Chapter 26 Warnings
Anna's POV
There was something unreadable in his eyes. “I’ve looked death in the face before,” he said. “And it fled.”
I frowned slightly. “I don’t understand.”
He faced the road again. “I was shot twice in the head.”
My breath caught. “What?”
“Twice,” he repeated calmly. “Different occasions. Different enemies.”
My heart pounded. “And… you survived?”
“Obviously.” He didn’t say it arrogantly. He said it like it was an inconvenience.
“The doctors had no explanation,” he continued. “One bullet missed vital structures by millimeters. The other… they still don’t understand.”
The car turned into the long driveway of his mansion. “Word spread,” he added. “That I don’t die easily.”
Fear spreads faster than truth.
“And so did the fear.” I stared at him, trying to process it. Shot twice in the head. And lived.
We drove into the compound. The gates closed behind us.
As the engine shut off, a heavy thought settled in my chest. All those men at the casino…
If I had lied. If I had hidden the truth. If I hadn’t mentioned Marco’s name. They would still be alive.
The weight of it pressed against my ribs.
Xavier stepped out of the car. Before I could follow, he said without looking at me, “Go and sleep. Your auction is in a few days.”
My stomach twisted. Auction. He still intended to sell me off. Like tonight meant nothing.
Like the way he looked at me in my room meant nothing.
I stepped out and walked inside quietly. It was almost midnight.
I went straight to my room, shut the door, and immediately searched for my phone.
I found it tucked inside my drawer. I switched it on.
I had a message from Serena, she said 'Call me back.'
I dialed immediately. She picked up on the first ring.
“The agents I sent to the casino just reported,” she said. “They found Marco dead. He was our only lead according to you."
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “Xavier killed him. I saw it, it happened before my very eyes."
There was a sharp inhale on the other end. “You should have stopped him, found a way to save Marco. Now we are back to square one."
“Find a way to save him and blow my cover?” I snapped softly.
“He would have killed us both right there. You didn’t see him. I did. The man is a psychopath. Plus he already suspects I'm hiding something from him."
Silence. “So what do we do?” Serena asked.
“I’ll find another way to Zack,” I said. “And after what Xavier did tonight? Zack will strike back.”
I stared at my reflection in the mirror. “He won’t let that slide. When he moves, we’ll track him.”
Serena exhaled slowly. “Alright. I’ll be in touch.”
The line went dead. I put the phone down.
Then I walked to my door and opened it quietly, checking the hallway. It was empty.
But just as I was about to close it, Lucas appeared at the far end, walking toward me.
“What happened?” he asked when he reached me. “You weren’t around.”
“I went out with Xavier,” I said. "Back to the Casino."
His brows lifted slightly. “Alone?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“Xavier killed Marco.”
Lucas went still. “You shouldn’t have told him we were there,” he said quietly.
“I didn’t know he would flare up like that,” I replied. “You didn’t warn me.”
He looked at me for a long second. Then he sighed lightly. “It’s alright. Go to bed.”
“What about Sam and Patrick?”
“Xavier is currently with them.”
Something tightened in my chest. "I hope he doesn't kill them."
"I hope he doesn't also, for you sake. I promised to see what I can do, Anna. Right now, you need your rest."
"Thank you very much, Lucas. I'm deeply grateful," I said.
He shrugged it off. "Anything for you, Anna."
I was about to say something else when Eve appeared from nowhere, as usual.
“Your dinner,” she said calmly, holding a tray. “Since you just came back in.”
Lucas stepped back. “I’ll leave you to eat.”
He gave me one last look before walking away.
Eve entered my room with me.
I closed the door. "To be honest, I'm not hungry."
"You don't have a choice, you have to eat, Xavier's orders and I'm sure you know he doesn't like to be tested."
“Alright then, in that case, just leave it on the table,” I said. “I want to shower.”
She placed the tray down carefully.
But before I reached the bathroom door, she spoke. "You’re going to get yourself killed, Anna, don't think I don't see all that is going on."
I stopped and turned slowly. “What do you mean?”
“I saw Lucas kiss you earlier," she started. "That was a passionate kiss, you'd do well to remember my warnings."
Heat crept up my neck. “The kiss meant nothing to me,” I said firmly. "I just didn't want to push him away, I had to be diplomatic."
Eve studied me. “But it meant something to him,” she replied. “And it’s only a matter of time before Xavier notices or worse, pick interest in you too. And trust me, the last thing you want is these men on your neck. It doesn't end well."
“I understand your fears, Eve and I appreciate your concern, but Xàvier falling inlove with me? That’s impossible,” I said quickly.
“Xavier could never be interested in someone like me. He’s literally auctioning me off in a few days. Does that sound like someone picking interest to you?"
Eve’s expression didn’t change. “Let’s hope you’re right.”
I frowned slightly. “I am right, I'm sure of it."
She walked toward the door. “But if you’re not,” she said softly, “then things will get bloody.”
A cold shiver ran through me.
She opened the door. “Good night. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Thank you,” I said quietly. The door closed behind her.
The mansion was gradually feeling less like protection. And more like a ticking bomb.