Chapter 73: Sharp Edges
Agatha paced back and forth in the middle of Xavier's study. The cream silk shirt she wore felt tight against her skin. It was not the high collar that bothered her, but the heavy air in the room. She turned her head toward Xavier. He remained still, staring out the window with his back straight and rigid.
"You cannot keep me locked in here, Xavier," Agatha said. Her voice was flat but sharp.
Xavier did not turn around. "This is not a prison. This is protection."
"It is protection that makes me feel like a display in a museum. Did you hear what I said earlier? That man knows my name. He knew I was at the park. That means they have been watching this house long before I decided to go out," Agatha replied.
Xavier finally turned. He walked toward the desk and rested both hands on the teak surface. "That is exactly why, Agatha. If they are watching, then every step you take out there makes you a target. I will not let history repeat itself."
"Whose history? Your father's? Or the betrayal of the D'Angelo family? I am not them, Xavier. I am Agatha. I am a hitwoman," Agatha said with a challenging tone.
Xavier looked into his wife's eyes. There was a mix of anger and worry in his gaze. "I know you are capable. I know what you can do with a blade or a gun. But this is different. This is not about skill. This is about their numbers and our exposed position."
Agatha let out a short laugh. The sound was dry. "You underestimate me. Do you think because we are husband and wife now, my skills just vanished? Do you think because we were on that hill last night, I became a weak woman who can only wait in her room?"
"That is not what I meant," Xavier said in a low voice.
"Then prove it," Agatha challenged.
Xavier narrowed his eyes. "Prove what?"
"Fight me. Right now. In the basement training room," Agatha said. She stepped closer to Xavier until only a few inches separated them. "If you can defeat me within ten minutes, I will follow all your orders to stay inside. But if I can hold my ground or take you down, you must let me get involved in this D'Angelo matter."
Xavier stared at Agatha as if she had lost her mind. "You are joking."
"I never joke about my skills, Xavier. Why? Are you afraid of hurting your wife? Or are you afraid of losing?" Agatha teased.
Xavier let go of the desk. He watched Agatha’s face. She looked very serious. There was a different kind of fire in her eyes, something that came purely from her fighter's instinct.
"Fine. If that is what you want," Xavier said finally.
The two of them walked toward the training room located in the basement of the mansion. The room was large. The floor was covered with thick black mats. Various exercise equipment stood in the corners. Bright neon lights lit up the room, creating sharp shadows on the walls.
Agatha took off her silk shirt. She was left in a tight black tank top that showed her firm but slender shoulders. She tied her hair up high with very efficient movements. On the other side, Xavier removed his shirt. His broad, muscular chest was exposed. Several old scars were visible on his skin. It was proof that he was not just a businessman who sat behind a desk.
"Do not hold back, Xavier. If you do, I will be very offended," Agatha said while doing a brief warm up.
Xavier took a fighting stance. "I will try. But I do not promise that I will not bruise you."
"Bruises are better than the boredom of being locked up," Agatha replied.
Agatha launched the first attack. She moved very fast. She lunged at Xavier with a straight punch aimed at his face. Xavier parried it easily with his forearm. He was surprised when Agatha did not stop there. She lowered her body and performed a quick leg sweep.
Xavier jumped to avoid the sweep. When he landed, Agatha was already close. She delivered a side kick toward his ribs. Xavier caught Agatha’s leg. He intended to throw her down. Instead, Agatha used Xavier’s arm as a foothold to jump. She wrapped her other leg around Xavier’s neck.
"One point for me," Agatha whispered in Xavier’s ear as they locked in position.
Xavier grunted. He used his strength to twist his body. He slammed Agatha onto the mat. Agatha rolled gracefully and stood back up immediately. They faced each other again. Their breathing began to grow heavy.
"You are faster than I remember," Xavier praised.
"And you are slower because you spend too much time in the office," Agatha fired back.
They clashed again. This time, Xavier started the attack. His punches were heavy and precise. Agatha dodged with fluid movements. It was as if she could read where Xavier’s hands were going to move. Even though their body sizes were very different, Agatha covered that gap with speed and refined technique.
When Xavier tried to grapple her from behind, Agatha elbowed Xavier’s stomach hard. Xavier groaned but did not let go. He pulled Agatha’s body close to his sweaty chest.
"Give up, Agatha. You are locked," Xavier said near Agatha’s ear.
"Not necessarily," Agatha answered.
Agatha stomped on Xavier’s foot with her heel. She used her head to strike Xavier’s chin. Xavier’s grip loosened for a moment. Agatha used that chance to spin her body. She kicked Xavier’s chest until the man stumbled back a few steps.
