Everyone Can Be Bought

(32) Stories

"So what do you have in mind." Axel licks his lips and jumps on top of my bed and me in the process.

"Like I said I only want to talk." I pinch his sides which makes him let go of me pretty quick.

"I know." He grows silent. "It's about my dad isn't it?"

"Well, that's part of it. You see I need you to-"

"I'm so sorry I didn't mean for it to go like this!" Axel cuts me off.

"Wait a minute." I pause. "What are you talking about?"

"What are you talking about?" He eyes me which adds to the confusion in the room.

"I need your help to go undercover and get scouted by your dad. What were you talking about?"

"I was going to explain why my appearance is like this." Axel stutters which makes me think he's lying. I let him continue anyways. "He's just pissed because I haven't been answering his calls."

"So he beat you because you missed daddy dearest's phone call?" I question. In my opinion I think that's something crazy to get hit over but I guess everyone is entitled to their own source of crazy.

"More like he had someone else do it for him." Axel shrugs which indicates that he wants to change the subject.

"Maybe now's not the right time to ask this then but where does your dad usually scout people?"

"Why do you want to be scouted anyways?" His eyes look through mine.

"It'd be easier to take Monster down from the inside don't you think? If I get scouted then I get access into the building. Monster will literally be welcoming me inside of his business and that's when I'll strike!" An evil smirk crosses my face.

"I guess it is easier to take someone down if there's an inside man isn't it?" Axel bites his lip.

"Hey." I touch his cheek and lean closer to him. "You sure you're okay? I mean I know what it's like to get beaten and well, I guess what I'm trying to say is, that I'm here for you." I snuggle up to him mainly because I'm embarrassed and I don't want him to see my expression. He wraps an arm around me instantly.

"Thank you but enough about me." Axel smirks. "What's up with this Nike fellow and his friend with the weird looking hair?"

"Now that my friend is a very long story." I pause thinking for a second. "That you both deserve to hear." I conclude.

.........

Nike, Grey, A.J. and Axel are all gathered together in the living room. A.J. technically doesn't need to be here but he refuses to leave until I finish the story. Well he was involved in my rescue so maybe he feels it's necessary to be with me while I talk about it. The story about what happened that night.

"So Axel, Nike and I used to be childhood sweethearts but he left me because Monster offered him a better life. As you can see it hasn't helped and if anything Nike has gotten worse. How ironic!" I attempt to hide my amusement but clearly life sucks for him and I can't seem to stop feeling happy. Maybe Grey is right 'I need an attitude adjustment' psh.

Axel skillfully rubs his hand over his mouth smiling underneath.

"Anyways after everyone was taken away from me and I was practically isolated I just tried to live normally. I got up and went to school like I know mom would have wanted me to. I just acted like nothing was wrong and that seemed to irritate Monster. Once when I was walking home late at night I was attacked from behind and drugged. When I woke up I was in a warehouse with two older men. My mind goes back to the day.