Chapter 10

I sit against the house, blood pouring from my leg as Anthony writhes in pain in mom’s arm. Xavier hangs up the phone and runs over to me and takes his tuxedo off and rips his blouse underneath off, then rips the sleeve off to tie it around my thigh where the blood is seeping out.

He ties a knot tightly around my thigh, making me grunt in pain. He stands up and puts his hands out to me. I look up at him and I take his hands as he lifts me up.

“Are you okay? Well no shit, but … “ he cuts himself off looking at me with worried eyes.

“I’m fine.” I say back, limping over to Anthony.

“I just got off the phone with some people who’re gonna get your father. We can discuss funeral arrangements later if that’s okay with you.” He says, helping me over to Anthony.

“That’s fine.” I reply, paying more attention to Anthony.

“I don’t have everything I need here.” Mom says.

“Could they come home with us? Please?” I ask Xavier.

“That’s a risk. You should know that better than anyone. My family is too powerful just to risk any family secrets getting out.” Xavier says to me.

“Xavier, we’re a family. My brother has a risk of bleeding out right now, and you, more than anybody, know how much I love him. Both of them.”

He looks away and back at me, sighing. “Fine. Fine. Let’s go.”

“Okay. I’m driving.” I say, limping to the car.

“Says who?” he says back, his eyebrow arched.

“Me.” I say.

“Nice try. You’re injured. Passenger seat.” He says, picking me up and taking me to the passenger seat. He gets in the car and starts the drive home, mom and the boys following behind.

When we arrive home, everyone hurries in.

“Bring him to my room, Mom.” I say, guiding her upstairs with Anthony. I get a first aid kit as mom sits Anthony on the bed. I walk back over to him and I remove the shirt mom has over the stab wound. “It’s pretty deep. I know how much you hate needles but I have to stitch it, Anthony.” I say. He nods his head, beads of sweat dripping down his face.

I thread the needle and Anthony sits through the stitching like a champ, laughing and talking through it all.

After I’m finished patching him up, I bring him downstairs and I hug both my brothers goodbye.

“I love you, Anthony. I love you Patrick. You two don’t give mom a hard time. Enough happened tonight. Me and Xavier will talk about funeral arrangements tonight and I’ll let you know when we’ll gather for it. You guys get home safe.” I say. “I love you mom.” I add.

“I love you more honey.”

She hugs and kisses me, then they all leave, leaving me and Xavier alone in the lobby.

“Where’s this gonna take place?” I ask.

“Go to my room. We’re gonna take care of your leg and then we can start on arrangements. I’ll help you up.” He offers.

He puts his hand onto my back and around my hips, and he helps me up the stairs and onto his bed, then he leaves for a minute and comes back. He takes the piece of his shirt off my thigh and looks at the cut.

“It’s not bad. I just have to clean it up a bit, patch it up and let it heal.” He says, grabbing everything he needs. As he cleans my thigh, it’s awkwardly quiet.

All of a sudden, I get the urge to speak up.

“Xavier, can we stop with this?” I ask.

“With what?” he says back.

“This. This silent treatment. I know shit was bad earlier but that’s only because I feel like I’m getting mixed signals from you.” I admit.

“What do you mean, mixed signals? I’m confused.”

“One minute, you look at me like I’m your whole world, like I’m everything you want, and then the next, you’re giving me the cold shoulder. You talk to me like I’m a stranger, you can’t even look at me. When you looked at me like that last night, I felt like you were unsure, like you were debating on if I was actually what you wanted. At dinner we talked and we laughed and we got close, not very, but close, then it all went back as soon as we got in the car. Tell me what’s wrong with you, Xavier. I don’t want to beg but if that’s what it takes, I’m gonna do it.” I say, tears building in my eyes.

He’s completely stopped what he’s doing.

“You’re right. I am unsure.” He says suddenly.

“Well talk to me.” I say.

“If I’m being honest … it’s been me the whole time. I’ve been keeping us where we are now. And the reason’s because … I felt like doing that would protect me.”

“What do you mean?” I say, wanting to know more.

“When you walked into my life, I knew you were capable of loving me, even given how cold and vicious I may seem to everyone else. I just didn’t want to accept it. And when you showed me what I thought you were capable of … I was scared. I didn’t want your love for me to be fake. I wanted it to be real. I wanted you to be what I knew you were-a loving, caring, genuine person. The truth is, I want to love you …. I just … don’t know how.”

His words hit me like a breath of fresh air. This is the most I’ve gotten out of him since I first came here.

“Then let me show you, Xavier. Let me help you. This is hard, believe me, I know. But I want to love you. If I’m being honest with you, and with myself ….. I think I already do. And I’m ready to accept it.”

He smiles a little and puts his head down. “I am too.” He says, giving me a small smirk. “And I’m gonna let my walls down. I’m gonna let you love me. I just hope you’ll do the same.” He says, almost pleading with me. “So I’ll ask now … Dionne Coleman, will you finally be mine?” he asks, already on one knee.

“I do.” I say, sealing my promise with a passionate kiss.

I lift off the bed and I join him on the floor, on both my knees as I kiss him, pulling him harder into me. He does the same, pushing my lower back into him, pressing our bodies together as his hand slides down to my ass, squeezing it lightly, and massaging it as he kisses me hard.

“Promise me. Till the day I die.” He says, putting up his pinky.

“You’re such a cornball.” I tease, laughing softly at him. “But I promise,” I say, hooking my pinky with his. “Till the day I die.”

He smiles and kisses me again. “And I promise not to do what I did today ever again. I’m so sorry.” He says, apologizing.

“Don’t even bring it up. Just us.” I say, keeping the thought away.

“Okay.” He agrees. “Just us.”

We kiss, yet again, and when we pull away from each other, I smile.

Finally. The mafia king is finally mine.