<b>Chapter </b>91


    ROSETTE


    <b>65 </b>vouchers


    It was the sound of a helicopter’s de that dragged me out of my restless sleep. It sounded too… foreign in this quiet ind, and the first name that came to mind was Ss.


    I thought why would hee here when we’ve never seen each other since the day he dropped me off? We haven’t even talked, not once. So why would he be here? Did something happen? To Axel?


    I jumped right off the bed, not bothering with a coat or shawl as I raced down the stairs, my bare foot pping against the cold floor, my heart hammering against my chest and beating loudly in my ears, almost drowning out all other noise, but not enough to drown my spiraling thoughts.


    Has something happened to Axel? Was he okay? Why did Ss want?


    The househelps were also out, but they remained inside.


    I burst out of the house, my breathing a harsh pant. The helicopter had alreadynded, and it was still dark, but I managed to see a figure step out of it.


    “Ss!” I shouted as I ran towards the helicopter, out of breath, and the rate at which my heart was racing wasn’t helping.


    The figure paused, his shoulders going tense, and I tensed too.


    That… that wasn’t Ss.


    He was too broad, too tall, too… familiar.


    “Have you gotten so close to my father that you rush out half–naked to meet him?”


    If you asked me, I wouldn’t have been able to put it into words, but what I could say was that it felt like my heart stopped and at the same time, it was beating really fast. It felt like everything went still but yet life flowed into me.


    “A–Axel…” I whispered, my voice shaking.


    He still didn’t move, just stood still<b>, </b>and I couldn’t see his face,


    “Yes, Rosette. It’s me. What’s that tone? Disappointed it wasn’t Ss<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    He sounded angry. No, furious. And then it hit me; what he was thinking<i>. </i>


    My eyes went wide and I shook my head, stepping forward. “N–no. Axel, it’s not like that. I swear.”


    Before I could draw my next breath, he was suddenly in front of me, grabbing me by the waist, gripping my jaw and his face finally came into view.


    “It’s not like what, Rosette<b>?</b><b>” </b>he growled, his voice shaking, his whole body shaking. “You thought it was my


    <b>9:18 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>15 …


    61


    55 vouchers


    father and you came out dressed like that? I can see your pointy nipples, sweetheart. Is that what you’ve been doing for the <b>past </b>six months? While I was out there suffering and tortured, you were here having fun with my father<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    His grip was so tight on my jaw that it slowly grew painful, his eyes wide and a hint of madness and hurt in them. He was hurting, he was furious, he was thinking of something that never happened and would never have happened if my life had been on the line, but all I could think was… Axel.


    “You’re here,” I whispered, reaching for his face and touching his cheekbone gently, not caring about that unhinged look in his eyes. He shuddered, his eyes growing heated. “You’re really here. In flesh and bone. This is not some dream.”


    That murderous look in his eyes grew dim. “I am-”


    I wrapped my arms around his neck, dragging him down so I could bury my face in it, inhaling him and trying to figure out if this was really real. In my dreams, I could never smell him no matter how hard I tried. I could never catch that musky scent of his.


    But now, as I inhaled deeply, his scent filled my nose, going straight to my head and shocking my brain into believing this was real.


    A sob tore out from my throat, deep and raw, and I cried and cried into his neck, unable to form a single word, unable to tell him how much I’ve missed him, how I was lifeless without him, how I didn’t feel right without him, how I felt like a shell in my own body.


    “Shh,” he cooed, holding me so tight it was hard to breathe, burying his nose in my hair, and inhaling, his body still shaking. “Shh, baby. I’m here now. Everything’s fine. You’re never leaving my sight again.”


    I was still unable to speak. Anytime I tried, a sob just came out instead. There were so many things I wanted to <b>say </b>to him; I wanted to apologize, I wanted to beg, to tell him I loved him and not to hate me for leaving him because I did what I did for him. But I could say none of those things and just cried in his arms, relief and love making me dizzy.


    I didn’t know how long <b>I </b>cried, but it was long enough for the sun to make its way into the sky. That was when I finally stopped, my eyes swollen and burning.


    That was when I finally managed to speak.


    “I’m sorry,” I whispered, my head resting on his chest. “I’m so sorry, Axel. I didn’t mean to leave you. I have nothing with Ss. I swear it. I thought it was himing to deliver some bad news. He has never set foot on this ind since the day they dropped off. But that isn’t important right now. What’s important, Axel, is that I’m so sorry.”


    I couldn’t bring myself to look at him, so I just kept my head on his chest. He stroked my hair, <i>his </i>heartbeat a wild mess in his chest, loud and fast beneath my car.


    He was right here. Axel was really here and this wasn’t one of those dreams where I would wake up and see he


    wasn’t real.


    “You know, Rosette,” he said softly, still stroking my hair, “I hate you right now.”


    <b>9:18 </b>Mon<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>15 <b>d</b>.