Home / Mystery/Thriller / Rising From the Ashes / 33. The Calm Before the Storm

Share

33. The Calm Before the Storm

Author: JD Faber
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

Xavier picks up his momentum, and follows close behind me. We continue running together until we finally reach the cabin after the last lap. My body is so tired, that I immediately collapse to the ground in exhaustion.

Without fault, Xavier is at my side, before I can reach the ground. Picking me up in his strong arms. He brings me into the cabin, and takes me upstairs, placing me in the bathtub, slowly removing my clothes. He fills the tub up with warm water to allow my body to relax. Leaving me momentarily to get me a bottle of water.

Too tired to move, Xavier carefully tips the bottle, so the water is going in my mouth. He then removes his clothes, and gets in behind me, scrubbing my body with a body sponge. I can feel my body relax from his touch. I begin to sink closer to him, letting sleep overwhelm me. Not too long later, and I've passed out from exhaustion in Xavier's embrace. 

I wake up a few hours later. I look around, to see that I'm tucked in my

Locked Chapter
Continue to read this book on the APP

Related chapters

  • Rising From the Ashes   34. Safe

    I wake up lying on the couch. The events from before swirling together.'What a horrible dream, it didn't even make any sense. But yet it felt so real.' I think to myself.I move raising myself from the couch, when I feel a stabbing pain at my side. I pull up my shirt to see a large white bandage taped to my side."What the hell?"Xavier comes running over, as I begin to play with the bandage running along my side, trying to remove it."No! Lexi! Don't touch that!"I stop midway, looking up at Xavier stunned."Why? What is it?"Assured that I won't try to peel the bandage off, Xavier begins to question me."What do you remember?""Honestly? Not much. It's all a bit of a blur, and none of it makes any sense. I remember being in a forest, seeing blood, and hearing gunshots. I remember thinking that Craig and Gary had found me.""But why does that ma

    Last Updated : 2024-10-29
  • Rising From the Ashes   35. What's Mine is Yours

    “Baby..” He attempts to stammer out.“That.. that was incredible.”“I’ve never had that much pleasure in my life. How did you know how to do all of that?”He pulls me closer to him, to rest on his chest. I shrug my shoulders as I look him in the eyes.“I didn’t.”“What? But how?” He exclaims in surprise.“You told me how.”I place a finger on his lips to silence him, before he tries to question me. I then go on to explain.“I read your body. Certain movements would trigger you. I discovered a few of your turn ons so far, that’s all. While you may say otherwise, I know you love it, when I tease you."“You’re not wrong there.”He says with a wink.“So you have me all figured out huh?&rdquo

    Last Updated : 2024-10-29
  • Rising From the Ashes   36. Marked

    I turn away to look at the food in front of me, hiding my blush.After breakfast, Xavier and I get changed, to practice training. Xavier had wanted me to rest, instead of training today. I told him that he would make his men train if they had been shot, so why shouldn't I be able to. We fought about it for a bit, but Xavier finally gave in. On the condition that I take it easy. So instead of the normal fifty laps, we will just be jogging ten, with multiple breaks in between.“You know, you amaze me right?”Xavier says, pulling me from my thoughts, as we take a quick break near the cabin."Hmm? How so?" I reply stunned."Regardless of everything you’ve been through, you don’t let any of it get to you. Rather you're stronger than ever." He replies, admiring me, as his fingertips slowly caress the side of my face."I don’t think I’m that strong." Xavier pushes m

    Last Updated : 2024-10-29
  • Rising From the Ashes   37. The Alley

    I find myself in an alleyway. No one around me. I pull the blanket close to me, as I continue to walk the deserted alleyway. Distracted from my thoughts, I don't realize that someone has followed me. I turn to rest my back along the wall, and plan on slipping down to burry my head in my arms. Suddenly, there's a hand clasped around my mouth, a strong hold is pressing me further into the wall. I look up to see a disheveled man holding me tight. His other hand wrapping around my throat. He looks me up and down."What do we have here?"He spits at me, his breath fowl from decay."It seems today is my lucky day."Scared, I stand still, not able to move, focusing on keeping my breath steady."It looks like I won't even need to work for this one."His free hand lowers to pull the blanket off of me, exposing my bare chest. I close my eyes in anticipation for what will come next.'I'm so stupid! Why did I ru

    Last Updated : 2024-10-29
  • Rising From the Ashes   38. Hold On

    ...XAVIER POV...."Shit! Shit! Shit!" I yell in frustration. I whip around to see Lexi crumpled to the ground. A long and protruding knife sticking out of her back. I rush to her side, feeling for a pulse. I sigh in relief when I feel her steady pulse. Without thinking, I pick her up, and run back to my car. I open the door, and lay her gently on the backseat. Careful to make sure the knife won't protrude further into her back. Cursing myself the entire time. 'How could I've been so careless?' I was over confident that once we had turned to leave, that those men would just leave. The last thing I expected was for them to get back up and retaliate.I continue to run the scenario back through my mind as I speed off in the direction the house."Call Damian!" I shout to the bluetooth function of my car. Damian picks up on the first ring."Boss?" He says, but I immediately interrupt him.

