Axel

XVII

XVII

The Call

A X E L

"I told Trin that you'd call her after you're done," I heard Sharp say from behind me as he reentered the room. I didn't turn to look at him, my eyes focused on my sister wishing that her eyes would open any second.

"Where's Kate?" I asked him.

"She went to get some food. You've been sitting there for three hours, you need to eat," Sharp answered. Sighing, I released Caroline's hand and stood up, stretching slightly and turning to look at him.

"Did Vaux manage to find any information on the Mattherio guy?"

He narrowed his eyes at me but continued to change the subject.

"He found the basics; name, Italian born and raised, and deeply invested in the Moretti family. My contact's information was correct, Mattherio was sent to replace Nario when he died, and Vaux thinks it was to secure the deal they had going with the Callens. One thing he can't do right now is confirm that he's dead, which means -"

"We're on their territory if this deal did actually go through," I finished, nodding and then rubbing a hand down my face at the dilemma. "What do you think we should do? I mean, it's just us and no backup."

He paused to look me dead in the eye before speaking.

"I think... if we're doing this, we have to be extremely discreet about it. We also have to be quick. I say we kill some more time until it's nightfall and hopefully by then Vaux would have found something more. If there's nothing, we can still check the place out," he said with a shrug, "but stealth will be our best friend."

I nodded, fully agreeing with his motion then my eyes shifted behind him when Kate entered the room.

"Food," she announced, holding two sandwiches wrapped in plastic. "Eat, both of you."

"Have you seen anything out of the ordinary since you've been here?" Sharp asked as he took the sandwiches out of her hand and passed me one.

She shook her head as she chewed, her brows furrowing.

"Why, do you think the mafia will come after her?"

"No, but I think they're willing to keep their options open should it have to come to that. As long as they don't know that we're here, it shouldn't be a problem," Sharp said.

"As long as they don't know," I repeated, "knowing the Italians, they'll use every little leverage they can. How soon do you think we'll be able to move Caroline? The sooner, the better."

Kate looked at me sympathetically.

"I know, but she's still not strong enough to transport - at least not without the right equipment - and with the idea that she may never walk again, they want to keep her here for as long as they possibly can in order for her to regain her strength."

"She can't stay here unprotected," I said firmly.

"Well, it's either keep her here and give her a chance to fight for her life, or move her and risk the chance of her never walking again," Kate snapped, "besides, she wouldn't be unprotected. She has me."

I scoffed.

"Listen, this is my sister -"

"And this is mine, so watch your tone," Sharp intervened, "and she's right. I trained her myself so I know she's good, but I'll call two of my men down here so they relieve us when we're leaving the city."