Sin of the Saint

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: BRAKE

"Thunder" was the only word she could think of to describe her escalating heartbeat. She was silenced in her shock for the whole ride to the auto shop. Her fingers were numb from clasping them so tightly together, and sweaty for the same reason.

She focused on her breath instead—she had to remain calm...though she believed she could be in the same car as Cupid...in their mortal identities.

Nathan pulled into the lot at the auto shop. "Get out—I've got things to do."

Axel said nothing and got out of the car and opened the passenger door for Liv.

"I'll be taking the little lady home, cousin—your fun for the day is done," Nathan said.

Axel wore a sarcastic grin on his face and replied, "Why don't we let the little lady decide for herself, hm?"

Liv blinked. If she went with Axel...that would be incriminating to him...it would give Nathan another opportunity, if he were Cupid, to hurt them both, or worse, just Axel.

But if she were to stay with Nathan, she could at least know where they both were—away from one another.

"Axel, I...think I better go home," Liv said quietly.

"Alright, I can take you home in my truck—let's go," he waved her out. "I'll drop you off before my shift at the hospital."

She did step onto the sidewalk but caught Axel's hand as he turned.

"What is it?" he asked, looking back at her.

"I...I need to talk to Nathan," she said quietly.

Axel arched his eyebrow, "What could you possibly have to talk about with him?"

Liv looked around speechlessly, biting her lip, "I...I don't exactly know...I—" it would be too soon to let him in on her suspicions...he might act unpredictably. "It's important, though."

Axel looked suspiciously between Nathan and Liv, and Liv, with a pleading look in her eye squeezed his hand.

"Will you trust me, Axel?" she whispered. "Please?"

He blinked slowly, dismissing his suspicion, "Always." Then, he instinctively pulled her into a hug and placed a kiss on her forehead as he had done the night before. "I'll text you after I get done at the hospital."

"Thanks—I appreciate that," Liv said, nodding before turning to Nathan's car and getting into the passenger seat. "I...let's...um...let's talk later?"

A sly grin slid over his lips, "Yeah."

Nathan revved the engine insistently and Liv waved to Axel as Nathan began to drive away.

Nathan scoffed, "Well, that was nauseating—"

Liv cut him off, "What did you do?"

"What?"

"You heard me," Liv said, a threatening tone rising in her voice. "You don't have leverage on me like you do Axel, now tell me what you did."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Yves," he said, shaking his head. "Though I must say, I love it when you get like that."

"Like what?"

Nathan shrugged, "Aggressive?"

Liv rolled her eyes—that is so Cupid. "Nathan, tell me."