Sanctuary

[Jay Carpenter]

Axel Miller

Former Raider, MARSOC

PPO to Governor Thrice of Texas

As soon as Jay split, Axel doused the cigarette, replaced his earpiece and returned to the gatehouse. PPO Davis nodded at his entrance, but Axel brushed by the duty-officer and skimmed a few screens, surveyed the driveway and glanced at the main entrance.
“Davis, I want surveillance on the governor’s guests at all times. At least one of them is a channeler, maybe more.”

The PPO took the news without reaction except a stern nod. “Yes sir.” As Davis moved out to set up the additional measures, Axel watched more and more views of the grounds appear. Finally, Carpenter showed up on the pool deck, speaking with the Custody heiress. They’d swapped shit like no time at all had passed. He was exactly the same. Golden boy. Perfect poster child for the marines. If he hadn’t been blacked out, he would be a national hero. Except maybe that whole ripping apart Andres Amengual with his bare hands. He didn't blame Carp at the time. That motherfucker deserved it, and for Axel’s part, he made no move to stop it. Maybe he even gave Carp the machete to begin with. Axel always carried one. 

But to the Amenguals, Axel might as well have been the one to pull the trigger. He was there that night. They all had prices on their heads. Six months ago, passing through a hotel in Galveston while the Governor vacationed, a message arrived out of the blue. The next day, Axel sat in a shithole tiki bar and two options were presented to him. He took the latter. The marriage was collateral damage, but who the fuck cared, right? 
He lit another cigarette.

Marriage. Morgan, fuck. She was safer without him anyway. But brotherhood? They watched each others’ backs in the worst places in the world. 
But Axel was tired of this shit. He wanted out.
He made the call just as he witnessed Jay hurry away from the pool.  

A pause as the voice on the other end demanded he speak. “It’s Axel Miller. I have a lead on your bounty.”  

Sorry, brother.