Chapter 82 Morning Meeting
Anna's POV
I took a deep breath and headed for the bathroom.
The two guards remained outside my room while I showered, which only made me more nervous.
Something was wrong. I could feel it.
As the warm water ran down my body, my mind kept drifting back to Serena's warning.
Zack knows. The words refused to leave my head.
What if Zack had already reached out to Xavier What if he had told him everything?
What if Xavier had finally discovered who I really was?
My stomach twisted. I quickly washed up and stepped out of the shower.
No. Panicking wouldn't help.
If Xavier knew the truth, then I would find out soon enough.
I dried myself, dressed carefully, and stared at my reflection for a moment.
"You've survived worse," I muttered.
Then I left the room. The two men were exactly where I had left them, waiting.
One of them nodded. "This way."
They escorted me downstairs. Every step seemed heavier than the last.
When we finally stopped, I found myself standing outside Xavier's study.
One of the men opened the door. I stepped inside.
Xavier was seated behind his desk. A book rested in his hand.
For a dangerous mafia don, he looked surprisingly relaxed.
He glanced up when I entered. A smile immediately appeared on his face. "There she is."
I forced a smile back. He closed the book. "Did you sleep well?"
I nodded. "A little."
"Only a little?"
I shrugged. "I've had better nights."
His eyes lingered on me. Almost as if he knew exactly why. Then he gestured toward the chair opposite him.
I sat down. "Why did you call me?" I asked.
Xavier leaned back. "You're my wife."
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not your wife."
"Yes, you are."
I groaned.
He chuckled. "I don't need a reason to call you."
"Yet you clearly have one."
His smile widened. "You're right."
My heart immediately began beating faster.
He folded his hands together. "I want to ask you about Serena."
Every muscle in my body tightened. I tried not to show it.
Xavier noticed immediately. His amusement grew.
"What about her?" I asked carefully.
"Why did she sneak out of the mansion yesterday?"
I blinked. For a moment I considered denying everything.
But Xavier beat me to it. "Don't." His voice remained calm. "I know she was here."
I swallowed. "What makes you so sure?"
"I upgraded security after Eve kidnapped you." His eyes locked onto mine. "We have footage."
My heart dropped. "Footage?"
"Of Serena leaving."
I forced myself not to panic.
Xavier shrugged. "I told my men not to stop her."
That surprised me. "Why?"
"Because she hasn't given me a reason to."
I carefully considered my answer. "She was nervous."
"About what?"
"Eve." Xavier remained silent. I continued. "And Lucas."
His expression didn't change. "She figured things were chaotic around here right now."
"Chaotic?"
"Your brother betrayed you."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"Eve was a spy." I nodded. "Serena thought if she ran into you, it might not go well."
Xavier stared at me for several seconds. Long enough to make me uncomfortable.
Then unexpectedly, he laughed. "I actually want to see Serena."
That wasn't what I expected. "You do?"
"Of course." He stood up. "I still haven't forgotten about our threesome."
I nearly choked. "Xavier!"
"What?"
I buried my face in my hands. He looked entirely too pleased with himself.
I sighed. "I'm not sure how to contact her."
"It doesn't matter." He waved dismissively. "I know how to reach her."
My eyebrows shot up. "You do?"
"Yes."
That worried me more than it should have. He walked around the desk. "I'll invite her tomorrow, today, we have something else to do."
My suspicion immediately returned. "What?"
"You'll see." He started toward the door.
I followed him. Then something occurred to me.
"Now that Eve and Lucas are gone..." Xavier glanced back. "I'd need replacement."
"You said that like Lucas is gone forever."
His expression hardened slightly. "My brother is likely my enemy now."
I stopped walking. "No, he can still come back."
"He kidnapped you."
"He made a mistake."
"He drugged you."
I hesitated. "He still made a mistake."
Xavier's gaze sharpened. "That mistake nearly got you killed."
The words hit me harder than I expected.
I stared at him. "You care whether I live?"
He looked genuinely confused by the question. "Don't be ridiculous."
I frowned. "So you don't."
"Your death would damage my reputation."
I rolled my eyes. "There it is."
"What?"
"The truth."
Xavier smirked. "You asked for it."
"So that's all I am? A reputation issue?"
He stepped closer. Close enough that my pulse quickened. "Do you care about me?"
I froze. "What? I asked first."
"It doesn't matter," he said.
I crossed my arms. "I saved your life."
"So did I."
"That's different."
"Twice, Anna," he reminded.
I opened my mouth and closed it. He had a point.
Xavier tilted his head. "I kept you alive because it serves my interests." His eyes narrowed. "But for you, what's your reason, why did you save me?"
The question caught me off guard. I looked away. Because I didn't actually know. Or maybe I did.
Maybe I just didn't want to admit it. Xavier waited patiently.
Finally, I sighed. "I don't know." His eyebrow lifted. "I think..." I searched for the words. "Maybe I believed the devil I know is better than the devil I don't."
Xavier nodded slowly. Then he smiled. "The funny thing is..."
"What?"
"You don't treat me like I'm the devil."
I swallowed. Maybe because sometimes I didn't see one. Maybe that was the problem.
I met his gaze. "Maybe I see something other people don't."
For a brief moment, something unreadable crossed his face. Then it disappeared.
Xavier suddenly pulled me against him. I gasped. He leaned close to my ear. "So what you're saying is..." His voice dropped lower. "You enjoyed the last time we fucked and can't wait for more."
I smacked his chest. "I'm not a sex toy."
He grinned. "Of course not." Then he leaned even closer. "But I am, if you ever need one."
Heat rushed straight to my cheeks. Before I could think of a comeback, Xavier stepped away.
"Come."
I frowned. "Where are we going?"
"My capos are waiting."
I blinked. "What for?"
His smile vanished. "It's about Zack."
My heart skipped a beat.