“You need a parking pass for some locations within the forest, but nothing if visitors stay on the roads maintained by Los Angeles County. As far as I can tell, no one checked for a record of the parking passes issued that day.”
That was damn fishy. Axel sighed heavily as another question crossed his mind: If Mullins knew his wife had been murdered, why hadn’t he told his daughter that fact? Granted, Mystery would have been a child at the time, but he hadn’t come clean since she’d grown up. Axel suspected he’d have to break the news to her. He wished to hell the director would hurry up and make the connection between his wife’s murder and his daughter’s abduction. If Mullins did, he might try harder to help solve the case, which could end the danger to Mystery once and for all.
“And sixteen years later, I wonder if those records even exist anymore. That sucks,” Axel growled.
“Big, hairy monkey balls, yes. And the detective had nothing else useful in the file, so that’s all I’ve got.”
“I’ll have to run this photo past Mystery . . .” Once he caught up to her again and paddled her ass a glowing shade of red. “I’ll ask her aunt, too. Maybe one of them will recognize this guy.”
“I hope so. Otherwise, this is another dead end.”
No shit. “Thanks for the update. Let me know if you find anything else.”
Joaquin paused. “Logan and I are prepared to back you up, man. Just say the word. Hunter can’t get away with Kata due any day, but since Bailey is already busy with rehearsals because she won the lead in that ballet this summer, I’m free. Logan and I will come out there and help.”
The offer surprised him, especially since he and Joaquin weren’t really pals. “That’s damn nice of y’all.”
“Well, it might also be avoidance,” Joaquin admitted. “We inherited Caleb’s team of operatives when he gave us his business—a half-dozen psycho misfits. One guy is a former army sniper. He won’t even let us call him by name. He insists we call him One-Mile, an homage to his longest kill shot. I’d ten times rather deal with your shit than mine.”
Axel forced a laugh. “I might take you up on it. Once I get the lay of the land here, I’ll let you know.”
They rang off, and Axel resumed waiting for Heath to deliver Mystery to her aunt. He only hoped that his gut was right—that Heath wanted her for himself more than he wanted to kill her.
To pass the time so he didn’t go insane with worry, he picked up his phone again and texted Sweet Pea. How did the meeting with Stone go? Sorry I couldn’t stay. Did Zeb watch over you?
She wrote back almost immediately. Yes. I like Stone. We talked a lot. He wants to see me again and he’s going to talk to you.
How do you feel about that? he asked quickly. But he knew Sweet Pea well.
She hesitated, then tapped back. I don’t know. A little excited and scared.
She wasn’t ready for a Dom she barely knew. Hell, Axel didn’t even know if Stone was actually in the lifestyle. Jack Cole vouched for the guy professionally, but that wouldn’t cut it in a dungeon with a sub as fragile as Misty.
We’ll talk when I get back. Be safe. Call if you need me.
She sent him a winking face and a heart emoticon. Take care of your girl.
With a grimace, Axel tucked his phone away. He didn’t bother trying to call “his girl” again. If Mystery hadn’t answered the first fifty times, she probably wouldn’t answer now. Would she answer tomorrow? Next week? Ever? If Heath hadn’t nabbed her with dangerous intentions in mind . . . then what? Axel frowned. Had her post-coital glow worn off because he didn’t mean a damn thing to her, and he’d been too busy falling for her to notice? He had a lot of practice with sex . . . and not much with relationships.
This mental jaunt down Maudlin Street bored the shit out of him, so he trekked off this beaten path and glanced at the time. If they’d come straight here, she and Heath should be driving up any minute. Then? He expected fireworks.
Wouldn’t his presence here shock the shit out of Mystery? She might not want him around forever, but he’d damn well make her explain that to his face before he let her go. No way would he sit around morosely and wonder why she left him, not after the way Dad had when his mother had taken off for a new life.
Finally, twin lights bobbed up and down the dirt road, coming toward Axel at a careful clip. He held his breath, beyond relieved that Heath had delivered her as promised. If the Brit had wanted her dead, he’d had her alone for nearly seven hours. The man could have snuffed her out and dumped the body anywhere along the road.
At least he knew Heath wanted her alive. As much as Axel didn’t like the other man, he had to rule him out as a suspect in Mystery’s death threat, damn it. He’d love a reason to pound the asshole’s face.
As the lumbering black vehicle headed closer to the little farmhouse in the distance, Axel made sure the headlights were off, started his rental, then pulled forward to block the road. No way would Mystery have another chance to escape without a conversation.
Finally, Heath parked in front of the house, just in the circle of the cheery light from the front porch. He helped her from the car, and she stretched before making her way to the little porch, complete with a rocking chair. Even at a distance, Axel could see Mystery slumping her shoulders and bowing her head, exhaustion evident in every line of her body.
Heath took her by the elbow toward the porch as Aunt Gail opened the door. Axel shut off the engine and exited the rental. He locked it manually so it didn’t beep and shut the door softly, grateful the spring breeze muffled the sound.
Mystery hugged her aunt, a tall, thin woman in her fifties with ashy blond hair in a bob and wearing a blue bathrobe. Axel jogged down the lane toward them.
Heath heard him first and turned, gun in his hand. He cursed when Axel stepped into the porch light’s glow. “Oh, bloody hell. You’re here? Why did you follow her?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t?” Axel shot back.
Out of his peripheral vision, he saw Mystery pull from her aunt’s arms and turn his way. Her eyes widened when she caught sight of him.
“You.” Axel pointed at her. “We’re going to talk. Now.”
“She has nothing to say to you,” Heath answered for her. “Didn’t her leaving you indicate that she’s had enough?”
“Who is this man?” Aunt Gail asked nervously. “Should I call the police?”
“That would be brilliant.” Heath smiled.
“I’m Axel Dillon, ma’am. Mr. Mullins called you about me.”
“Of course.” She smiled. “Please come in. I hope everyone is hungry. I made cookies.”
Heath cursed.
The woman’s gesture was a kind one but Axel actually agreed with the Brit just now. Fuck the cookies. “I’m sure they’re delicious, and I’ll be happy to eat one after I’ve spoken to your niece.”
“You came here?” Mystery sounded shocked.
“Of course.” Had she thought he’d simply stay in Dallas with his thumb up his ass and not try to figure out what the fuck had happened between them?
“You came for me?” She looked on the verge of tears, but he couldn’t tell if they were happy or sad.
Was she asking if he’d followed her all this way because she was touched by his gesture? Or did she think he was delusional for imagining they had a relationship that didn’t exist?
“You called her father?” Heath barked, his tone accusing. “I suppose that explains why he tried to call me.”
Why wouldn’t this asshole just shut up, Axel wondered. “Mullins wants me with his daughter. I don’t shirk my responsibilities.”
Mystery gasped. “Responsibility? Is that what—”
“Do you normally barge your way into a paycheck?” Heath demanded, stepping between Axel and Mystery, his stance protective.
He wanted to wring the guy’s neck. Mullins wasn’t paying him; Axel was just concerned for her. “Do you normally behave like a fidiot?”