Chapter Ninety-five: Bad Things (It's Complicated)

Ethan’s Point of View

I dispatched a team to Lillianna's residence, making sure she and Emmanuel were not present. Iris was instructed not to enter Xavier's apartment without my permission and always to keep an eye on Chloe. Although I knew this put Sam in danger, I didn't believe Lillianna would kill the woman - perhaps harm her, which may have already happened. Even I could see how much Lillianna despised Sam.

I had to handle this situation delicately, as we couldn't risk any trace leading back to Aamon, Rei, or Xavier. Lillianna was not someone to be underestimated; she managed to fatally wound Kaz in a moment of rage while he faced off against much more experienced enemies unscathed. I was just one of many who wanted her out of the picture, but I had to deal with her before she dealt with us.

My phone interrupted me, and I answered it hastily, recognizing the team member's number from Lillianna's apartment.

"It's a disaster in here, boss. I can't tell if she trashed the place to stage a struggle or if she was having a breakdown and throwing things around. It looks like she used a baseball bat on some parts of the apartment," he reported.

"Search for her passports and other alias documents. They should be inside a strong box in her bedroom," I instructed.

There was a brief pause before he let out a sharp breath. Damn, she really did leave everything behind. Lillianna had no intention of making it out alive. She was completely desperate, and that made her extremely dangerous.

"I'm sending in Iris and Chloe. Head over to Xavier's and be ready to assist if needed. Your role is to support strictly. Iris will be taking the lead on this. Go now," I ordered before hanging up the phone.

Rei’s Point of View

I gazed at Salem, shocked by how readily he had accepted Xavier. I turned to Onyx, who smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Salem is right," Shiloh's voice came from behind me. "But I also agree with him. What happens next should be a private conversation between you and Xavier, so I'm going to kick you both out of here now. I'll stay with the boys and make sure they don't make too much noise and wake up Aunt Grace," my daughter added with a grin.

Oh no, I hope they don't wake her up. A grumpy Grace was a force to be reckoned with. Hopefully, now that she was with Aamon, my best friend would be more relaxed and less intense. As much as she teased me about not getting any, Grace was dealing with the same thing.

Xavier turned to me, his eyes pleading for guidance. I forced a laugh, trying my best to break the tension. It was hard to believe that this confident man was at a loss for words because of my three children, and now he was looking to me for direction.

“Oh no, you don’t. I know that laugh. You are not getting out of this conversation. Out. Now. Both of you,” Shiloh's commanding voice snapped me out of my awkward laughter. She stood with her hands on her hips, pointing a finger towards the door.

Xavier's eyes widened in surprise, and he rose from his seat to approach me. He handed his controller to Shiloh before taking my hand in his own. We walked back to the bedroom we had spent the previous night in, hand in hand and without speaking. I sat on the bed while Xavier locked the door behind us. He stood against it with his eyes shut, lost in contemplation.

Xavier's voice was quiet as he spoke. "I know this is a complicated situation, but I meant what I said last night, Rei. Even though it wasn't the ideal way to do it, I really want to be with you. Just you, for the rest of my life."

“I love you too,” I whispered.

“Is that a yes then?” Xavier asked, locking eyes with me, waiting for me to give him an answer.

“I want to marry you,” I said, squeezing his hand tightly. “But we need to figure things out with Lillianna first. Once that is resolved, we can start our new life together. One thing at a time, please.”

It wasn’t about feeling pressured or uncertain about my commitment to him. My heart belonged to Xavier, and that would never change. Everything else in my life felt like it was falling apart.

But what about X? a voice inside me whispered.

I shut my eyes and took a deep breath to find clarity amidst the chaos. The truth was, I didn’t know the answer to that question. How could my heart be divided like this? It didn’t make any sense to me.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Xavier looking at me with love and devotion. I didn’t feel worthy of that love, but wanted to be.

"Let's take a shower, it'll make you feel better," Xavier said, reaching out his hand to me.

I didn't hesitate and took his hand as he led me to the bathroom. While he started the water, I quickly undressed and placed my clothes off to the side to keep them dry. I didn't have spare clothing yet, but I knew I would need some if I wanted to leave this room.

Xavier stripped down as well, his sculpted body sending shivers down my spine. He smirked at me before stepping into the shower and holding out his hand again. Without hesitation, I took his hand and followed him in.

We took turns lathering ourselves with soap, savoring the feel of our bodies against each other. As we stood beneath the warm water, Xavier pulled me tightly against him, his hands eagerly exploring my breasts before tracing down to my clit and delving inside me. I surrendered to his touch, pressing myself against him as he expertly brought me to a shuddering climax, my body quivering in ecstasy.

His lips trailed down my neck, igniting a fire within me. He spun me around, and I was immediately face to face with his intense gaze. Xavier's kisses were filled with an insatiable hunger, and I could feel myself soaking in desire for him once again. At that moment, there was nothing else in the world that mattered except for him - I craved him as I had never craved anyone or anything before.

He hoisted me up higher than I thought possible, and I let out a guttural moan while he chuckled darkly. Xavier pressed me against the wall, his strong hands gripping my hips as my legs wrapped around his neck. With his skilled tongue, he devoured me like a starving man, fucking me with a ferocity that left me breathless. Over and over again, he brought me to the brink of ecstasy before pulling back and starting again. I fought to keep from screaming his name, my entire being consumed by the intense pleasure he was unleashing upon my body. This was more than just physical desire; it was a primal need for him that could not be denied.

As he allowed me to climax, tears streamed down my face from the overwhelming sensations he had evoked. In every aspect, this man owned me. It wasn't just the mind-blowing sex we shared; it was the sense of security and the understanding that, in every way, Xavier completed me. He was the one I truly loved. It was Xavier that I wanted, and I finally had the answer I needed.