    Last Updated : 2024-10-29
  • Rising From the Ashes   39. He Loves Her

    ...Ryker POV...Xavier called me to let me know that Lexi had been stabbed. I couldn't believe it. I was absolutely furious. How could he let her be injured like this? I'm starting to regret leaving her with Xavier. I had thought that she would be safer, but it appears Xavier is getting her mixed up in our business. I had thought that Xavier would keep her out of it. Hearing that she had been stabbed, was like a knife to the heart.I can't let this happen again. I need to make sure she's safe. I need to just get her out of here. Maybe if she's away from all of us, away from Cortina, perhaps she will live the happy life she's supposed to have.As I make my way to Xavier's house, I start making plans to get her away from all of this. The first thing I do is call Noah. He is my right hand man apart from Xavier. Noah is the Scorpion's third in command. Noah was the one that took care of the Scorpions when Xavier's father had passed away."Noah

    Last Updated : 2024-10-29
  • Rising From the Ashes   40. After the Stabbing

    I can hear voices, but I can't tell where they're coming from. Everything is dark."How did this happen?" Ryker spits."I'm sorry Ryk, this is all my fault. I should've protected her better. But all I seem to be doing is failing her. In the short time she's been here, she's been rapped twice, shot, and stabbed."Xavier exclaims, seemingly in defeat."No, Xav, this is all my fault. I thought bringing her here would make her safe. I think I just need to get her out of town."Xavier doesn't respond. He's emotionless, shrouded in a cloud of despair."I understand. I just want her to be safe."I slowly begin to stir. I can feel a pressure around me, almost as though someone is holding me. My eyes slowly open. It' feels as though my eyelids are made of lead. Trying to open them seems daunting. I feel the pressure around me shift. Through my eyelids I can see Xavier.

    Last Updated : 2024-10-29
  • Rising From the Ashes   41. Designed for You

    Ryker left shortly after, leaving me and Xavier alone in his room. Xavier climbed on the bed, and pulled me close to him, as we both look out and gaze at the stars above. I begin to think of the events gone by, when suddenly I find a question on my lips that I had been meaning to ask."How did you learn how to fight like that?" I ask.I look over at Xavier, to see a pained expression on his face. I can tell he's reluctant to tell me."You don't have to tell me. I was just curious." I say, quickly trying to change the conversation."No. It's fine. It's just something that I don't like to talk about." Xavier exclaims."I understand, you don't have to tell me." I respond."No, but I want to."Xavier says, looking over at me."Are you sure? Cause..." I begin to say, however Xavier places a finger over my mouth, preventing me from continuing."As I told you before,

    Last Updated : 2024-10-29

Latest chapter

  • Rising From the Ashes   163. Out of the Ashes

    A few hours later, I am holding our handsome son in my arms. I feel content as I look into his eyes. I smile as I see my green eyes stare back at me. He's an exact copy of Xavier except for the eyes. I couldn't be more proud. I turn to look at Xavier, smiling contentedly as he looks back at both of us. He leans forward and places a kiss on my head."What should we call him?" I ask."Are you sure? Don't you want to name him?" He questions."I've already had my chance. I want you to name him." I say smiling down at our bundle of joy.Xavier looks at the both of us, thinking for a moment."What about... Rainer?" He asks, nervously.I look down at our son."I think it's perfect. Why Rainer?" I ask."Because he's our little Warrior. Rainer means wise army or deciding warrior. Either of which I believe him to be. He beat the odds and triumphed over the darkness." Xavier explains, making me smile.I look down at our

  • Rising From the Ashes   162. Fired

    With Ryker in England, that meant that Xavier no longer had a second in command. A role which needed to be filled as soon as possible, however not just anyone would be eligible for the role. Which is why I talked to Xavier about it."I know who we should make your second in command." I say as I sit on his lap in his office.Ever since I've been released from the hospital, Xavier has all his things from the office transferred to the house. He does everything remotely, as he doesn't want to leave my side. He spends nearly every second of the day with me. At first, I thought it would be overwhelming, or that he would grow tired of me. However, from the amount of time we have missed being together, I couldn't think of any better way to make up for the lost time. Admittedly, he doesn't always get work done, however, I try to help him, to make up for our extracurricular activities.Xavier turns my head, to place a kiss on my forehead."I know as wel

  • Rising From the Ashes   161. Firefly

    True to her word, over the next few months, Sienna helped me gain control of the Dragons. As Jax had found out, the Serbs had no interest in their American counter parts. Rather it seems as though we did them a favour by eliminating Craig and his brothers. Shortly after I took control of the Dragons, Vlado, the leader of the Serbian Mafia reached out to us. He wanted to thank us for eliminating his troublesome family members, and offered us anything we want in return.We thought about it for awhile, when only when thing came to mind. We wanted peace. The best way to achieve that, was if we formed an alliance. This alliance would unite the Scorpions, Dragons, Serbs, along with the Knights. We would now be the most powerful organizations in the world. We had so many allies, that no one would ever dare to go against us.With Sienna and Xavier's help, I was able to transform the Dragons into an entirely new organization. The Dragons now closely resembled the Scorpions, how

