Chapter 70 One Step Ahead
Anna's POV
Xavier didn’t flinch. He didn’t look surprised, scared, or even angry.
Instead, a slow, dangerous smile spread across his face as he stared straight down the barrel at me.
“Careful, little wife,” he murmured, voice low and silky. “You only get one chance to pull that trigger. Make sure you really want what comes after.”
My finger rested on the trigger, heart pounding wildly in my chest. For a split second, I wondered what would happen if I actually fired.
But I didn’t. “You must really trust me,” I said, still pointing the loaded gun at Xavier’s chest, “to hand over a loaded gun like this.”
Xavier didn’t move. His dark eyes held mine with unnerving calm. “You saved my life once. I sometimes wonder why you did that… if you see me as such a monster.”
I lowered the gun slightly but didn’t put it away. “Just because you’re a monster doesn’t mean I have to be one too.”
He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flickering across his face. “So you like saving monsters, then?”
I waved it off, trying to sound braver than I felt. “Don’t worry. Next time, I won’t save you.”
Xavier chuckled, the sound low and almost amused.
He stepped closer until the barrel of the gun was nearly touching his shirt. “You shouldn’t forget — I saved your life in return that night. So now… we’re even.”
I swallowed. “I never got the chance to ask you… how did you find me that night?”
Xavier smiled, slow and knowing. “I placed a tracker on you. Just in case you tried to run. That’s how I knew you were no longer in the car. I also saw you in that building when you thought I didn’t see you.”
My blood ran cold. I had no idea he had placed another tracker on me.
I had removed the first one when he tried to use me as bait for Zack, but apparently he had done it again without me noticing.
If I had tried to escape with Lucas… he would have tracked us down easily.
“Why are you telling me there’s a tracker on me now?” I asked, my voice quieter than I wanted. “Knowing fully well I might remove it and try to escape?”
Xavier tilted his head. “You can try.” He paused, then asked, “Do you know why I love cats more than dogs? Especially the big ones — lions, tigers?”
I shook my head.
“Because dogs always bark the moment they see a threat,” he said softly. “But cats… they don’t. They hide. They wait. And when the time is right, they strike.”
My heart skipped a hard beat. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I’m always one step ahead of you, Anna.”
The suspicion in my chest grew heavier. “You talk like you suspect me of something.”
Xavier’s smile didn’t waver. “And you talk like you have something to hide.”
The air between us felt suffocating. I couldn’t stay here any longer. “I would like to leave now,” I said.
“Of course you can,” he replied smoothly.
I turned toward the door, but his voice stopped me. “Don’t forget to tell your friend what I said.”
“I won’t forget,” I muttered, then walked out as quickly as I could without running.
The moment the door closed behind me, I let out a long, shaky sigh of relief.
I was heading back to my room when I saw several men carrying the dead body of the capo Lucas had shot earlier.
The sight made my stomach turn. Xavier’s words from the meeting suddenly replayed in my head:
“If it’s true… then I’ll kill her myself. Right now.”
I exhaled sharply, anxiety clawing at my chest. Instead of going to my room, I changed direction and knocked on Eve’s door.
Eve opened it a few seconds later, clearly surprised to see me. “Anna? This is the first time you’ve come to my room.”
“My room feels more like a prison these days,” I admitted.
Eve studied my face. “Do you want to go out?”
I blinked. “Would Xavier even allow that?”
“Of course he would,” she said with a small laugh. “You’re his wife now.”
I laughed bitterly. “You say that like the marriage has changed anything.”
Eve shook her head. “You don’t get it. The marriage has changed everything for you. You now have a power most women would kill for.”
I shook my head. “It’s not power, Eve. It’s a cage.”
“Listen,” she said, stepping closer. “I know Xavier didn’t marry you out of love. But what he has done unknowingly is give you the legal right to make him fall in love with you.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Are you seriously advising me to make Xavier fall in love with me?”
“You’ve already secured his hand in marriage,” Eve continued earnestly. “All that’s left is to secure his heart. Once you do that, your place is established. No one will be able to remove you. And then… you should get pregnant for him as soon as possible.”
“What?” I nearly screamed, eyes wide. I’ve never even thought about that. This whole marriage thing… it’s been about the mission.
I shook my head quickly. “Please, change the topic or… let’s just go out. Anywhere.”
Eve’s face brightened. “I know the perfect place.”
There was something about her smile, too eager, almost like she had been waiting for this opportunity.
“I’ll tell Lucas to come with us for security,” I said. “Xavier has too many enemies.”
Eve’s smile vanished instantly. “Just the two of us would have been better.”
“I’m Xavier’s wife now,” I reminded her. “It would be wiser to at least inform Lucas.”
Eve forced the smile back onto her face. “Yes… you’re right. It would be wiser. I’ll inform Lucas. You just get ready.”
“Thank you,” I said, but as I walked away, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Eve was suddenly acting weird.
Something about her reaction didn’t sit right with me.