Ember. | #1 Axis Series

13. The Reason

"What are you doing here?" I question Axton, narrowing my eyes and crossing my arms over my chest.

He smirks. "Troy called saying he needed me to help find you. He's driving all over town looking for you."

My eyes widen. "I don't mean to make you a messenger, but tell your brother I need some alone time."

I turn and plop down in the sand again, crossing my legs. Axton takes a seat beside me, looking out at the water. "You wanna talk about it?" He asks.

I huff. "No, thank you."

"Come on. Tell big brother Ax what happened," he teases.

I train my eyes on him and send him a glare. He puts his hands up as if to surrender and stands up. "Alright, then. I'll just tell my brother where his girl is."

I don't respond, knowing he's only saying that to make me talk. I watch a lot of Special Victims Unit and I know not to talk without a lawyer.

I hear him sigh before he says, "You may not want to talk, but at least assure the man that you're alright. He loves you."

I bring my knees to my chest and cradle them, my eyes misting at his words. The sound of a car starting follows his retreat and I bolt to my own car, knowing I need to talk to Troy. I need to hear those three words from Troy, not Axton.

I wait at his front door for a whole hour before giving up and heading home. Troy's car is gone and Forrest is nowhere to be found. The following day, I try to call him multiple times but receive no answer or indication that he's okay. There's no trace of him.

* * *

The Next Day...8:36 a.m.

- Troy Lancaster -

I hear knocking at the door, but I leave it be and keep my eyes trained on the wall in front of me. Whoever it is will go away. I just hope the pain in my chest does the same. I'm such an asshole and if I had just listened to her, maybe she would still be here. I would still have her in my arms every night.

"Dude, open the door. It's Ax," comes from the other side of the master bedroom door. I set the bottle of Jack Daniels on the nightstand and groggily stumble my way to the door.

"Jesus, brother, you look like s**t," is Axton's greeting when it's open.

"Thanks."

I roll my eyes at him childishly before taking a seat on the bed, knees c****d and my head in my hands. The smell of Em's lotion and shampoo coats the room and I find myself breathing it in, taking in what remains of her time here in this house.

The sound of glass shattering makes me jolt and raise my head. Axton stands in front of the now shattered whiskey bottle, nostrils flaring and eyes wild. How am I going to explain that to my maid?

"What the hell's your problem, man?" I half slur, some of the alcohol lingering in my system.

"You better snap the f**k out of this groove you're in, Troy. Just call her and f*****g apologize," he says, breathing heavily. After a moment, he calms and says in a quieter tone, "Put on a suit and meet me outside. We have work to do."

He leaves then and I escape to the bathroom, needing to shower. I'm in and out five minutes later, the smell of whiskey gone and the bathroom foggy. I find my phone after dressing and make my way outside. Forrest and Axton are engaged in conversation when I step out, but turn quiet when they hear me. I choose to ignore it and their questioning stares.

It's time for me to work.

* * *

- Ember Holbrook -

I stride up to the receptionist's desk, feeling my nerves kick into overdrive. After a day of unanswered phone calls and house visits, I have made the courageous decision to visit Troy at his office and demand to know the truth behind Axton's words. There will be no avoiding each other any longer.

The receptionist looks up when I approach and asks for my name. "Ember Holbrook. I'm here to see Mr. Lancaster," I respond, paranoid that she might not let in to see him.

She flips through a few papers on her clipboard until she finds what she's looking for and says, "You can go ahead to Mr. Lancaster's office."

I thank her and proceed with my plan. Troy is at his desk gazing at his computer when I walk in and his head comes up when I shut the door a little louder than normal. There are dark circles under his now dull eyes and a feeling of guilt washes over me.

I should've never left.

He stands and advances toward me, his dark blue eyes running along the length of me until we make eye contact. When he reaches me, he brushes his fingers along mine, causing me to shiver and start to turn away. His arm barricades around my waist as he hauls me to his chest.

"Troy," I whisper, hoping he'll let me go long enough to talk. He doesn't but instead plants a kiss on my forehead and along my cheek to my jaw.

"I'm sorry," he rumbles in my ear, springing tears to my eyes.

"Do you love me?"