Chapter 35 #2
In this euphoria, my mind was crystal clear: I had Alex in my life. The thought of him submerged me in bright joy. With him, I could live through everything. The scary and the silly parts of life. The sinful and the innocent. The highs and lows. He was everything.
I panted, pressing my forehead to the cold floor and letting myself relax for a few seconds.
But there wasn’t much time. I sat up, pulled the vibrator out of me, and dropped it inside my purse just as a text lit up my phone screen.
Thief: Next time you’ll come on my tongue, Preziosa.
Smiling ear to ear, I fixed my hair and rejoined the dinner table, ready to down my cup of coffee and get the fuck out of there, but my father was ready for an interrogation.
“What is the matter with you today?!” he seethed at me while Xavier was on a phone call.
I opened my mouth to retort, but the sound died in my throat when I noticed how he glanced down at his lap. It was quick, but I caught it—the blue glow of a phone screen.
That never happened. My father never had his phone at the dinner table—he was always very strict about it—it was forbidden in his house. He didn’t allow me or himself to ever bring any kind of technology to dinner—phone, iPad, laptop—nothing.
Moreover, he’d always kept his phone on the little console table at the entrance, and it wasn’t there when I grabbed my purse before running to the bathroom. No. His phone was with him tonight.
For the first time ever.
All the hairs on my back stood on end. Why? Why was he checking his phone tonight?
You’ll change your mind after tonight.
His voice echoed in my ear as I thought about it, my intuition screaming at me.
Something was wrong.
“Hm?” he prompted me, but my throat was parched. Something was happening in the background. Something I couldn’t see or know, but I felt it. I bolted up from the chair, startling my father and Xavier, who walked back into the dining room at that moment.
“I have to go."
It took me exactly two seconds to run out of the dining room and toward the front door.
“Jade!” My father’s voice sounded behind me, but I was already out in the dark night, my stomach churning with anxiety.
This wasn’t just a simple dinner, was it? This was some kind of ruse. A trick.
My heels clicked fast as I rushed down the driveway, but a strong hand yanked on my upper arm, startling me into a stupor.
I yelped loudly and whirled around, only to face the monster himself. Xavier held my arm in his clutches, his smile cold like never before. He tilted his head and chuckled. “Don't run away so fast, mon petit ange. The night just started.”
I jerked back, but he held on tighter. He held on…just like before. He was strong, he was shameless, but he was also at a disadvantage—my father was still close by.
"Fuck off," I seethed in his face. "Don't fucking touch me."
But instead, Xavier grabbed my other arm and pulled me to him, crashing my body against his chest.
“No,” he spat back, his voice stone cold. I writhed in his grasp, all the memories of that fateful night taking on color again. “You’re mine, bitch,” he gritted, digging his fingers into my arm. “And I will find you no matter how far you run.”
My legs lost all feeling when I looked into his eyes—it was just like that one time. That one time when he almost killed me. I shoved and pushed against him, fruitlessly trying to escape his grasp. “Yeah, baby. I love it when you strug—”
But Xavier suddenly went quiet, his eyes jumping to something behind me.
A dark shadow loomed, and before I could blink, the black figure was in front of me, swinging something into Xavier’s face and ripping his hands off my arms.
The crunch was loud, and Xavier stumbled back, dark blood gushing from his nose. The man dressed in black took a fast step toward Xavier again, pulling his elbow back and driving his fist into Xavier’s face once more.
It was so fast. In a haze, I recognized the silhouette and those broad shoulders. Alex.
He swung again.
And again.
And again. Until Xavier fell onto his knees and hands, groaning and moaning.
“You fucking touch her again—” Alex grabbed a handful of Xavier’s hair and pulled his head up, giving me a front row seat to Xavier’s mangled face. “And I’ll cut your fucking balls off.”
Alex’s leg swung back, and his entire body swayed when he kicked Xavier in the face, knocking him unconscious and letting him drop onto the sidewalk.
As quick as lightning, Alex turned and reached for my hands, his knuckles all bloodied. “Let's go, baby. We have to leave, now!”
“Jade?!”
Both our heads snapped toward the house where my father appeared on the porch, all of it dawning on him.
“Now, baby! Come!” Alex pulled on my hand and dragged me down the sidewalk, away from bloody Xavier and the electrifying events of the last few minutes.
I panted, understanding nothing.
“Jade! Come back here right now!” My father’s voice sounded behind us, and I moved my legs faster, holding onto Alex’s hand like he was a life raft.
Together, hand in hand, we barreled down the dark street—
“Jade!” The voice sounded closer. Louder. Darker. “You’re making a huge mistake!”
“Come on, baby! I got you!”
We rounded a corner, never slowing down until Alex stopped abruptly in front of a motorcycle, quickly swinging something over my shoulders. I looked down, recognizing his leather jacket. His helmet was already on, and he shoved one over my head too.
“Stop! Jade! Stop!”
"Hold on to my waist,” Alex spoke urgently, and I focused on his voice while he fastened the helmet under my chin. “Remember: sway when I sway. If you're scared, close your eyes and never let go!"
Alex climbed on the bike and pulled me after him, swinging my arm around his waist. He revved the bike and—
“Jade!”
But that voice was already far behind us.
The only sound in my ears was the motorcycle echoing in the dark street.
The only tactile sensation was the warmth of his chest.
The only thing that mattered was us, and we were speeding out of my past.
I closed my eyes and never let go.