to me from what she'd been staring at.

A simple scoff left her lips. She crossed her arms below her chest. "What?"

"I can't stay here anymore and you can't move around with me..."

"We already discussed this. Whatever happens to me in this process is not up to you and you don't care."

"We're done and that's final." My words to her were straight as I marched towards the door. It just became clear to me that my only assignment is to kill Mordecai and I would very much prefer doing that without any one tied to my string.

"You can't do that. You can't keep going back on your words." She complained and followed me out of the apartment towards the elevator. "No matter what you do or say, I won't give up. I've never given up so you might as well stop changing your mind."

"I said what I said. Enough."

Now, she wore a frown on her face and her gaze could kill.

"Why are you like that? Why are you so scared of having me around? All I need from you is your cooperation..." While she blabbed on, the elevator doors opened and two men stood in front of us. For what felt like a while, we stared at each other. Something about them felt unsettling. Wrong. Damn it. The second they exchanged glances with each other, I grabbed Reyna's hand and immediately dashed towards the staircases on the side. Of course, they hurried after us and I picked up the pace.