Chapter 19
Everly
The fluorescent lights above flicker like a dying breath as we step through the back door of the laundromat. Xavier leads the way, his broad frame cutting through the poorly lit corridor. Winter follows close behind, her movements eerily silent, while I trail last, my senses on high alert.
The stairs creak beneath our feet, each step seemingly growing louder. By the time we reach the bottom, the air tastes thick with cigarette smoke and cheap cologne. The sound of voices grows louder, punctuated by the sharp snap of cards and the clinking of ice in glasses. I'm so scared—What are we walking into? Will we leave alive?—but I push forward, my eyes fixed on Xavier’s back.
He pauses at the threshold of the room, his hand raised in a silent command for us to wait. Winter flattens against the wall beside me, her sharp eyes scanning the space ahead, while I strain to see past Xavier’s shoulder.
The room is nothing like the sterile laundromat upstairs. The walls are lined with rich, velvety drapes in a deep crimson that seems to soak up the light, and the floor is covered in black carpet that muffles the sound of our approach. In the center of the room, a circular poker table dominates the space, surrounded by men whose faces are obscured by the swirling clouds of smoke.
And then I see her.
Sable is on her knees, her body positioned like a trophy beside the man at the head of the table. Her face is swollen, one eye blackened, and a faint trickle of blood runs down her split lip. Her wrists are bound behind her back, her shoulders hunched in a way that screams of pain and submission. My breath catches in my throat as her head lifts, her hazel eyes locking onto mine for a fleeting moment before she looks away.
The man seated beside her is leaning back in his chair, a cigar clenched between his teeth. He’s impeccably dressed in a tailored black suit, his sleeves rolled up to reveal corded forearms inked with tattoos that curl like snakes around his skin. His dark hair is slicked back, revealing sharp, angular features, and his thick, bushy eyebrows are drawn into a perpetual scowl. But it’s his eyes that draw me in—utterly devoid of humanity. They gleam with a dangerous light as he takes a long drag of his cigar, exhaling a plume of smoke that curls like a challenge in the air.
We step into the room, drawing the man’s attention.
“Rico,” Xavier says, his voice low and smooth. “I hear you’ve got something that belongs to me.”
Rico smirks, the movement twisting his lips into a cruel, thin line. He gestures to Sable with a dismissive wave of his hand.
“Oh, you mean this little broken doll? I wasn’t aware she belonged to anyone. Anyone worth noticing, that is.”
He's mocking Xavier, and I feel a surge of anger burn through me. But Xavier doesn’t flinch. Instead, he takes another step forward, his eyes locked on Rico.
“She’s mine,” he says simply. “And I’m here to take her home.”
Rico chuckles, a low, gravelly sound. He takes another drag of his cigar, his eyes never leaving Xavier’s face.
“Is that so? And what makes you think I’ll just hand her over?”
Xavier’s jaw tightens, a faint muscle flickering beneath his skin. “Because if you don’t,” he says, his voice dropping to a dangerous low, “I’ll make sure you regret it.”
The table falls silent. Rico leans forward, his movements deliberate, and stubs out his cigar in the ashtray beside him. His eyes never leave Xavier’s as he speaks.
“You’re bold, Ravenwood. I’ll give you that. But courage doesn’t always pay the bills. Or save the girl.” He snaps his fingers, and one of his men steps forward, a burly mass of muscle with a cruel grin spreading across his face. “You want to play? Fine. Let’s play.”
The room seems to hold its breath as Rico deals the cards with a flourish. I feel Winter’s hand brush against mine, a silent reminder to stay sharp. My heart races as I glance at Sable, her eyes now locked on the floor, her body trembling slightly.
My pulse hammers in my ears as Xavier takes another step forward. My hands tremble, but I clamp them together, trying to steady myself.
“Let her go, Rico. She’s not worth the trouble.” Xavier’s voice cuts through the tension, calm and even.
Rico’s laughter is low and guttural. He leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers together as he regards Xavier.
“Trouble? You’re the one walking into my territory, Ravenwood. Tell me what you’re willing to give in exchange for your little toy.”
Sable’s head lifts slightly, her shattered gaze landing on Xavier before dropping again. My stomach twists at the sight of her. Bruised, broken.
“Money. Information. Whatever you want. Just let her go.”
“Money?” Rico smirks, rolling the cigar between his fingers. “You think money will fix this? I took her from you, Xavier. Right from under your nose. She’s a statement now. And statements don’t come cheap.”
The man beside him shifts. My eyes dart to him, and I gasp softly as his hand moves to the butt of his gun.
Before I can react, before anyone can, a sharp crash echoes from the back of the room. One of Rico’s men stumbles forward, his eyes glassy and unfocused, a crazed grin twisting his face. He’s high, his movements erratic, and his hand is on the knife at his belt.
“Fuck this shit,” he slurs, weaving drunkenly toward Xavier. “Let’s show him what we do to people who think they can just walk in here.”
He lunges, the blade glinting. My heart leaps into my throat, but Xavier doesn’t flinch. Instead, he steps sideways and grabs the man by the wrist. There’s a sickening crack as he twists it, and the knife clatters to the floor.