  • Rising From the Ashes   160. New Destiny

    "Wait." I say, bringing the conversation to a halt.I look as all the eyes in the room immediately look in my direction."Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. But I just had a thought." I try to explain."What' on your mind?" Xavier coos to me, kissing me on the back of my head."Craig." I say, the one word that came to mind."What about him?" Sienna asks.I stiffen in my seat, as my anxiety begins to overwhelm me. I'm waiting for them to tell me that he managed to escape once more. That I'll continue to have to look over my shoulder in fear. Instinctively, I run my hand over my stomach, as my thought now goes to my unborn child. Will they have to live a life like me? Will their lives always be in peril? The thought alone makes my body shiver. I feel my blood run cold, just at the thought.As if sensing my nervousness, Xavier is quick to respond. Pulling me closer into his embrace as he does so."I know what you're thinking

  • Rising From the Ashes   159. Retribution

    ...Lexi POV...I was discharged from the hospital a few days later. Under supervision of Dr Lawson of course. Even though I had been discharged, Xavier didn't allow me to do anything myself. Rather he had become like my personal slave. If I needed to go to the bathroom, he would take me. If I wanted to g outside, he would carry me there. He cooked anything I wanted to eat. Which I can't complain, because he's an amazing chef.Even though I found the attention to be overwhelming at times, I didn't say anything. I still don't remember everything that happened, but I knew from the way he was acting, that he was afraid that he could lose me at any moment. While he had become good at hiding his true feelings, he could never fully hide them from me. Whatever happened, must've scared him shitless. From what I do know about what happened, I can only agree that his reaction is justified. I would be acting similarly, if not the same if our roles were reversed.

  • Rising From the Ashes   158. Final Battle

    Nurses began to run out of the room in a panic. My men followed behind me as we entered Lexi's room. My eyes went wide as I saw one of the Doctors pinned to the ground, as Lexi held onto a needle, threatening to inject the doctor beneath her."What the hell is going on?" I shout.My men seem just as confused as me. It's as thought they have no idea what to do next. They know they can't shoot her, but they also know that if they were to injure her in any way, that they would pay with their lives. So instead, they stand placid, unsure as to how to move forward."We don't know what happened. We believe that she's trying to defend herself, but she doesn't seem to realize that we're just trying to help her." One of the nurses informs me.Instantly, I begin to understand. I've seen her do this once before. She's unconsciously defending herself. Her mind must be blending her nightmares with reality. Defending itself in the only way it knows how. By attacking. As

  • Rising From the Ashes   157. Restless

    ...Xavier POV...Shortly after Sienna had left, Ryker was discharged from the hospital. He had grown restless in the time that he had been in the hospital. With Dr Lawson's help, Ryker will be staying at my place for the next couple of months. He'll be monitored the entire time, to ensure nothing bad happens. But it also allows him a sense of freedom and normalcy. Ryker and I are very similar. We both need to feel as though we are accomplishing something. Not doing anything, just makes us more irritable. That alone is one of the many reasons as to why I have an at home clinic. Dr Lawson always said that I'm one of her worst patients. As I always go against her wishes.Matteo and Catherine helped with Ryker's transition to my house. In the meantime Catherine and Matteo are also staying at my house. They might as well, since no one else has been staying there. I've barely left Lexi's side since she came into the hospital. I spend everyday and night with her. Jax br

  • Rising From the Ashes   156. Anguish

    ...Sienna POV...It's been close to two months since that horrible night. It was an absolute blood bath. We all thought that Ryker wouldn't stand a chance, considering his condition when we managed to find him. However, it seems as though we all have our parents fighting genes. Cause that's exactly what he is, a fighter. Even the doctors were amazed that he survived.Ryker was placed in a medically induced coma, once they were able to stable him. He had to undergo several blood transfusions. His body took a very bad beating. We still have no idea if he'll ever be the same again. His heart wasn't able to function properly due to the extreme blood loss. The doctors fear that he may have some life altering conditions, if he does manage to wake up.Chloe, or Dr Lawson had managed to stabilize me after I was shot. She was busy tending to Ryker at the time, but once Lexi and I took fire, she had one of Xavier's men look after Ryker, as she came for us. She

  • Rising From the Ashes   155. Shattered

    BEEP.BEEP.BEEP.The constant beeping sound of her heart monitor, is the only thing keeping me sane at the moment. The room is silent, other than the noise of the machines in her room that are helping to keep her alive.I lean my head towards her hand, placing my forehead against the back of her hand. I'm a complete mess. I don't know what I'll do if she doesn't make it out of this.Dr Lawson comes in ten minutes later, awakening me from my thoughts."There are some results that I would like to discuss with you." She says. I can sense the apprehension in her voice.I turn to look back at my Little Bear laying unconscious on the bed in front of me. I don't want to leave her, but I can tell that whatever Dr Lawson needs to tell me is important.Before I get a chance to voice my concerns, Elena and Jax walk into the room."We'll stay with her." Elena says, walking over to the other side of Lexi's bed to hold her hand

DMCA.com Protection Status