Chapter Sixty-one: Reclaiming the Past

Xavier’s Point of View

Strangely enough, as soon as I walked out of the room to give Rei some privacy, Matt called me.

“Hey, I need to talk to you about something important. Sam called me in a panic a few minutes ago and made me promise to call you,” my friend said.

“Sure, what’s going on?” I asked, concerned.

“Sam and Chloe were convinced that Lillianna would show up at your place after what happened at the restaurant last night. No one put up with her crap for once, and Alex even walked her to the door to make sure Lillianna left. She was pissed! So the girls decided to do a “stake out” and watch to see if Lillianna showed up at your place,” Matt explained.

My hand tightened around my phone, and I tried not to panic. I knew there were enforcers from the Brzezinski family watching over us. Plus, I changed locks and updated my security system. There wasn’t a way for Lillianna to get into my apartment without me knowing. I’d fixed the window she used to sneak in the day the locks were changed.

“Matt, did the girls confront her?” I asked, keeping my voice low and hopefully the panic out of it.

“Yeah. Lillianna was spewing nonsense about you to the girls, making them think that you were a really bad dude. She was implying that you had Greg Ravenscroft killed because no one has heard from or seen him since he divorced Rei and left town,” Matt chuckled dryly.

I gulped and ran my hair nervously through my hair. I knew that it hadn’t been me. So did the Brzezinski family and the agency I worked for. But Lillianna was a very convincing liar who easily manipulated anyone who didn’t know her very well. Even those who did know her fell under Lillianna’s carefully crafted spells. She had fooled me for years.

“Sam and Chloe don’t believe her. But they were scared that she might try and approach Rei with those lies. It was wild that she was outside of your apartment like that. The girls said it looked like she was trying to determine if you were home and alone,” Matt said.

“Listen, man. I know you and Lillianna were close, even slept together, but she’s gone off the deep end. She's always had a thing for you, but now she's acting possessive and downright terrifying. What did you do to her? Did you tell her you loved her or something? You need to get away from her before things get even worse," he added.

"Rei stayed overnight with me, and she's still here. I've changed the locks and the security system, so we should be okay. But if Lillianna shows up, I'll call the cops and get a restraining order. I agree with you. She's not the girl we were friends with for years. I don't know who she is anymore," I replied.

“None of us do. I hate to say it, but maybe this is who Lillianna was all along, and we just didn’t see it. Whatever, just be safe. Don’t let her near Rei either. I wouldn’t put it past her to try and hurt your girlfriend,” Matt said.

He was right. I knew Matt was. But the fact that even my friend realized this made the situation even more frightening. Rei was safe with me now, but what about when she returned home? What about the kids?

Grace was watching them, and she’d also experienced this new version of Lillianna. And she was just as scared. I knew Grace was resourceful, but was she as formidable as Lillianna? I doubted that, given she was now Rei’s best friend.

I’d made a lot of stupid mistakes, but fucking Lillianna had to be the biggest. That and listening to her when she convinced me that we should make Greg Ravenscroft pay for how he had treated Rei. If only I could go back and fix things. I hadn’t felt this helpless since I left Rei in the rain with the mechanic, leaving a piece of me behind with her ten years ago. I had wanted to stick around, give her my number, and start a relationship, but what Lillianna and I had done was still fresh in my mind. The guilt that consumed me wouldn’t let me do what I wanted with all my heart.

I felt the same way right now, listening to my friend’s voice but not registering anything he was saying. I took a deep breath, thanked Matt again for letting me know, and assured him I would figure out something to keep Rei and the kids safe. I hung up the phone and stared at it for a long time, trying to decide what to do next.

“Xavier?” Rei’s gentle voice made me look up towards the door, where she watched me with a worried look.

“Hey, sorry, that was Matt. Is everything okay with the kids?” I asked.

"The kids are doing great, surprisingly well. Grace even offered to watch them for two more nights and take them to stay with her at her new boyfriend's place. He has extra rooms for the kids to sleep in. I was thinking, would you maybe want to come stay with me at the house?" Rei inquired.

I stared at my girlfriend. She looked nervous, and I could tell this was important to her. And then I realized why. She’d slept alone in that bed for the last decade, perhaps even longer, when you considered all the times that Greg was out getting his dick wet in some other chick while his beautiful wife was home waiting for him to come back to her. Such a prick. Fuck. She needed this, and I would do anything for her.

I reached out towards her, and Rei immediately moved into my arms. I held her close to me, savoring the feeling of having her in my embrace.

“Of course, if that is what you want. I just need time to grab some clothes and other things. Do you want to call Grace back while I do that?” I asked.

“Yes, thank you. This means a lot to me, Xavier. Thank you,” Rei said gratefully, standing on her tiptoes to reach my lips for a kiss. She was so tiny that I had to bend down to meet her halfway, but I didn't mind. This woman was adorable and I loved her more than life itself.