Chapter 7: The Second Plan

Max’s Point of View

I woke up the next day a little later than normal because I had some interrupted sleep the night before. As I looked around, I couldn’t find Scarlet anywhere.

“Scarlet?” I said as I walked around the room. Andrew was still asleep soundly in his bed but Scarlet was nowhere to be found.

I scoffed as I took out my phone and called her. She snuck out last night too—if she really didn’t go out anywhere else, where was she now?

I was going too easy on her. I thought she got nothing figured out, but I was wrong. She’s got something going on.

The phone went unpicked again. I scoffed again as I ended the call, made another missed call—and finally called Joseph.

“Yes, boss,” He said as he picked up the call.

“I need you to track Scarlet right now,” I said as I exhaled. “Use the emergency feature.”

“Are you sure, boss? Please rethink before—”

“I am well aware of everything, Joseph!” I shouted. “And frankly, I don’t care. Do it right now and I need a location in ten minutes!”

“On it, boss. I will message you the address as soon as I have one.”

“Waiting.” I ended the call and ran my hand through my hair. I am so sorry for this, Scarlet—but you shouldn’t have ever acted over smart with me. No one ever over smarts me—not when I have the power.

I looked over at Drew. He was sleeping peacefully—too innocent to be around here. He was what made Scarlet so vulnerable, he was her biggest weakness and he was lying right there to be used against her.

That was my last card, and I didn’t need to pull it right now.

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Scarlet’s Point of View

The noise woke me up the next morning. I yawned and smiled as the sunlight hit my face. Looking over at Xavier who was standing—checking out his weapons hanging by the wall, a smile appeared on my lips.

“Xavier,” I whispered and he looked at me with a smile.

“Sunlight on my sunshine,” He said and chuckled. “Still nothing prettier I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”

“When did you become so much of a… well–versed person?”

He came towards me and kissed me. “Since yesterday.”

I kissed him back and chuckled when I got away. “It was so much… better to see this side of you, Xavier. I love this side of you.”

“About that,” He smiled. “Did you mean what you said yesterday?”

I knew exactly what he was referring to. To be honest, I had said it to myself quite a few times in his reference—I had thought about loving him over and over again, especially since I’ve learned about the truth.

But love was a strong word—enough strong to change worlds. I didn’t know if I was ready to accept it to him. I didn’t even know what that meant for us. Yeah, he had said the same to me… but only on a voice note! He hadn’t said that face-to-face, and I wasn’t really ready for this leap of faith.

But then again, it wasn’t not true.

I was the one to bring it up in the first place. I was lost in the moment, but even then—it was something that came from deep inside. I didn’t even need to think about it, I just said it.

I looked at him as he looked at me with his deep eyes. He looked at me with so much hope and happiness—as if his entire life depended on my reply.

“Xavier,” I whispered as I took his hands in mine. “What about you?”

He took one of his hands out of my grip and put a string of hair behind my ear. “You already know that, woman.”

“I want to hear it,” I insisted. “Can you do that?”

“I don’t want you to… to tell me that you—you love me only if I say it first, Scarlet,” He whispered. “I don’t want you to love me because I love you.”

I shook my head. “No, no. This isn’t that.”

“I am not asking you to be ready this second,” He put both of his hands around my cheeks. “But I don’t want you to lie if it isn’t true.”

I smiled and exhaled. “And what if it is true?”

“Then we’re having the longest kiss ever recorded,” He pulled me closer. “Just say it, baby.”

I smiled. “I love you, Xavier Valencian.”

“I love you, Scarlet Walker,” He whispered back as he grabbed my hip and I climbed on him, putting my legs around his waist.

He kissed me passionately as my hands went in his hair. His kiss was so passionate and so soft at the same time—it was magical.

He continued to kiss me as he put me on the bed and turned me over. He was below me on the bed as our lips felt each others’. His mouth devoured me as our tongues intertwined. His hands went below my top as I started to run out of breath.

He pulled out from the kiss and smiled widely. Both of us were out of breath as I laughed.

“It was the best kiss ever!”

He smiled back at me and chuckled too.

“Scarlet Walker, now if you’ll let me go back to my training,” He laughed and shook his head.

I kissed him again. “Not sure I would,” I whispered as I turned him around.

He dominated my mouth once again as he touched me passionately. I touched his back and slowly pulled his shirt out.

I continued kissing him wildly and ran my hand on his back. I could feel his abs against my chest—it was the most beautiful feeling ever.

I pulled back and breathed heavily. He got up a little and looked at me—my body, and whispered: “You’re even more beautiful in the light.”

I smiled as I looked at his body—but I was shocked.

“Xavier,” I whispered as I sat up. He looked at me confused. “What happened to you?”

He looked at himself and exhaled. “Those are just—training wounds.”

“Just training wounds?” I scoffed as I got up. He got up too. “What—you’ve been training with swords and knives?”

“Pretty much,” He laughed. “That’s how—”

“I am serious, Xavier. You’re hurt,” I said as I went to him and looked at his scars. “You’re hurt.”

His chest was almost half-filled with scars. Some of them looked too fresh. They were almost open cuts—they only lacked bleeding for some reason. A few of them were older and a lot of them seemed to be very painful.

“It is nothing, Scarlet,” He pulled me in a hug. “Nothing now that you’re here.”

“You’re doing this so you can defeat Max,” I whispered, “You’re doing this for me!”

“Yes, I am doing this for the love of my life.”

I sighed. I didn’t even know what to say or do.

Suddenly I felt sharp pain in my head. I fell down on the ground as screams left my mouth. I heard Xavier shouting my name but I couldn’t say anything before I passed out.