Chapter 69 Costly Lie
Anna's POV
Xavier’s fingers continued to stroke my hair gently, but his grip tightened just enough to remind me I wasn’t going anywhere.
The silence stretched, thick and suffocating.
I sat frozen in the chair, trapped between the man I was married to and the dangerous game I was playing.
One wrong move, one piece of evidence, and this could all end in my blood on this very table.
Xavier leaned closer to me, his breath brushing my ear as he whispered just loud enough for only me to hear.
“Relax, little wife. Let’s see what they think they have.” But his eyes… his eyes told a completely different story.
The particular capo stared at me for a long, tense moment before he finally exhaled. “I don’t have anything yet,” he admitted, his voice tight. “I just wanted to know if you would be open to the possibility.”
I let out a slow, shaky breath of relief, my shoulders loosening just a fraction.
Xavier laughed, a low, dangerous sound and repeated the word as if it were the funniest thing he’d heard all day. “Possibility…”
He tilted his head, eyes gleaming. “Hmmm. You should have listened to my warning.”
The capo’s eyes widened in pure fear. He shot up from his chair so fast it scraped loudly against the floor. “I didn’t think my statement was a sign of disrespect to you, Don Xavier. I swear—”
Xavier maintained that chilling smile. “You accuse my wife of something you can’t defend. Tell me, is that a compliment on her character… or on mine for marrying her?”
“Please, Xavier,” the man begged, his voice cracking. “I didn’t mean it like that. Please don’t kill me.”
Xavier leaned back in his chair, completely relaxed. “I’ve always wanted to kill you, you know. But it seems you’ve finally given me the perfect opportunity. Still, I like to play fair.” He paused, letting the silence stretch. “So I’ll ask you one question.”
The man swallowed hard, sweat already beading on his forehead.
“How much have you been stealing from me?” Xavier asked calmly.
The capo froze. “Steal…?” He started stammering, “I-I-I…” but never got the chance to finish.
A single gunshot rang out.
The man’s body jerked violently before collapsing to the floor with a heavy thud, blood pooling beneath him.
It wasn’t Xavier who had fired. It was Lucas.
I stared in shock at Lucas, who was still holding the gun, his expression cold and unreadable.
Xavier didn’t even blink. “Lucas, find his replacement.”
Lucas nodded once, holstering his weapon like nothing had happened.
“The meeting is over,” Xavier announced, rising smoothly from his chair. He looked at me. “Anna, follow me.”
I didn’t hesitate. I stood and followed him out of the room, but not before stealing one last glance at the dead capo lying on the cold floor. My stomach churned.
We walked up from the basement and emerged into the elegant dining area of the mansion.
Xavier moved to the liquor cabinet, poured two glasses of red wine, and handed one to me. I took it with slightly trembling fingers.
“Tell me about that lady who’s so fond of visiting you,” he said casually, taking a sip.
I didn’t know what to say at first. Xavier waited patiently, watching me with those sharp, calculating eyes.
“What exactly do you want to know about her?” I asked carefully.
“Start by telling me why she’s so fond of you,” he replied. “Is she bisexual? Is she offering you some kind of deal? Or is she outsourcing for information through you?”
He swirled the wine in his glass. “I know she has motives. I just don’t know what they are yet.”
I cursed Serena silently in my head. I had warned her it was only a matter of time before Xavier started suspecting her, but she hadn’t listened.
“She’s… bisexual,” I lied, forcing the words out.
Xavier chuckled, clearly amused. “That’s interesting.”
He took another sip, then continued, “Next time she comes, tell her I give her permission to have you if she wants. Just one condition — I want to watch the both of you fuck.”
My eyes widened in genuine shock. Serena wasn’t bisexual, and neither was I. The image he painted made my face burn with embarrassment and discomfort.
I swallowed hard. “She… she might refuse.”
Xavier raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that what she wants? I don’t see how she’s going to refuse. Just tell her.” He set his glass down and started walking away. “Come with me.”
I followed him through the mansion until he led me into his private room.
This was the first time I had ever been inside. It was luxurious, dark wood, expensive furniture, and a massive bed that dominated the space.
“Don’t worry,” he said, closing the door behind us. “I’m not going to ask you to move into my room. You can keep your own space. I married you because I find you interesting. If you moved in here too quickly, I would get bored of you far too easily, and I don’t want that.”
The words stung more than I expected. Without thinking, I blurted out, “I wonder when you’re going to start considering my thoughts and feelings in this little entertainment you call a marriage.”
Xavier turned to me slowly. In one smooth motion, he pulled out a gun, cocked it with a loud click right in front of me.
I stepped back instinctively, heart leaping into my throat.
Then, surprisingly, he handed the gun to me, grip first.
“I am considering your protection,” he said quietly. “That’s far more important than your feelings and thoughts right now.”
I hesitated for a long moment before taking the weapon from his hand. It felt heavy, familiar. “Why are you giving me a gun?” I asked.
“To defend yourself,” he replied. “Now that you’re married to me, your life is in danger. My enemies have become your enemies, and I have many enemies.”
I gripped the gun tighter. He studied me for a second. “I’m sure you know how to use it.”
I smiled, the corners of my mouth lifting despite everything. “Of course I do.”
Without warning, I raised the gun and pointed it directly at him.
The room went completely still.