32
Xavier
I sprint down the hallway of the hotel with a bag in each hand. That flight was the longest flight of my entire life. As soon as I swipe the hotel key card and open the door I see Lina jump up from the couch and rush towards me. Her waves swing back and forth as she makes her way to me. The moment she enters my arms I let out a sigh of relief. My fingers entangle in her hair as she lets out soft cries.
I look over at Carl in the corner and nod. I cup her face and when I do, I take notice of the cuts and bruises. My heart sinks. It’s a good thing that fucker is dead because if he wasn’t—well he would wish he was after I was done with him.
Her doleful eyes hold mine. It kills me to look at what he did to her. Rage begins to brew in my gut at the thought of him hurting her.
“Thank you, Carl,” I take his hand and pull him in for a hug. I feel his arm drape over me. “Goodnight, Miss Lina,” Carl says after he pulls back. I watch her walk over and wrap her petite arms around him. He’s a giant compared to her. “Thank you—for everything, Carl.” Lina says as her voice breaks away. The two of us watch as Carl shuts the door behind him. Her exhausted eyes are heavy as she walks over to me again. I pull her close to my body, never wanting to let go.
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Lina and I stand in the shower as the warm water runs over our bodies. I wrap my arms around her protectively as we just stand there in the steamy and silent bathroom.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” I say. She lifts her head slightly staring up at me. “Don’t you dare blame this on yourself. This is not your fault.” She says. But I should’ve been there. Men are supposed to be there to protect the women they love.
“I was thinking—” she pauses, looking at the ground nervously. The steam in the shower is thick as we stand there embracing each other. “I know it’s too soon and I don’t even know if you’d want me to—” she pauses again and I smile, tucking her wet hair behind her ear.
“Lina Harrington, I never want to lose you again. I don’t want to spend another day where I cannot see this beautiful face, touch this beautiful body, or hear that beautiful voice.” I trail my finger down her cheek as her gaze holds mine.
“Now I can move here and still be able to run my business or you can move to Paris. Either way, we start this next chapter together.” I say, taking her hand in mine. She smiles up at me and I then feel her tongue swipe between my lips as we kiss slowly and deeply with the water still falling on us.
“If I did move—” she pulls back, looking away from me. I already know where she’s going with this so I grab her chin and lift it towards me. “You can fly out and see your family anytime you want—every other week if that’s what you truly need,” I say and she nods. I take her hand in mine, “I’m serious Lina, I would never want to keep you away from your family. Family is the most important part of one's life.” I say and she nods.
“By the way, where do they think you are right now?” I ask curiously. She bites the side of her cheek. “Carl let me call them after we checked into the hotel. I told them my phone was broken and I was staying the night with a friend from work, Kenzie,” she says. I can tell she feels the guilt of lying to her parents.
“Do you think we should tell them?” I ask, running my finger over the small laceration on her cheekbone. She shakes her head back and forth, then rests against my chest. “What are we going to tell them about this?” I run my finger over the bruise on her face. “I’ll think of something,” she says softly.
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The morning sun shines through the hotel curtains as my eyes gradually flicker open. Lina is sitting upright staring off into the distance as I look over at her. I can see she’s still upset about the Declan situation. I can’t imagine the betrayal that she’s feeling. Her best friend and ex-boyfriend plotted against her for money. This entire situation is beyond fucked up. I reach my arm for her and she entwines our fingers together as she makes her way over towards me. She nestles perfectly in the nook of my arm.
“You know if I had just slept with Declan, none of this would’ve happened?” She says and I stay silent. “Had I just slept with him when we were dating, Alex and Grace would still be alive.” She exhales softly.
“So would all of the people in that operation, plus who knows what would’ve happened to Nora. Who knows how many more women they would’ve kidnapped and sold.” I say and she nods.
We stay silent for a few minutes and I can tell she’s contemplating something. Then suddenly as if a lightbulb clicks on she sits up and looks over at me. “I want to save others,” she says and my eyes quickly bounce over into hers. I watch as a slow grin appears on her face and it’s at that precise moment that I know she’s not going to let this go. She’s like Nora in that aspect, when she’s fixed on something there is absolutely no getting in her way.
