Chapter 29 Liam
LIAM
The tension at dinner is delicious. Dominic’s reaction to Ryder’s touch proves more fascinating than any courtroom drama I’ve witnessed. Before I can probe further, the doorbell echoes through the penthouse.
Dominic frowns. “Are we expecting anyone?”
“Not that I’m aware of,” Ryder says, already rising to his feet.
I stay seated, studying Cora’s reaction. She’s gotten paler, if that’s possible.
Ryder returns moments later, his easy demeanor replaced with something more guarded. “We have a visitor. Xavier Blackwood.”
Dominic’s expression darkens. “What the fuck does he want?”
Xavier strides in before anyone can answer, filling the room with his presence. The red half-mask is gone, but he doesn’t need it to be intimidating. Without acknowledging any of us, he looks directly at Cora.
“Ms. Pike. I trust you’re settling in adequately?”
Cora nods stiffly. “Yes, thank you.”
“Good.” His voice is flat, clinical. “Gentlemen, a word in private.”
Dominic stands. “This is my home, Blackwood. Whatever you have to say—”
“Living room. Now.” Xavier cuts him off with a voice that brooks no argument.
I rise smoothly, touching Dominic’s arm to defuse his mounting anger. “Let’s hear him out.”
In the living room, Xavier positions himself so he can see all three of us. “I’ll be brief. Ms. Pike is now under my protection.”
“The fuck she is,” Dominic snarls. “We claimed her fair and square.”
Xavier’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “Let me clarify. You have your year, as tradition dictates. But if she sustains any harm—any bruise she doesn’t explicitly ask for—you answer to me personally.”
“We’re not amateurs,” I interject, fascinated by this unexpected development. “Cora’s pleasure and safety are paramount.”
Xavier’s gaze pins me. “See that it stays that way. This isn’t about the Hunt anymore. It’s a personal favor.”
“To whom?” Ryder asks.
“Someone who matters.” Xavier adjusts his cufflinks. “Remember what I said.”
I glance toward the hallway, catching a glimpse of Cora—just visible enough to hear everything while remaining hidden. Clever girl.
“You don’t get to dictate terms in my home,” Dominic growls.
Xavier steps closer to him. “I’m not dictating. I’m promising consequences.”
The air crackles between them, two apex predators sizing each other up.
I break the tension. “Message received.”
With a final assessing look, Xavier departs as abruptly as he arrived.
The front door closes with a decisive click. Dominic paces like a caged predator, jaw tight enough to crack teeth. “What the fuck was that?” he demands of no one in particular.
“That,” I say, “was an unexpected complication.” I turn toward the hallway. “You can come out now, Cora.”
She emerges slowly; chin lifted in that defiant way I’m starting to find endearing. “How did you know I was there?”
“You breathe loudly when you’re nervous.” I gesture toward the couch. “Join us.”
Ryder slides his hands into his pockets. “Anyone else curious why Xavier Blackwood suddenly appointed himself Cora’s guardian angel?”
Dominic stops pacing. “It has to be your father,” he tells Cora. “No one else has that kind of pull with the Blackwoods.”
I watch her expression. “Is that possible? Your father and Xavier?”
She shakes her head. “It’s Mira. The woman Xavier claimed. She must have asked him to check on me. She’s my best friend.”
“Mira?” Dominic scoffs, running a hand through his hair. “What does she have to do with this?”
I study Cora’s expression, the pieces clicking together in my mind. “She was Xavier’s prey during the Hunt,” I say. “And now she’s what... his girlfriend?”
“No way.” Ryder drops onto the couch. “Xavier doesn’t do relationships. He does conquests.”
Something tugs at my memory. “Wait. Didn’t Xavier claim her for a year, too?”
“Yeah,” says Ryder, surprise crossing his features. “First time he’s ever done that.”
Dominic stops pacing, his eyes widening. “Xavier’s never claimed anyone for a year before.”
“And now he’s making house calls to check on his prey’s best friend?” I can’t help but laugh. “The great Xavier Blackwood has caught feelings.”
Cora looks between us. “Is that unusual?”
“More than unusual,” I explain. “It’s unprecedented. Xavier treats the Hunt like a business transaction. Three days, then done. But Mira...” I let the implication hang.
“Holy shit,” Ryder whispers. “That explains the personal favor comment.”
Dominic shakes his head in disbelief. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
I turn to Cora, offering my most charming smile. “It seems your friend has managed the impossible by putting a leash on the most dangerous man in Ravenwood.”
Dominic doesn’t look pleased by this development, but I recognize the strategic advantage immediately. Xavier Blackwood’s attention, even as an extension of his apparent feelings for Mira, is valuable currency.
“This changes nothing about our arrangement,” Dominic announces, clearly attempting to reassert control.
“On the contrary,” I counter smoothly, “it changes everything strategically. Xavier Blackwood’s attention is like having an insurance policy.”
Ryder nods, leaning back against the couch. “Probably smart to play nice until we figure out exactly what kind of interest he’s taking in our situation.”
Cora watches us with those sharp eyes that first caught my attention at the charity gala. The momentary fear has faded, replaced by something more calculating. She’s already learning to use Xavier’s protection to her advantage. Clever girl.
“So, what happens now?” she asks.
“Now?” I offer her my most disarming smile. “We finish dinner. The world keeps turning. Our arrangement continues as agreed, just with an added layer of... oversight.”
Dominic scowls but doesn’t contradict me. Ryder returns to his abandoned plate with nonchalance, though the tension in his shoulders betrays his discomfort.
As we settle back at the table, I study Cora over the rim of my wine glass. The bruise on her jaw is practically gone now, but the memory of how she received it remains fresh. Her father’s violence.
I’ve always prided myself on anticipating every variable, controlling every interaction. But this—Xavier’s involvement, Dominic’s softening toward Cora, Ryder’s unexpected tenderness, my own confusing reactions—none of this was in my calculations.
For the first time in years, I can’t predict what happens next. And the most disturbing part? I’m not entirely sure I want to.