Chapter 23 Unpleasant Scene
Anna’s POV
I felt it too, that shift. That invisible power balance tilting.
Lucas continued, his tone steady. “Do you think I would have followed you if I didn’t have confidence in where you were leading me?”
Marco’s jaw tightened. “Do you work for Xavier?” he asked, eyes flicking between us.
Lucas shrugged slightly. “That’s not important. What matters is that you’re standing in his territory. And once again, you’d do well to behave.”
Silence stretched between them.
The men behind Marco shifted uneasily.
Then Marco stepped closer to Lucas. Close enough that I tensed.
“I like you,” Marco said slowly. “You’re not intimidating. Makes it easy for people to underestimate you.”
He tilted his head slightly. “That’s an advantage.”
Lucas didn’t react.
Marco’s gaze slid to me. “And you,” he said softly. “Be careful. If you wind up in my path again… you might not be lucky.”
A chill ran down my spine, but I didn’t show it.
Marco snapped his fingers. “Stand down.” His men lowered their weapons. “Let them go.”
Lucas didn’t hesitate. He took my hand lightly and led me back toward the car.
Only when we were inside and driving off did I release the breath I had been holding.
I looked at him. “Why didn’t you call Xavier?”
Lucas kept his eyes on the road. “Because Xavier is bad at negotiating,” he said calmly. “And very good at killing. If he had come, it would have started a war.”
He paused. “He would have killed all of them to make a point.”
I nodded slowly.
Maybe Lucas wasn’t as reckless as I thought.
He avoided blood tonight.
We arrived at the club where Sam had used my credit card.
Lucas parked. He turned to me. “Does your brother know Xavier? Has he ever seen him?”
“No.”
Lucas nodded. “Good. That means he doesn’t know me either. I’ll be right back.”
Before I could respond, he stepped out.
Then leaned back in slightly. “Stay in the car. I won’t be long.”
“Not happening—”
I reached for the door handle, but it was locked.
I muttered, “Shit,” under my breath and watched him disappear into the club.
Then I noticed his phone. He had left it behind.
I picked it up quickly. Unlocked it.
Years of training and tech skill made it easy.
I opened his messages and typed fast.
I got a lead on Zack. Hotel location attached. Bodyguard name: Marco. Tall. Scar over right brow. Muscular. Wears black boots.
I sent the message. A minute later, the phone rang. It was a video call, the same same number I had texted.
I scanned around to make sure no one was watching.
Then I answered. It was Serena.
The handler I met in prison.
She smiled. “Hi, Anna. Nice to see you’re doing well.”
“Are you kidding me?” I hissed quietly. “I’m trapped and you call this doing well? I don’t have time. What do you want?”
“Your intel,” she said smoothly. “It’s good. We’ve informed the agency. Agents are on their way to capture Marco alive. We’ll see if he talks.”
“Alright,” I said. “Keep me in the loop.”
“Good job,” she added. “How’s life with Xavier?”
I didn’t answer. Because I saw Lucas dragging Sam.
I hung up immediately and deleted the call log.
Lucas opened the back door and hurled Sam inside.
The second Sam saw me, he frowned deeply.
“You bitch,” he spat. “I knew you were working for the devil. You sold me out.”
“On the contrary,” I replied coldly, “you sold yourself out.”
Lucas entered the driver’s seat and handed me my credit card. “Yours,” he said simply.
Sam laughed bitterly. “Why don’t you just kill me and be done with it?”
“Not without understanding your crimes,” Lucas replied calmly.
“You don’t know who you’re messing with,” Sam snapped. “My men will come for me.”
Lucas chuckled. “They’ll all be dead by morning. And it’ll be because of you.”
Sam turned to me desperately. “Anna… you’re just going to watch me die?”
I didn’t answer immediately.
Then I said quietly, “If I were you, I’d keep my mouth shut.”
I looked at him carefully. “Did you know you crossed Xavier? That your stupidity led to your mother’s death? And might lead to yours… and Patrick’s?”
His eyes widened in fear.
Lucas shook his head slightly. “You’re just one big foolish dude.”
We drove straight into Xavier’s mansion. The gates opened instantly.
Guards surrounded the car the moment we stopped. Lucas stepped out first. “Take him,” he ordered. “Keep him warm.”
They dragged Sam away.
Lucas turned to me. “Come.” He escorted me upstairs. We stopped at my door.
I didn’t want him to enter. “It’s been one hell of a day,” I said softly.
He smiled. “Yes,” he said, stepping closer. “I loved every bit of it.”
“You loved that we almost died?”
“No,” he replied quietly. “I loved that I spent every bit of it with you.”
Before I could think, he kissed me. It was light at first.
I didn’t know why… but I kissed him back.
But he deepened it slightly, intensity rising until someone cleared her throat.
We froze and turned immediately.
Eve stood at the corner. “Mr. Xavier said he should be informed as soon as you brought them in,” she said calmly.
Then she left without another word.
Lucas stepped back. “Goodnight,” he said softly. “Duty calls.”
“Goodnight.”
I watched him walk away. Relief washed over me. I entered my room and locked the door.
The room was dark. But darkness didn’t bother me. I had been trained to move in it.
I pulled off my clothes and went straight to the bathroom for a quick shower.
When I came out, I dried myself, still naked, scanning the room for my phone.
I couldn’t find it. Annoyed, I flipped the light switch. The room flooded with warm light.
And my heart nearly stopped at who I saw.
Xavier sat comfortably on my couch. Sinister smile resting on his face.
His eyes moved slowly over me. “This,” he said calmly, voice deep and dangerous, “is interesting.”
My pulse spiked so fast I thought he could hear it.