“I’m not losing you again because you want to save others.” I sit up holding her stare. I get that she wants to help other women, but I cannot allow her to be put in any danger. Not again.
“Carl and I would be safe and you could send as many men as you want, I just want—” I interrupted her mid-sentence, “Lina, no,” I say sternly. I watch her face fall as she stares off. I hate being the bad guy, but if she’s not going to think realistically, I will. I stand and head towards the shower. When I look back she’s staring off out the window. She can be upset with me all she wants, but at least I know she’s safe.
I stand in the shower as the steam fills the rather small and quaint bathroom. My mind is on overdrive as I think about Lina’s question. I know she wants to save overs, I get that. She has the kindest heart, but it's risky. I had to have connections before. I spent months doing research on so much to be able to get into that fucked-up operation.
I hear the bathroom door slowly open. The glass from the shower is fogged-up, so I run my palm over it giving me a semi-clear sight of Lina. She opens the glass shower door and stands there, temptingly. My eyes trail up and down her naked body. I smirk as I shake my head because I know what she’s doing.
“Let me just save one?” Her chocolate eyes hold mine as my erection grows faster than I’d care to admit. Seconds later, I playfully yank her into the shower. I feel her smile against my lips.
“Just one, Lina.”
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Xavier and I pull into my parent’s driveway. My heart hammers against my chest because I know in just a few minutes my parents will see my bruised-up face and I still have no idea what I’m going to say yet. Xavier has told me I need to tell them the truth about everything. He’s told me either way he’ll support me with whatever I decide to tell them.
I watch Xavier step out of the car and make his way over to my side. I look over at my parent’s house and then stare up at the gorgeous man holding the door open for me. My parent’s house will always be home, but now when I look up into Xavier’s eyes I realize that home might not be a place anymore. Home is wherever he is. He has become my home. He is the warmth that fills my bones when life becomes heavy.
I have no idea what my parents will say about any of this, but all I know is that I’m no longer worried or anxious about this next chapter because I know Xavier and I will tackle anything that life throws at us.
I see my mother open the front door, her mouth parts as she stares past the two of us and at Xavier’s very expensive silver Mercedes. She doesn’t even notice my face yet. “Hello, Xavier.” She smiles up at him as she gives him a side hug. “Hello Mrs. Harrington,” he says, draping one arm around her.
The moment her eyes meet mine her face falls drastically. Her mouth parts again and she tries to say something, but she’s unable to. “What the hell happened to you?” My father says, startling the three of us. I clear my throat as my eyes quickly bounce over to Xavier. “Let’s go inside, we need to talk to you two,” I say softly.
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My parents sit in front of Xavier and me, side-by-side. Xavier and I basically just told them everything, besides the fact that I killed two people in that operation. We told them about Alex and Declan. We told them about Nora. Now they know and I’m terrified. Terrified they will tell the police. Terrified they won’t look at me the same way.
I hear the hard pounding of my heart in my ears as I sit there waiting for them to say something. “Does Logan know?” My mother asks and I shake my head, “No, but Jess does. Not about Declan of course and I think it would be best if it stayed that way.” I say and my mother nods her head agreeingly. “I do too.” I hear her say softly.
My father eyes Xavier hard. I watch Xavier place his elbows on his knees as he exhales. I hear my father clear his throat and then I watch as he stands, towering over Xavier. Oh no.
“Thank you,” he places his hand out to Xavier and Xavier stands as he takes my father’s hand in his. I watch as the two of them shake hands and to my surprise, my father pulls him in for a hug. “I don’t know what would’ve happened to her if it wasn’t for you and your—men. So thank you.” He says and my eyes swell with tears as I watch the two of them.
“Oh—honey.” My mother takes me in her arms and squeezes me tightly. My body instantly melts into hers. All of the months of hiding this from them, all of the night terrors, all of the guilt that has been eating at me finally subsides. It’s like this pain-filled chapter is finally—finally, behind me.