But the room erupts. Shouts fill the air, and the sound of chairs toppling over fills the space. Rico’s men move, some drawing weapons, others standing frozen in uncertainty.
I act on instinct. Grabbing a nearby vase from the edge of the table, I hurl it at the nearest man. The vase shatters against the man’s temple, the sharp crack echoing through the room. Blood trickles down his face as he stumbles, dazed. I don’t hesitate. I dart toward Sable, my heart pounding like a wild animal in my chest. The chaos around me blurs, a cacophony of shouts and crashing furniture.
I drop to my knees beside Sable. Her wrists are bound behind her back with thick rope. My fingers shake as I work on the knots, her skin cold and clammy beneath my touch.
“Everly... leave,” Sable whispers. I can barely hear her over the chaos. Her swollen eyes flicker toward mine, filled with pain and grit. “Go. Now.”
But I don’t stop. My fingers move faster, the rope burning me. “I’m not leaving you,” I hiss.
Above us, I hear the sharp crack of Winter’s kick, followed by the thud of a body hitting the wall. Xavier moves like a predator, taking down Rico’s men one by one. The room is a whirlwind, but I block it out, focusing only on the rope and Sable’s labored breaths.
The first knot comes undone, and I yank at the next. Sable’s head tilts slightly, her lips parting as if to speak, but no words come. Her body is tense, her muscles coiled as if ready to spring into action the moment she’s free.
“Almost,” I mutter, sweat dripping down my temple. The rope cuts my fingers, but I ignore the sting. “Hold on.”
“Enough!”
I freeze, my hands still on the rope, as Rico’s voice rings out. Suddenly, the room falls silent. Not a full silence, but the kind that happens when everyone pauses to listen.
I glance up, my breath catching. Rico is standing now. The men who were fighting hesitate, their eyes darting toward their boss. Xavier and Winter pause, too, their breathing steady, their stances ready for more.
I keep working on the final knot, my fingers moving with a desperation I’ve never felt before. We're right behind Rico, in the worst position.
“This doesn’t have to end badly,” Xavier says, his voice steady, his eyes locked on Rico.
“I’m not done with her yet.” He gestures toward us without turning around.
Xavier and Winter see us both, but their faces don't change.
Rico’s chair creaks as he sits back down, his eyes still fixed on Xavier. My breath hitches as Sable’s wrist finally comes free, the rope slithering awkwardly to the floor. I glance up at Xavier’s face briefly, but his focus never leaves Rico.
“Enough games,” Rico spits, his voice hard and final. “You’ve got 30 seconds before I decide how to make an example out of her.”
I feel Sable tense beside me, her body coiled like a spring. My palm brushes against hers, a silent reassurance. Xavier takes a deliberate step forward, keeping Rico’s attention. Winter mirrors his movement, her sharp eyes scanning the space as if daring anyone to move.
“Let me remind you,” Xavier says, his voice dropping dangerously low, “about the kind of trouble you’re courting if you don’t back down.”
Rico’s men shift uneasily, their eyes darting to their boss and back to Xavier.
“Or what?” Rico sneers, but the bravado rings hollow. “You’ll hurt me? In front of all these witnesses?”
"Witnesses won't stop me from making you regret this.”
Rico’s men seem to hesitate, their hands resting on their weapons but not drawing them. Xavier’s control over the room is palpable, a silent command that even I can feel.
I glance at Sable, her eyes locked on Xavier. There’s fear and determination in her gaze, and I know she’s waiting for the right moment to move. Winter’s sharp nod is almost imperceptible, but I catch it—a signal.
As one, the three of us act.
Sable and I move in tandem, our bodies low and quick as we dart from behind Rico’s chair. Winter takes down the man in our way with a sharp, muted sound.
Chaos erupts again.
Rico roars in anger, his chair scraping back as he stands. “Grab them! Don’t let them get away!”
But we’re already gone.
Sable and I slip through the gap between the table and the wall. Xavier and Winter create a barrier between us and Rico’s men. I can hear the sound of fists hitting flesh, the sharp crack of a breaking chair, but I don’t look back.
We dart around the edge of the room, avoiding the scattered men. The exit is in sight, the dim glow of the stairs a beacon of safety. Xavier and Winter fall back, protecting our retreat as Rico’s men scramble to respond.
We’re almost there when Rico’s voice rings out, his resignation echoing through the room. “Let them go! Take the money!”
I don’t look back. I don’t dare.
Xavier’s hand finds mine as soon as we’re through the door, his grip warm and steady. Sable stumbles beside me, her body trembling with adrenaline and pain. Xavier pulls her into his arms before I can react, holding her close as she finally lets go.
“Shh,” he murmurs, his voice softening. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”
Tears break through Sable’s tough exterior, her sobs quiet but shaking her entire frame. Xavier holds her through it, his expression unreadable but his touch surprisingly gentle. He guides us up the stairs, away from the chaos below, his protective instincts on full display.
As we reach the top, he pauses, his eyes flickering to mine. For a moment, there’s something there, something unspoken, before he turns back to Sable, his jaw tightening.
“Let’s get her home,” he says simply.