“I know this isn’t the life you want,” Mom said after a moment, reaching out to cup the side of my face. “And when this is over, when Kostya is healthy and we’ve rebuilt the café, we’re going to give you back the money you lost so you can follow your dreams.”
I smiled sadly, shaking my head. “I don’t have dreams anymore,” I whispered. “A trip to Disney World isn’t going to bring them back to me. Anyway, you go. I’ll handle lunch.”
Axel handed my father his keys back and watched as my parents went out to their pickup.
“What was that about Disney World?” he asked once they were gone.
“That’s where I was going to go when I went on my trip. Mom was saying when we get the café up and running, she’s going to give me back the money I gave the Brat so I can still go.” I turned, looking for an apron.
“Don’t you want to?” Axel followed me to the back.
I shrugged. “It’s become clear that I’m not destined to have a life beyond that of the café and my family, so I’ve given up the fantasies about travel or a career or anything else.” I paused and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. Last night shook me up more than I want to admit. Don’t mind me.”
“Last night would have shaken up almost anyone,” he said. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. You haven’t had any time to process everything.”
“I don’t want to process anything,” I said, staring out through the broken windows. “I’m tired of the fear, the hunger, the cold… Every time we start to get ahead, like when King Erik took power, something else bad happens. I’m so tired of being tired.” I leaned against the counter. “And I did it again. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I can’t seem to stop complaining today.”
“It’s okay. I’m happy to listen.”
“Why? You don’t even know me.” And more than that, why did my heart beat a little faster every time he looked at me? Too bad it probably wasn’t mutual.
4
Axel
I tried not to smile at the look she was giving me. “Well, I’d say after last night, I know you a little.”
More than anything, I wanted to kiss the scowl off her pretty face, but she was going through something and it didn’t seem like she had anyone else to talk to. Not about this, at least. I knew that life up here in the northern part of the country was hard. It was something we talked about in our security briefings when members of the royal family were planning visits to the area, but I hadn’t understood the extent of it. The isolation that went beyond geographical distance and frigid weather. The people here lived without a lot of hope, I realized. Even the ones who had food and enough money to get through the winters.
“Well, in spite of that, apparently I have to handle feeding the lunch crowd, so talking will have to wait.” She moved towards the back.
“How are you going to serve lunch?” I asked, following her into the kitchen.
“My mother cooked a stew upstairs in our family kitchen and a neighbor baked bread.”
“Then let’s do this.”
The kitchen had fared better than the dining room. The ovens and the counters seemed to be okay, though the stove top had sustained some damage. Aside from some shelves that had probably not been bare before last night, everything else had been cleaned up. There were loaves of fresh bread on the counter, which Solange had started cutting up, and she glanced at me.
“Are you going to watch me work?”
“Can I help?”
“Sure. Grab those baskets over there.” She motioned with her head.
I got them down and set them out in front of her.
“There are napkins we use to line the baskets in that drawer.” She motioned again. “Line each basket with one.”
“Okay.” I did what I was told and she placed slices of the thick brown bread in each one. “How many people do you think you’ll feed?”
“She said there’s enough for the men who come from the factories, so about forty.”
“What are you going to feed them in?” I asked, looking around. “All your plates and bowls were broken.”
“I have no idea.” She shrugged. “My mother made it sound like it was handled. I just do what I’m told.”
“Somehow, I don’t believe that,” I murmured.
She met my gaze and smiled. “Well, most of the time. Once in a while I get a rebellious streak.”
“I think your rebellious streak is always there, simmering just below the surface. And right about now, it’s about to explode out in every direction.”
She laughed. “You’re a bit of a romantic, Axel.”
“Maybe.” I looked down at the mischief in her eyes, and the desire to kiss her was almost overwhelming. But before I could decide whether or not I dared to actually do it, there was a noise that came from the dining room of the café.
A deep booming voice called out in Limaji. “Show yourself, asshole!”
“Did he say what I think he said?” I grumbled under my breath.
She nodded and I handed her my phone. “Call Xander, and tell him there might be trouble.” Then I turned and walked out of the kitchen.
The guys waiting for me in the dining room were amateurs. Probably not a day over twenty-one and full of more bravado than brain or brawn.
I let them think I was intimidated by their guns, but I wasn’t particularly worried. I arched a brow as one of the men attempted to interrogate me in Limaji. I knew more Limaji than I let on, though I certainly wasn’t fluent. I got the gist of the man’s threats, noting that they were speaking Turkish among themselves, and patiently waited for the guy who seemed to be in charge to finish his diatribe.
“…You think you can come into our town, hurt our men, go against the Brat, you don’t know who you’re messing with…” The one in charge was going on and on, to the point that I was getting bored.
“You speak English, dickhead?” I asked. “How about French? Spanish? Russian, maybe?”
“Shut the fuck up!” More Limaji.
I spotted Xander and Sandor pull up, and Xander headed toward me while Sandor disappeared around back. Hopefully, he wouldn’t scare the shit out of poor Solange.
“Hey, what’s everyone up to?” Xander came strolling in like it was any other day.
The guy in charge swung his gun around to point it at Xander and I jumped into action, taking out both of the other guys. Had they really only sent three? They knew I’d taken out four on my own last night, so did they think three would be sufficient to get the jump on me today? I shook my head as Xander held the leader in a headlock.
“What do you want to do?” Xander asked me.
“Let’s tie them up and see what Sandor thinks.”
The one guy took a swing at me and I caught his fist in my hand, giving him a look. “Knock it off.”
We made sure they were secured and headed towards the kitchen.
“I hope there’s lunch,” Xander said, following me.
“What happened?” Solange demanded.