Chapter 80 Tension

Chapter 80 Tension
Anna's POV

I climbed out of the car beside Xavier, my legs still feeling weak from everything that had happened.

The image of Eve's body refused to leave my mind.

Neither did Lucas.

As we walked toward the mansion entrance, I finally asked the question that had been bothering me since we left the warehouse.

"What are you going to do with Lucas?"

Xavier glanced at me. "What do you think I'm going to do?"

I swallowed. "Please don't kill him."

For a second, he didn't answer.

Then he pushed open the front door and stepped inside. "Lucas is my half-brother, Anna. Blood doesn't kill blood."

Relief washed through me. But it lasted only a second.

"Trust, however, is another matter," Xavier continued. "And trust is everything."

I frowned. "What will you do then?"

"You'll find out."

That was all he said before continuing deeper into the mansion.

My heart raced as I followed him upstairs.

The moment we entered his room, he started stripping off his bloodstained clothes without a care in the world.

I looked away. "Go to your room," he said. "You've been through enough today. Rest."

I wanted to argue. I wanted to know what he was planning. But I simply nodded and left.

The moment I entered my room, I rushed into the bathroom.

Hot water poured over my body as I scrubbed away dirt, sweat and dried blood.

I should have felt relieved. Instead, anxiety sat heavily in my chest. Lucas had betrayed Xavier.

Eve was dead. Zack was still alive.

And somehow I was right in the middle of everything.

After changing into fresh clothes, I headed downstairs.

I found Xavier exactly where I expected. Sitting in the living room.

A glass of wine rested in his hand. He looked calm.

I walked toward him. "Where's Lucas?"

Xavier took a sip before answering. "I don't know."

I frowned. "What do you mean you don't know?"

"He should be in his room. Assuming he's returned." He glanced toward the hallway. "I sent men to fetch him."

Almost immediately, several men entered the living room.

Their expressions told me the answer before they even spoke. "Boss," one of them said. "Lucas isn't in his room."

Xavier's eyes narrowed. "Explain."

"Everything is untouched. Nothing packed. No sign of struggle. No indication he left permanently."

For the first time, Xavier looked genuinely irritated. "Great."

He reached into his pocket, wrote down an address and handed it over.

"Check this location. Make calls. He should be there."

The men nodded. "Yes, boss." Then they left.

I stared after them. Part of me wished Lucas had never gotten involved.

Part of me wished he had never tried to take me away. I had already watched Eve die. I didn't want to watch Lucas die too.

Especially not because of me.

Xavier stood. "Come eat."

"I'm not hungry."

"That wasn't a request."

I rolled my eyes. But eventually followed him to the dining room. The table was already prepared.

Neither of us spoke for several minutes.

Then I finally broke the silence. "Eve worked for Zack."

Xavier stopped eating. His fork froze midway. "What?"

I nodded. "She was Zack's spy."

For a moment, genuine surprise crossed his face.

He hadn't known. Then he leaned back. "So Lucas is a spy too?"

I immediately shook my head. "No."

"You seem certain."

"I am."

He watched me carefully. I continued. "Eve took me somewhere else. Lucas didn't know where she planned to take me. He wouldn't have put me in that kind of danger."

Xavier's expression darkened. "Of course he wouldn't."

I frowned. "What does that mean?"

"It means he loves you."

The words landed harder than expected.

I looked away.

Xavier continued eating. "I think Lucas would kill me if he thought it would get him what he wants."

"That's not true."

Xavier laughed. "Isn't it?"

"He's loyal to you."

"Until now."

The confidence in his voice made me uncomfortable.

He cursed under his breath.

"I should have noticed Eve sooner."

I remained quiet.

He shook his head.

"Doesn't matter now. She's dead."

Then his eyes hardened.

"And Zack just lost one of his most valuable cards."

I hesitated. Then spoke. "Zack ordered Eve to kill me."

Xavier didn't seem surprised. "Naturally."

"What do you mean naturally?"

He placed his glass down. "Zack wants me." His gaze settled on me. "And you're the easiest path to me."

Before I could answer, the men returned. Their expressions were worse this time.

Xavier immediately stood. "Well?"

The lead guard swallowed. "He wasn't there."

"What?"

"The address you gave us."

Xavier's jaw tightened.

"He wasn't there?" The man shook his head. "He never went there."

Silence filled the room.

A dangerous silence.

Then Xavier exhaled sharply. "So where the hell did he go?"

Nobody answered.

"Find him."

"Yes, boss."

The men hurried away.

I looked at Xavier. "Maybe he ran because he was scared."

No response.

Xavier simply stood and walked away. "Xavier?"

Nothing.

I got up to follow him.

Then a familiar voice stopped me. "Anna."

I turned. My eyes widened. "Serena."

She walked toward me calmly.

I groaned.

"Bad timing. There's fire on the mountain."

Serena smiled faintly.

"Let's talk upstairs."

A few minutes later we were inside my room.

The moment the door closed, Serena turned serious.

"What happened?"

I sat down heavily.

"I was kidnapped."

Her eyes narrowed.

"By who?"

"Lucas and Eve."

Her eyebrows shot upward. "Lucas?"

"Yes." I sighed. "But Eve was the real problem."

I quickly explained everything.

By the time I finished, Serena looked thoughtful. "And your cover?"

"It's intact."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

I hesitated. "Eve figured it out though."

Serena nodded. "And?"

I stared at the floor. "I had to kill her."

For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then Serena nodded again. "Good."

I blinked.

"Good?"

"As long as you're not exposed, you did what you had to do."

I didn't feel good about it. Not even a little. But I said nothing.

Serena folded her arms. "Then you have nothing to worry about."

I wanted to disagree.

Wanted to tell her everything felt like it was falling apart. But the words never came.

Instead I simply sat there.

Then Serena sighed. "There may be a problem."

My stomach tightened. "What kind of problem?"

"Agency problem."

I immediately looked up. "What happened?"

Serena's expression became serious. More serious than I had ever seen.

Then she delivered the words that made my blood run cold. "Zack now knows you're the operative the agency sent after him."

I swallowed. My heart skipped a beat.