Xavier (Men of Forbidden Temptation Book 5)

Chapter 7

There areplenty of moments in life where you wish for time to stand still, but being a witness to a cold-blooded murder isn’t one of them.

However, time is moving so slowly right now that even the whooshing in my ears seems to drag on.

The man with the gun walks over to Everett’s lifeless body and nudges it with the toe of his boot before tucking the gun back into the waistband of his pants.

With a quick glance at the taller man, he bends down and pats Everett’s jacket, looking for the treasure.

He pats the same pocket three, four, five times before digging inside and pulling out a tiny box. After tucking it inside his own jacket pocket, he stands and rights himself.

“Fucking liar. I hate liars.” He kicks Everett’s lifeless body over and over again.

The taller man barks out, “Let’s go. The cops will be here soon. Everett probably tripped the alarm.”

Without another glance at Everett, the killer flees from the restaurant with the accomplice on his heels.

When I’m sure they are gone and not coming back, I let out a shaky breath.

What the hell was in the box? Did Everett get that from the office?

Still hidden under the corner booth, I dial Uncle Zach’s number.

He immediately answers in a chipper tone. “Are you calling to tell me you ate all the pie?”

My voice is shaky and cracks with emotion. “You need to get here as soon as you can. There’s been a murder.”

“WHAT?” He yells before letting out a string of expletives.

When he composes himself a little, he asks, “Are you hurt? Did someone try to hurt you?”

“No, I’m fine, but hurry, please.” I hold in a sob that’s threatening to break loose as I beg him to get here.

“I’ll be there in a few minutes. Hang tight, kiddo.”

He hangs up the phone and reality sets in.

I’m alone in a boarded up restaurant with a dead body bleeding all over the floor as a hurricane draws closer. There’s a killer on the loose and another person who tried to stalk me.

What has my life turned into? Why is everything happening to me all at once?

I’m about ready to crawl out from under the booth when heavy footsteps approach the front door.

There’s no way that is Uncle Zach. He couldn’t get here that fast, even if he was in the area.

Have the killers come back to dispose of Everett’s body or torch the place to get rid of the evidence?

Is it someone else looking for me?

Is it something else I need to worry about?

Keeping my eyes locked on the broken front door, I almost let out a cry when I hear someone calling my name.

“Brianna?” My name is as quiet as a whisper.

Maybe I’m hallucinating. Maybe my brain has had enough of this shitty reality that I’m now imagining someone calling my name.

I don’t answer in case it’s the killer or my imagination playing tricks on me.

The footsteps stop right outside the front door before crossing the threshold.

“Shit. What the fuck is going on?”

I guess the new intruder found Everett’s body.

“Brianna? Are you here? It’s safe for you to come out.”

There’s no way that was my imagination.

I take a deep breath as I prepare to face whoever is dumb and brave enough to step into the middle of a crime scene.

The man walks to the other end of the bar and murmurs. “Please be okay. I need you to be okay.”

It’s him.

The man from the party.

The man that every woman in town is gossiping about. Xavier.

Why does he need me to be okay?

My mind can’t focus on the questions swirling around. I can only focus on his voice.

His deep, husky voice that sends shivers down my spine.

I could pick it out of a crowd. I’ll always remember his voice and the way it turned me on at the party.

“I’m over here.” I say softly as I crawl out from under the booth.

Xavier strides over to me in a few seconds. He helps me stand before looking over my body. His gaze lingers on my chest before dipping down to my barely covered legs.

I cross my arms over my chest and narrow my eyes at him. “What are you looking for?”

“You, but I was checking to see if you had any injuries.” A small smile forms on his face as I glare at him.

He was using that as an excuse to check me out.

“I’m fine. No injuries here.”

Unless you count emotional and mental ones due to seeing a life being taken right in front of me.

His gaze hardens as if he knows I’m lying.

“You can’t be seen here at the scene of the crime. You need to go home.”

He might be used to being in charge, but not with me. “Bullshit. This is my uncle’s place. I’ll stay here as long as I damn well please.”

“It’s not safe for you right now. Can’t you see what is happening all around you? Damn it Brianna, open your eyes.”

He might be used to women submitting to him and giving in to his every word, but that’s not who I am, and he’s going to learn that the hard way.

“First off, my eyes are open, asshole. Second, I’m safe here. My uncle is on his way, and the killers aren’t coming back. Besides, you’re here now, and you look like you can handle anything that may be a danger to me.”

Why is he so hellbent on keeping me safe?

A memory flashes through my mind of the first thing he said to me at the bonfire.

“It’s not safe for you to be wandering alone, Princess. Especially this far from the party.”

“How do you know your uncle is on his way? Did you call him?”

I roll my eyes. “Of course I did! Someone was just murdered in his restaurant. There’s a lot he has to do before the storm hits.”

“You said it. There’s a lot he has to do, not you.”

“I was a witness. I can’t just leave.”

“Sure you can. No one has to know you were here.”

