Page 13

"Just going to leave it there... for now."

CHAPTER SEVEN

Gio arrived in the lowlands and went to the location marked on his phone. He saw the black SUV parked in the overgrown lot and assumed that was the vehicle that Axel had used. It looked like one of the Hadden Corp company vehicles.

He got out of his car and walked up to the side of the building where his two friends were standing. They weren't close, but they were useful when he had special jobs that required a special kind of pressure.

"There are two of them inside. What's your plan?" One of them asked.

"Wait around back; they'll do a walk around. We'll make sure they find us." Gio smiled hatefully. I don't care what you do to the guy with him, but Axel, the short blonde, needs to stay alive. I have plans for Axel. Bring him to me when you finish.”

Gio stood back out of sight and watched the two men lean against the building and wait for Axel and his friend to show up. If it was the man from the restaurant, he would make sure he suffered before he was killed. Gio would not accept the public disrespect he suffered from this man. He would soon learn that he fucked with the wrong man.

***

"The warehouse his sound and awaits a new beginning," Kieran said as they stepped through the side door. "Let's walk the exterior, but I don't see any problems that can’t be fixed." Kieran had been used to working alone most of the time, but now that he had Axel, he wanted him at his side always. Once he was brought into the Coven, he would remain Kieran's assistant; together, they would make the lowlands into something spectacular.

“The place is very distinctive; hopefully they can save all the architectural features.”

"The design team will start working on this structure next week. They've done some fine work so far, so I trust them to give this building what it deserves." They were about to turn left at the backside of the warehouse when Kieran heard movement. He shoved Axel behind him and stepped away from the building, giving them clearance.

"Someone there?" Kieran called out, and the steps moved faster. Two men moved around the corner and charged at him. "Stay behind me." He said sharply and punched the first guy in the face, knocking him backward onto the ground. The second one he caught around the middle and completely flipped him, smashing him face-first to the ground.

They were of no consequence and easily subdued. The first one got back to his feet and picked up a board and started swinging it at Kieran. He grabbed it in one hand and crushed it to splinters and punched the guy in the face again, but with more force.

He hadn't intended to kill them, so he held back, but their attacks were becoming tiresome. He didn’t get back up this time, and the other one was smart enough to start backing away. Once he was several feet away, he stood and ran off. Kieran looked around, sensing that this was not over yet.

Another emerged from the tall brush and entered the clearing; it was Gio. "Oh, God, it's Gio." Axel was shocked and moved up closer to Kieran, who quickly put his arm around him and tucked him into his side.

“What the hell do you want?” Axel erupted, but Kieran kept him back and tucked him to his side. Gio was predictable; he was about to do something outrageous, and his ego was going to be his undoing. He was waving a small handgun and spouting profanities.

Gio looked at the man on the ground and shook his head. "You get what you pay for, I guess. What a couple of losers." He kicked the man in the head and then looked up at Axel. "I'm going to fucking kill you, Axel, but I'm going to kill your friend here first."

"Are you out of your mind? Who do you think you are? Axel responded.

"I'm better than you, no matter what they say. I built that business; I'm the power behind the name, not you. I don't need you." Gio was definitely gearing up to do something big. Kieran tracked him closely. He would not allow him to hurt Axel; he would die before he raised another hand to Kieran's beloved.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t do anything to you. You won’t get away with this.” Axel was trying to negotiate with a madman.

He pointed the gun at Kieran and pulled the trigger, hitting him in the chest. Kieran did not move and did not blink, simply absorbing the blow. Gio's face went blank, and then terror took over. Axel shouted and tried to pull Kieran away and out of danger, but it was unnecessary. Gio shot again but only hit the side of the warehouse.

Kieran took a black Glock 34 from his jacket and casually shot Gio between the eyes. Gio looked understandably shocked as he crumpled to the ground. Kieran then returned the gun to the holster under his jacket. He worked often in the human world and guns performed best when interacting with that species, so he always kept one on his person.

Axel was pulling at him and crying, pressing his hands to Kieran's chest and screaming for him to be okay. He did not look at Gio; he had no love or sympathy for the man lying a few feet away. His only concern was Kieran, and Kieran felt a wetness in his eyes as the emotions hit him. He loved him above all others. Kieran pulled him close and kissed him hard on the lips.

"I'm fine, Axel.” He told him.

"You were shot, Kieran. I have to get you to the hospital." Kieran opened his bloody shirt and showed him the wound that was already almost completely healed. Axel looked up into his eyes, desperately struggling to understand.

"I've told you some, and our bond has revealed more. You saw me last night; you know what I am." He prompted, and Axel continued to stare frantically and still held his hands against Kieran's chest, not quite certain that his eyes were being truthful.

Kieran pulled out his phone and called for a cleanup as Axel listened. He then walked over, bent down, and placed his hand on the head of the man unconscious on the ground and held it there for a few seconds, and then stood.

“What did you do?”

"Cleared his memories; he will have no recollection of this day or of his business with Gio.”

“You can do that?”