Sanctuary

[Jay Carpenter]

Axel Miller, The Machete

Former Raider, USMC SOF

Axel fucking Miller, the Machete. The nickname was a joke, originally, after the guy took a bet he couldn’t snap a piece of bamboo in one blow with a machete like some kind of Samurai video. The name stuck.

They stared at each other. For every second that passed, Jay was sure his heart beat loud as gunshots. He rose to his feet, but soon enough, he couldn’t contain a grin from escaping another minute.
He grabbed the former soldier and the two clapped in a firm hug.
It was like clinging to a ghost of the past.
“Jesus Christ Hollywood, I thought you were two in the brain and buried in a ditch after Nica.”

Jay grinned and stepped aside, scrubbing a hand through sweaty hair. After Iowa, it was practically hot as those fucking jungles in comparison. “Me too. I’m still looking over my shoulder.”

“And here you are digging in the dirt outside the house of the governor of fucking Texas. Goddammit man, what the hell are you doing here?”

Jay glanced at the house, then back over the fence that was obviously fine and secure as any fence should be under the circumstances.
“It’s the longest story of my life. How’s Morgan?” They’d be married less than a year now. Jay was meant to be a groomsman in the wedding. He called days before, warning he’d be a no-show.

He didn’t take the silence as a good sign. “Eh, I’m sorry man. I liked her.” Axel shrugged, apathetic. Truth be told, Jay was shocked when the man announced an engagement. Morgan was cool, but Axel didn’t seem the type to settle down with anyone. Not surprised it didn’t last.

“I think that’s $500 you owe me?” Maybe it was a sick thing to bet against your friend’s marriage ending early, but how else did someone spice up a wedding. Those things were boring as shit. Besides, wasn’t the groom supposed to bet on eternal bliss?

“Yeah and you can shove it up your ass, Carp.” Axel’s grin was all too familiar. Jay had an eager remark to return, but silence dominated in the end.

“So, you’re with the husband’s group?”

Jay blinked. Jensen. Right. “Yeah. Kind of. Not like that.”

An awkward kind of silence he never recalled looming before filled the intervening moments.
“Then what the hell are you doing in Preston Fucking Hollow?” Genuine curiosity tugged truths from Jay he thought sure were buried far below the surface.

Before he knew it, they were sharing a cigarette, and Jay told Axel everything.

Twenty minutes later, they were sitting in the garage and it was Axel’s turn to blink speechless, look him up and down, and shake his head. “Bull shit.”

Jay swallowed nervously, pulled the paper from his lips and held the spent butt in the air. A moment later, fires engulfed the paper and it incinerated in one quick flash of light.

Axel laughed.

At least it felt good to be accepted. Fires coursed him from inside out, not just from the cigarette. He hated those fuckers, but goddammit he missed them.

“Tell you what, I can help you out.”

Jay frowned. “No you can’t. You’re a gun for hire walking three steps behind..”
Axel grinned, “Behind that sweet little ass?”
“I was going to say Governor Thrice,”
“Sure you were.” Axel swiped his hands on his pants and stood up. “I can help, though. I know a guy. Every time Amengual takes a shit, he knows about it. I think I can get him to talk to you.”

Jay frowned. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know how Axel had that kind of connection.
“Probably won’t want any more than four or five grand.”

“Five grand?” Jay groaned. Its not like he expected such a cockroach to do anyone a favor, but Jay wasn’t made of cash. He’d spent a lot to get out here then move the family to Dallas. Not to mention most of his paycheck was funneled home anyway. Paying for medical bills for no reason at all.

He’d have to ask Natalie to help. Like hell if he was going to ask the preacher. Somehow, that seemed dirtier than talking to some narco informant.

“Set it up. I’ll get the money.”

Axel nodded. God it was good to see him.