Is he serious? Does he know I work for the police department? I can’t just leave.

“The police have to know.”

“They can take your statement from the safety of your house.”

Why does he want me to leave? Is he friends with the three men?

Xavier pulls out his phone and reads a message before typing a long reply.

“Is our conversation interrupting something important?”

He glances back at me with a smirk firmly on his face. “Only you leaving and getting home.”

“That’s not happening unless you throw me over your shoulder and carry me home.”

My heart beats faster as I picture him doing just that. Would he give my ass a playful smack as it’s up in the air?

He must be imagining the same thing because his smirk turns into a grin.

I shake that thought away. “That’s not going to happen. I’m staying here and will fight you until my uncle gets here.”

“Tough words for a little girl.”

My eyes widen at his dig. “Little? I’m an adult, I’ll have you know. I’m not a toddler that needs to be told what to do.”

His jaw ticks as he clenches his teeth together. “Then stop acting like a toddler.”

I let out a shocked gasp. “Excuse me?”

He shrugs and walks over to Everett’s body. He takes his time observing the crime scene, being careful not to touch anything.

Fighting with Xavier is not only fun, but it’s thrilling and a total turn on. I want to shove his face into my pussy to shut him up and wipe the cocky smirk off his face.

I want him, that much is clear, and I’d bet he wants me just as much, but it won’t happen. I refuse to give him the satisfaction of winning this argument.

Squatting beside the body, Xavier whispers something to himself before closing Everett’s eyelids. He glances up toward Heaven and makes the sign of the cross with his hands while whispering a prayer.

I’ve seen several people do this over the years, but the gesture seems so out of place for a man like him.

He’s hard and mean, whereas that gesture is caring and empathetic.

How can he be soft and caring toward the dead, but crass and arrogant toward me?

Two different sides of the same coin, I’d wager.

When he stands and turns back to face me, he looks like a totally different man.

A man that’s seen the ins and outs of war. A man that’s seen his fair share of death and destruction.

Gone is his cocky smirk, replaced with a somber frown.

The anger that has been building leaves my body. The argument is long forgotten.

He pulls out a stool and collapses on it, like he’s carrying the weight of the world and it suddenly became too heavy for him to bear.

My expression softens as I walk behind the bar, grab two glasses, and pour us each a stiff drink.

Xavier doesn’t grab his drink.

“You need this as much as I do.” I pick up my glass and down the liquid in one shot.

I was never one for day drinking, especially on a weekday, but here I am drinking in my uncle’s restaurant.

I never imagined I’d witness a murder either, so there’s that.

Xavier downs his drink before placing his glass back on the bar. “I’ll pay for those when your uncle gets here.”

I shake my head. “There’s no need.”

“I’m not going to steal from him.”

“One, it’s not stealing. He can file an insurance claim because the intruders already broke one bottle. Two, I’m his favorite, so he won’t mind that we took a couple of shots. Especially after the fucked up shit I witnessed today.”

“Which is why you need to head home. I’ll drive you there myself if I have to.”

I sit down on a nearby stool. “Come on, we’re not going over this again. I’m not leaving until the police or my uncle tell me to.”

His expression hardens as his jaw clenches.

He’s about to speak, but I cut him off. “I’m changing the subject now. Since you seem so invested in me and what’s happening around me, I should tell you about what happened earlier today.”

He turns his entire body toward me. “What happened earlier today?”

His gaze wanders over my body, searching for any clue as to what I could be talking about.

I’d revel in this feeling if it wasn’t serious. “Someone followed me and tried to crash my car.”

He sits up straighter and plasters a strictly all work expression on his face. “What did they look like?”

“I don’t know. Their tint was too dark to see inside. Besides, I was too preoccupied trying to lose them.”

He raises an eyebrow. “And did you lose them?”

I roll my eyes. “Of course. I’m here now, am I not?”

I don’t tell him the reason I lost the tail is because the police intervened. I know I could have lost him if I really tried.

Dad taught me when I was a young girl how to lose a tail. He called it preparedness. I called it over protectiveness.

Xavier narrows his eyes at me. “When?”

“Huh? When what?”

“When did you learn how to drive like that?”

I can see the wheels spinning inside his mind, trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Why is any of this important?

“Years and years ago. Before I actually took the driving test and got my driver’s license.”

“Why?”

I let out a huff of breath. His one word questions are annoying as hell.

I shrug. “Probably because my dad was super protective of me and wanted me to be able to take care of myself.”

Xavier glances at Everett’s lifeless body. “It doesn’t make sense.”

“What doesn’t make sense?” I need a little bit more than his cryptic statement.

“None of this. Nothing is adding up. The death threats. Someone tailing you. The murder.”

I chime in. “And don’t forget the attempted kidnapping last night.”

Xavier turns his attention back on me. His eyes are dark, almost black, and full of rage. Thankfully, I know the rage isn’t aimed at me.

Wait, did he say the death threats? What death threats?