"Are you going somewhere?" I asked as I watched him carefully fold another shirt.
Axel paused, glancing up at me. "I have some business to attend to outside the state. I'll be gone for a few days."
My heart jumped. "Ohh… uhm… where?" I asked for no particular reason.
"Oregon," he replied, returning to his packing. "Why?"
Oregon? That's the same state where Erica lived. This couldn't be a coincidence. This was fate!
"Can I come with you?" The words tumbled out before I could stop them.
Axel looked up sharply. "Layla, you're in no condition to be travelling. You can barely walk without those crutches."
"But I'd be with you," I said quickly, moving closer to his bed. "I'd be safe. And I want to learn more about the business. I've been stuck in this house for days, and I'm going crazy."
"This isn't a vacation. It's work."
"I know that," I insisted. "But maybe I could observe some meetings, and learn how you handle things. I want to understand what you do."
