Chapter 75 Part 75

Chapter 75 Part 75
North

It had been four long weeks. He hadn’t heard from Aspen or Axl. Charlotte had moved out of their Cambridge apartment, but he still saw her around campus. She avoided looking at him, and he knew he had to do something about it. Avoidance didn’t erase what had happened. It just let it rot quietly beneath the surface.
His father had given him hints, and he’d done his own digging, even hired a private investigator. They’d lost five hundred million dollars when Weston had taken over their largest company. The smaller ones were still technically theirs, but the foundation had cracked. Now North could take them all back if he wanted to. He was in two minds about doing it. They were no longer wealthy in the way they once had been. They still had assets, but if they wanted to maintain their lifestyle, they’d have to start selling. Pride would have to come before comfort.
North’s phone buzzed on the coffee table, dragging him from his thoughts. He looked at the unknown number on his screen, hesitation tightening in his chest. He grabbed the phone and swiped to answer it.
“Hello.”
“Hey, North.”
He froze. “Shit, Axl,” he breathed, closing his eyes. “I’ve been trying to call you for weeks!”
“Listen, I’m in the area. We should talk.”
North straightened instantly. “Yeah. Yeah, of course.” He gave him his address and the code to get into the building.
“I’ll see you in about ten minutes.”
North ended the call and stood still for a moment, heart pounding. He’d felt off-kilter ever since that night with Aspen, but it wasn’t just about her. It was the silence. Never before had a day gone by without some form of communication between him and Axl. The absence had felt unnatural. Like missing a limb.
He moved quickly, stacking his books, carrying dishes to the sink, wiping down the counter. He checked his watch and unlocked his front door just as the elevator doors opened down the hall.
Axl stepped out wearing a ball cap pulled low over his face, and a backpack slung over one shoulder. Even in simple clothes, he carried that quiet intensity.
“Hey,” North said, pulling him into a brief arm hug.
“Hey.”
North closed the door behind him. Axl removed the cap and ran his fingers through his hair. He looked around the apartment, taking everything in. The silence stretched too long.
North headed to the kitchen and opened the fridge. “Beer?”
“Sure.”
North handed him one. “What are you doing in Cambridge? Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve missed you.”
Axl placed his backpack beside the couch and took a slow sip. “Where’s Aspen? She’ll probably want to hear this as well.”
North frowned. “Aspen? Why would you think she’s here?”
Axl’s eyes hardened slightly. “Because she left with you that night. I saw you, North. Then I listened to your stupid-ass voicemail.”
North took a step back. “Is that why I haven’t been able to reach you? Because I love Aspen?”
“Yeah. My phone became best friends with the wall.” Axl’s jaw tightened. “Why isn’t Aspen with you?”
“Axl, she told me to piss off and ran. She didn’t leave with me. I haven’t heard from her since that night.”
Axl’s expression shifted, confusion flickering beneath anger. “What did you say to her? Why would she just leave and not even talk to me?”
North looked down briefly. “I told her she wasn’t your problem anymore because Charlotte was out of the picture.”
Axl’s fist connected with his cheekbone before North could brace for it. The impact was sharp and immediate. He staggered backward, tasting blood.
“My problem?” Axl snapped. “She was never my problem! I took her with me because I wanted her there!”
North pressed his hand to his cheek, glaring. “I love her, Axl! Giving her up was the hardest thing I’ve ever done!”
“You gave her up for money, asshole! That’s not love!”
“And you know what love is?” North shot back. “You dated Merit for six months!”
Axl huffed out a bitter laugh. “I can’t believe you. I love Aspen too. And I’m pretty sure she felt the same way before your bullshit made her leave.”
Silence settled between them, thick and volatile. “So you came back for Aspen?” North asked finally. “Is that why you’re here?”
“No.” Axl’s voice flattened. “Merit came to see me. She waited backstage when we performed in Florida.”
North blinked. “What the hell did she want?”
“She’s pregnant.” Axl held his gaze. “Congrats, North. You’re getting a little brother or sister.”
North barked out a sharp laugh. “So are you, asshole.”
Axl didn’t smile. “She said Weston tricked her into sleeping with him.”
North shook his head slowly. “That’s not the story Weston told. His regret about sleeping with her was real. He gloated about everything else. Not that.”
“Yeah. I don’t know what to believe.” Axl dragged a hand through his hair. “She sent a letter to Weston’s New York office with proof because he wasn’t taking her calls. We both know Weston’s going to see this as a problem that needs fixing.”
North paced. “I know. But should we really care what happens to her? She helped ruin us.”
“So did Weston,” Axl replied quietly. “Even more than she did. Charlotte too. She’s still a person, North. She made a mistake. We all have.”
North exhaled slowly. The anger simmered, but beneath it was something heavier. Responsibility.
“We need to keep Merit safe,” he said finally. “Until that baby’s born. At least.”
“I’m sure you’ve got a spare bedroom,” Axl said, face unreadable.
“Me? You dated her.”
“I’m on the road. I can’t parade her around in public. I’ve got two weeks before I need to be back in Los Angeles.”
North stopped pacing. There was something else. Something darker. “There’s another option,” he said carefully.
Axl looked at him. “Short of killing the old man, I’m not sure what you think we can do.” North didn’t look away. Axl blinked. “You can’t be serious.”
“I took that deal because he threatened you too,” North said quietly. “I was willing to give up everything for you, my mom, and Aspen. Getting rid of him would do the world a favor. Nobody else would get hurt because of him.”
His voice cracked slightly. “Axl, my mom went back to rehab. The bastard got her hooked on pills. He’s going to kill her slowly.”
Axl went very still. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of what they were suggesting pressed into the room. When Axl finally looked at him again, something resolute had settled in his eyes.
“We do this smart,” he said quietly. “And then we never talk about it again.”