Chapter Sixty-seven: Safe Haven

Xavier’s Point of View

They’d killed the cop. I knew them, and being in prison hadn’t changed them for the better. It had made them more careful and calculated. They were sure they could get away with it if they had fired shots. That meant Lillianna had reconnected with them, and if that was the case, I needed to get Rei away from here as fast as possible.

I told her we were going to her house but taking an extended route. We weren’t. It wouldn’t be safe there. Not only did I need to worry about Lillianna, but now I had to worry about her AND my old crew. Never had I regretted more my association with them. Because now it had put Rei and her children in danger. I squeezed her hand and sped up, racing to the only spot I could think of that Rei would be safe.

Grace had the kids, and they were with Aamon. No one would mess with the Brzezinski family. My “old friends” would have a death wish if they did. But they didn’t know that Rei was the granddaughter of Kazimierz Brzezinski. But they knew she was my girlfriend, so I couldn’t let them anywhere near her. Their anger towards me could manifest in harm against her. And judging by the way they eyed her, I knew it was best to keep Rei far away from them for more than one reason.

I cursed the turn my life had taken. I had finally achieved everything I had ever wanted, but it felt like it was slipping away before I could even tell Rei the truth. My heart shattered at the thought of her reaction - what little was left of it now only beat for her. I could feel my dark side resurfacing, and no matter how hard I tried to fight it, the need to bury myself in its embrace grew stronger by the minute. I had managed to keep this part of myself hidden from Rei, but deep down, I knew she wouldn't be able to handle it if she ever saw it.

“Where are we going?” Rei's voice pierced the tense silence, bringing me back to reality.

"We can't go back to your place. It's not safe," I replied, forcing my tone to remain steady and reassuring.

"Xavier, what's happening?" Rei's voice trembled with fear.

"I'll explain everything later, but we need to move quickly right now. Just hold onto me tightly and trust me," I pleaded, my anxiety creeping into my words.

Rei's voice trembled, on the verge of tears. "Please, Xavier, don't hide anything from me."

I took a deep breath and tried to maintain my composure. "I will tell you everything. Just hold on for now, and trust me."

With fear pulsing through me, I pushed my bike to the fastest speed I dared, with Rei holding on to me. I was desperate to escape my old crew and Lillianna as Rei clung onto me, her grip tightening with each passing moment. This wasn’t fair to her, and I knew that. Rei’s life was about to blow up, and she didn’t deserve that. Not her.

I brought Rei to the last safe house we used when I was on assignment. Once I parked my bike, I texted Ethan Steele where we were and explained what happened. I asked him to contact the Brzezinski family and inform them of our location. I hoped that I could keep Rei safe until reinforcements arrived.

“Where are we?” Rei asked after she saw that I had put away my phone.

“This is the safe house where I stayed the last time I was on assignment. I work for the government, or at least I used to. I’m on leave right now for personal reasons,” I answered.

Rei didn’t say anything but stared at me like she was waiting for me to continue. She was right; I had more to say, but I didn’t want to say it. Not yet. Just a few more moments more. I needed her to look at me like I could keep her safe and that she loved me. As selfish as it was, I needed to hold on to that a little longer.

“Come on, we need to get inside. I put the kickstand up and pushed the bike towards the garage. I entered the code, and we walked through, silent and tense. I made sure that the bike was all the way in and then closed the door. I took Rei’s hand and led her into the house.

I could see Rei moving her hands into the arms of her sweater, almost as if to shield herself from what was to come. I sat on the living room couch, and my girlfriend sat tentatively beside me. She looked so scared, and it was killing me.

“The night in the rain when I stopped to help you wasn't the first time I had met you, Rei. I've known you since high school, even though we weren't part of the same social circles. I knew you enjoyed reading at the library and that your strict parents didn't give you much freedom. When I found out about your plans to finally go out with friends, I was excited to try and talk to you, especially since I had a fake ID. But unfortunately, Greg Ravenscroft got to you before I did,” I explained.

Rei scrunched her eyebrows as if she was struggling to recognize me. I couldn't blame her; I was an awkward teenager who didn't fully develop until later in life. With my tattoos and more muscular physique, I looked completely different. But inside, I was still the same person who had fallen for the shy girl who never noticed me.

"Why didn't you come talk to me before? I never would have cared about our age difference, especially if you were just as kind then as you are now," Rei asked, with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"I didn't look like this back then," I chuckled, and Rei gave me a skeptical look.

“Xavier, you are gorgeous, but that's not why I love you. I wish you would have approached me earlier. I wouldn't have given Greg Ravenscroft a second thought if someone like you had shown interest in me," Rei said wistfully.