Chapter 35 #2
“I’m gonna cut to the chase here. I don’t have a lot of time. You need help tracking people down, and I could do with two new business partners.”
“What’s your price?”
“I can fast track your name up the chain; you’ll be the new heads of the UK mafia. Axel will wipe all your records off the police system. No trace of you. Like you never even existed,” she finishes, turning her palms face up like it’s that simple.
“What’s in it for you?” he pings back.
“I get two new business partners.” She smiles and looks at me. “Or three. And there’s no one in my way. We share everything. Weapons. Supplies. Guards. Soldiers. Anything that’s yours is mine, and vice versa. Trouble at your doorstep? My men come to your aid.”
When no one says anything, she continues.
“Think about it. Ultimate protection, weapon supplies… you’re in control here. No one to answer to. Everything runs how you want it. The UK dons.”
Her eyes ping between Xander and Jacques, then finally land on me. “And you.” She walks over to me, taking one of my curls and twisting her finger around it. She smells like cherries and caramel. “You’ll get your revenge."
My palms break out in immediate sweat; Xander’s thumb starts rubbing small circles on my thigh.
“Tempting offer.” Jacques tilts his head from side to side, but he’s tense. “But how can we guarantee that you can track him down?”
“Axel,” she says simply.
Axel moves forward, leaning on the desk next to her and pulling his phone out. He flips the screen towards us and swipes through a series of pictures of Luke in various places. My head starts spinning.
Keep it together.
“We have eyes on him. These are the places he’s recently been seen. We haven’t got a tracker on him yet, but the idiot is leaving a trail,” she explains, but her voice is starting to become muffled.
“You came prepared,” Jac states. She nods.
“Yes,” Xander blurts out, like it’s the easiest thing in the world. “You have yourself a deal.”
“Xander, don’t you think we should discuss it?”
The room suddenly becomes too small. Too tight. “Excuse me,” I mumble, and head out of the door. I don’t know where I’m going, but I need to find some fresh air. The party still going on downstairs echoes throughout the hallways.
Laughter, music, clicking of dishes.
I finally make it to a balcony through the blur in my eyes.
Opening the doors, I step outside, letting the cold air hit my face. I don’t feel the effects of the cold October air; my body is heated from the stress of seeing his face again after two years.
I don’t know how long I stand out here—it can’t be long—but a blazer is draped over me, and Xander’s leathery scent fills my senses.
“Sorry, it’s me.” Jacques’ thick accent finds my ears. He stands next to me, leaning his elbows on the metal of the bannister. “Are you okay?”
Why does everyone keep asking me that?
“Stupid question,” he chuckles.
This is the first time Jacques has shown any bit of warmth towards me since finding out about me and Xander. It’s strange.
I don’t have it in me to speak right now. I need to calm down.
“Xander had to stay behind to sign the agreement,” he says, but he sounds down about it. “But he sent me here to make sure you’re okay.”
“You don’t wanna do it,” I comment.
He lets out a humourless laugh. “No. I don’t. It was never meant to be bigger than this.”
“Why?”
“There was someone that once I’d do anything for. I made her a promise… but I don’t think I’ll ever see her again. Xander… he cares about you. And I care about him. He’s sacrificed so much for me, and it’s time I return the favour.”
I smile, tilting my head towards the moon illuminating the sky.
“This is the first time you’ve been nice to me since the incident at DL.”
He huffs a laugh, head tilting down. “Yeah, well.” He shrugs. “You know, it’s okay to feel. You don’t have to hide your feelings all the time.”
I whip my head towards him.
How does he know that?
For some reason—since being around Xander—it has been easier to open up. It makes me feel lighter. Which is why I entertain Jacques for a minute.
“I’m scared that if I show my feelings, it’ll make me seem weak. It’s easier to hide.”
He snorts. “Trust me, it’s not.”
His brows are scrunched in thought, and his bearded jaw ticks.
“Anyway, I better go check on the party,” he says, turning to leave. “Oh, Camila? Xander is not… I don’t know what happened between you, but… Shit, I don’t even know how to say it. The way Xander loves isn’t… traditional—”
My head clears, and my walls rise. “Who said we’re in love?”
He chuckles quietly. “Never mind.”
I hear his footsteps retreat and cuddle the blazer closer into me. Something hard presses into the side of my boob.
“Ouch.” I pull the blazer open and see a gun nestled in a pocket inside.
I shiver, smoothing my finger over the black steel.
Sighing, I start making my way back to Xander’s office after a few minutes of composing myself. The party still carries on downstairs. His office door is slightly ajar, which means Nova and Axel must’ve left with a new deal secured.
I push the door open, and I don’t expect what’s in front of me.
Penelope.