The atmosphere in the training room became very hot. It was not just from the physical activity. There was a tension between them. Every time their skin touched, there was a spark that went beyond a simple fight.
"You really want to be part of this, don't you?" Xavier asked while wiping sweat from his forehead.
"This is my problem too, Xavier. I am your wife. I am not an outsider who accidentally got caught in Valois family business," Agatha stated firmly.
Xavier looked at Agatha with a softer gaze now. He saw his wife's persistence. He realized that pushing Agatha aside would be his biggest mistake.
"You really are extraordinary, Agatha Arionsa," Xavier muttered.
"Agatha Arionsa Valois," Agatha corrected with a thin smile.
Agatha lunged again. Their fight became more intense. They grappled on the mat. They tried to lock and pin each other. Their positions changed quickly. One moment Xavier was on top. The next moment Agatha managed to flip the situation.
Finally, they both sat panting. Agatha had Xavier’s arm locked behind his back. Xavier had managed to pin Agatha’s legs with his own. They were perfectly balanced. No one won. No one lost.
Their faces were very close. Their breaths mingled in the limited air. Sweat soaked their skin. The touch felt slippery but firm.
"Has it been ten minutes?" Agatha asked with an unstable voice.
Xavier glanced at the clock on the wall above the door. "Almost eleven minutes."
"So?" Agatha prompted.
Xavier took a long breath. He released his lock on Agatha’s legs. Agatha released Xavier’s arm. They both lay flat on their backs on the mat. They stared at the white ceiling.
"You can get involved," Xavier said finally.
Agatha turned to her husband. "Really?"
"Yes. But with one condition. You must always be under my supervision or the supervision of someone I specifically appoint. And you must not take reckless actions like you did at the park," Xavier said.
"I can accept that," Agatha replied.
Agatha felt relieved. At least she would not just sit still waiting for danger to come. She felt like she had control over her own life again.
"There is one more thing you should know," Xavier said. He sat up on the edge of the mat. He stared at the training room door with a blank gaze.
"What is it?" Agatha sat up beside him.
"The man in the park. He is not just a messenger for D'Angelo. I recognized the scar on his eyebrow from an old photo in my father's documents," Xavier revealed.
Agatha frowned. "And then?"
"He is the son of the man my father betrayed. His name is Marco D'Angelo. He is the primary heir of that syndicate. Everyone thought he died in the explosion in Napoli," Xavier explained.
Agatha’s heart beat faster. If Marco D'Angelo was still alive, it meant this grudge was personal and very deep. This was not just about assets. It was about a life for a life.
"Xavier, if he already approached me, it means he wants us to know he is here. He is playing with us," Agatha said.
Xavier nodded. "That is true. He wants us to feel unsafe in our own home. He wants us to make mistakes because of panic."
Suddenly, there was the sound of hurried footsteps from the stairs. A servant appeared at the door. Her face was very pale. Her hands shook as she held a small black box.
"Sir, Madam, I am sorry to interrupt. There is another delivery at the front gate. There is no sender's name," the servant said with a trembling voice.
Xavier stood up immediately and took the box. Agatha stood beside him. Xavier opened the lid carefully. Inside was a red rose that had withered and turned black. It was wrapped in a small gold chain. Agatha knew that chain very well.
Agatha covered her mouth with her hand. "That is the bracelet belonging to my adoptive mother. It has been missing for years."
Xavier stared at the contents of the box. His jaw tightened. Under the rose, there was a piece of paper with neat handwriting.
"The first gift for the newlyweds. I hope you like this memory, Agatha."
Agatha felt her body go cold. Marco D'Angelo did not just know her name. He knew her deepest family history.
"Xavier," Agatha whispered.
Xavier crushed the paper in his hand. He looked at Agatha. His eyes radiated a very dark murderous aura.
"Get your weapons ready, Agatha. Their game has begun," Xavier said in a very cold voice.
Right at that moment, the lights in the entire mansion suddenly went out. Total darkness engulfed them in the basement training room. In the silence, a clinking sound of iron hitting the floor came from the stairs. It sounded like something was being dragged closer to them.
Agatha reached for Xavier’s hand in the dark. She could feel Xavier already holding the pistol he had placed on the edge of the mat earlier.
"Do not let go of my hand," Xavier whispered.
The clinking sound grew closer. It was followed by a low, soft whistle. The sound was very foreign but terrifying in the middle of the haunting darkness.