~LAYLA~
The silence that followed the dial tone was deafening.
"He's hurt," I said in panic. I grabbed Axel's arm. "Did you hear that? Julian broke the door down. We have to call the police. We have to…"
"No police," Axel cut me off. He was already moving toward the bedroom. "Isabelle will claim Pennyworth is having a senile episode. She'll claim he stole property, and by the time the police get a warrant to search the library, those journals will be ashes in the fireplace."
He came back out holding a black duffel bag. He tossed a bundle of clothes at me.
"Change," he ordered. "You can't run in a ballgown."
I looked at the grey sweatpants and black hoodie he had thrown. "Run? Axel, what are we doing?"
Axel checked the magazine of a handgun I hadn't even seen him pull out, then tucked it into the waistband of his trousers.
