Chapter 38 Calling His Bluff
Anna's POV
Xavier took two slow steps toward me, his gaze fixed, heavy… calculating.
“Selling you,” he began, his voice calm, almost thoughtful, “would bring me a lot of money.”
My heart thudded once.
“But…” he continued, tilting his head slightly, “it would also make me look weak.”
I frowned faintly, watching him carefully.
“People would think I’m doing it to avoid Zack,” he added, his lips curling just a little. “And I don’t like being seen as someone who avoids anything.”
My breath caught slightly.
“So,” he finished, his voice dropping, “I won’t be selling you anymore.”
Silence. A thick, suffocating silence.
“I’ll keep you.”
I just… stared at him. For a second, I didn’t even know what I was supposed to feel. Relief? Fear? Or something far worse?
“So…” I finally spoke, my voice quieter than I intended. “I remain your prisoner?”
I swallowed. “Like Eve?”
His eyes flickered for a brief second before settling back on me.
“Being my prisoner,” he said slowly, “might be the only thing keeping you alive.”
I let out a small breath, my chest tightening.
Then I looked at him properly.
“For someone who claims not to care about me…” I said, my voice gaining a bit of edge, “why does it matter so much whether I live or die?”
He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stepped closer.
I instinctively took a step back. He followed. I stepped back again until I felt the wall behind me.
My pulse quickened.
“Because,” he said finally, his voice lower now, more dangerous, “you’re under my protection. And when someone under my protection dies…” he continued, his eyes locking into mine, “it reflects badly on me.”
I let out a soft, humorless breath. Of course. Always about him. Always about power.
I leaned forward slightly, closing the distance just enough, my voice dropping into a whisper.
“I don’t need your protection.”
His eyes darkened. “And from where I stand,” I added, my lips almost brushing his ear, “I’m the one who saved your life tonight.”
That did it. His hand came up instantly, gripping my neck. Not tight enough to choke. But firm enough to remind me exactly who I was dealing with.
My breath hitched.
He pulled me closer, his face lowering to my neck. Then he inhaled… like he was memorizing my scent.
“You’re alive,” he whispered against my skin, his voice low and rough, “because I allowed it.”
My fingers twitched at my sides, but I didn’t push him away.
“If I had listened to Zack,” he continued softly, “you’d be buried six feet under by now.”
I didn’t flinch. Didn’t look away. “It’s not too late,” I said quietly.
He stilled. “You can still hand me over to him.”
The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I had pushed too far. But I didn’t take them back. I held his gaze, daring him.
Something flickered in his eyes. He let go of my neck slowly. “Who knows…” he said, taking a step back. “Maybe I will.”
My heart skipped.
“Maybe tomorrow,” he added casually, “I’ll make peace with Zack and hand you over to him.”
My stomach tightened.
“And since you seem so eager to die…” he finished, his lips curving faintly, “it might just work out for you.”
I searched his face, tried to read him if he was serious or joking. But with Xavier— That was always a mistake.
He turned and walked to the door, opened it. Then paused.
I held my breath.
“One more thing,” he said without turning. My fingers curled slightly. “What is going on between you and Lucas?”
There it was. I swallowed. “I don’t understand,” I said carefully.
He turned now. His eyes locked on mine. “You understand perfectly,” he said.
Then he started walking toward me again. “Lucas is getting… attached,” he continued. “And I don’t like things happening around me that I don’t understand.”
My heartbeat picked up. “He’s not like that,” I said quickly. “There’s nothing going on.”
He stopped right in front of me. “So you don’t like him?” he asked.
I frowned slightly. “What I like,” I said, lifting my chin just a little, “is none of your business.”
“Why are you even asking?” I added.
He didn’t answer immediately. He just looked at me like he was trying to see something beneath my skin.
Then he smiled, but it wasn’t warm, It was… empty. And somehow more dangerous than his anger.
Without another word— He left. The door clicked shut behind him.
I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I had been holding. My legs felt weak.
I walked to the door and locked it quickly. Only then did I allow myself to relax.
Sleep didn’t come easy; I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind running in circles.
Everything felt tangled. But the worst part? I wasn’t thinking about my mission. I was thinking about Xavier.
The way he looked at me. The way he touched me. The way he spoke like he owned everything—including me.
Something was shifting inside me. Something I didn’t like. Something I refused to name.
Eventually, exhaustion pulled me under.
Morning came faster than I expected. I got up, refreshed myself, trying to shake off the weight from last night.
Then I stepped outside.
The guards were already stationed. “Where’s Xavier?” I asked one of them.
“He left early,” the man replied.
I hesitated for a second. “What about Lucas?”
They pointed me in a direction. “His quarters.”
I nodded and walked off. Each step felt… deliberate. Like I was walking into something I wasn’t prepared for.
I got to his door and knocked. “It’s me,” I said.
“Come in,” his voice came from inside.
I pushed the door open and froze at what I saw. My entire body locked up.
Lucas was standing right there, completely naked.
My eyes widened before I could stop myself.
My heart slammed violently against my chest.
And for a split second— I forgot how to breathe.