Chapter 35
THIRTY-FIVE
Imanage to slip from Nikko’s arms without waking him. I don’t leave the room, though, in case he wakes up and panics. I’m not that much of an asshole. Instead, I sit at my desk and pull out my phone. It rings once before he answers, his thick brogue familiar.
“Sir?”
Phoenix is a man you don’t mess with. He’s all business and does the dirty work for the founding families. What he knows about us could bury us all, but he’s loyal and helpful, if a little crazy.
“I need you to find some people.” There’s a muffled sound, and then his voice comes again.
“Proceed, sir.”
I reel off their first names. “They could have married or moved away. They went to the same school as Nikko. Check with his old school if need be.”
“And when we find them, sir?” he asks gleefully.
I glance at Nikko, the same red-hot anger I felt earlier returning. I never want to see that look in his eyes again. “Lock them up alone in the dark without water or food. Terrify them. Right before they die, pull them out, let them recover, and repeat it until they beg for forgiveness.”
“Understood, sir.” He hangs up.
Leaning back in my chair, I smirk as I stare at Nikko’s sleeping form. He looks good in my bed. Heading his way, I slip under the covers and wrap my arms around him. He sighs, his fingers interlacing with mine as he sleeps.
Resting my head against his warmth, I let my eyes close once more.
Nikko and I are eating when my dad walks in and sits, eyeing us. “Zia,” he says, and I lift my head, meeting his eyes. “Why did one of my guards just burst into my bathroom?”
“I don’t know. Did you ask him?” I respond with an arched eyebrow.
“He heard me singing and thought I was screaming. My main concern is why there wasn’t a lock to stop him,” he replies.
“Oh.” I carry on eating. “I had them all taken off every room in the house. I ordered it this morning.” I feel Nikko’s gaze on me, but I ignore it.
“Yes, I’m noticing that,” my father drawls. “Why in my bathroom?”
“Every lock was removed,” I murmur around a mouthful as I tug my phone out and respond to a message.
“Okay, but why?” my father snaps.
“Nikko doesn’t like locks,” I answer easily.
There’s silence for a moment. “Fine, but my bathroom lock? Really?” He sighs as he looks between us. “Cute, very cute and nice. Thoughtful of you, son, but for the love of God, couldn’t you have kept my bathroom lock on?”
I blink as I look up to see my father’s embarrassed face. “No locks.”
“Zia,” Nikko begins.
“No locks,” I repeat as I point at my father. “You’re getting old. I should have done it a while ago anyway in case you fall.” My dad gapes at me as I smile. “Just don’t sing and they won’t bust in.”
“Zia Xander!” he roars at me as I stand and drop a kiss on Nikko’s head.
“I’ll be back in a bit. Keep my father company.” I whistle as I walk away.
I have something I need to do.
I suppose I should be trying to figure out who is behind the attacks on me, but honestly, we are just waiting for their next move anyway, so instead, I slide into the car next to Yuki.
“It is ready for pickup, sir,” he tells me, and I grin.
“Very good. Have we heard from Phoenix?” I ask.
“Yes, sir. He made contact early this morning. He has their names and is on the way to get them.” He looks at me. “They must have annoyed you a lot to send Phoenix after them.”
“That they did.” I nod, not going into why, but he smiles like he knows.
“How is Nikko? I see he stayed with you and your father,” Yuki remarks, giving me a sly look. My eyes narrow, and his grin only grows. “It’s nice to see you happy, sir. It really is.”
I stare out of the window, but I can’t contain my smile. “I like having him with me. I tried to keep him away, but it didn’t work.”
“I have a feeling you couldn’t keep him away if you tried. Besides, sir, it isn’t your choice. You can’t stop someone who wants to be in your life, not even to keep them safe. The best we can do is protect them with everything we have and hope it’s enough,” Yuki replies.
“And what if it isn’t?” I ask worriedly. “What if he gets hurt because of me?”
“Then you will probably be sad.” He reaches over, covering my hand for a second.
“I don’t want him to throw his life away because he loves me,” I confess.
“It’s his life to throw away,” he responds. “Besides, I think he would argue differently. Nikko is a big boy. He’s a boxer, sir. He can take care of himself. He knows how to roll with the punches. Give him a chance. He might surprise you.”
“He is uncharacteristically stubborn. I think even if I tried to push him away again, he would find his way back to me somehow. I figured keeping him might make it safer. That’s all,” I explain.
“Sir, keep him all you want. He’s good for you.” My frown must betray my confusion because he grins. “He makes you shine again. You’re happy and more confident. It’s like you’re finally breathing again, and anyone who can make you feel that way is good in my books, sir.”
I bite down on my smile as my phone rings. Pulling it out, I answer the video call from Phoenix.
There’s a man with him. His eyes bulge as he screams, the sound muffled by the electrical tape covering his mouth.
There’s a trail of blood down his forehead, and his arms are clearly bound behind his back.
He’s somewhere dark with just a flashlight on his face as he shouts and writhes, and then the camera turns so I can see Phoenix’s stoic face.
“It has begun, sir. I will keep you updated.”
“Very good. Make sure you do.” Hanging up, I know my smile is vicious and cruel, and Yuki just sighs.
“God help the world when a Xander is in love.”