All Chapters of Rising From the Ashes: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Lexi was very tense when we entered the mall. I knew she would be safe here, as I owned this mall. Nothing happened without my knowledge. I had arranged for a security team to keep their eyes on us. I trusted myself to be able to keep her safe, but I just wanted to make sure there weren't any surprises.Lexi has been through a lot. I just wanted her to feel like a regular girl, and enjoy the day. There was no cost, everything she wanted, she would have. I would make sure of that. What I hadn't expected was that she wouldn't even attempt to look for things for herself. I could see the unease the more we travelled through the mall. I started realizing that it was from the cost. I don't know why I thought she would immediately get used to this new life. She's come from nothing. If she wanted something, she had to fight for it. She was a bloody waitress at a strip club for fuck's sake. I feel like an idiot. Even though the Lexi standing before me today is extremely d

Monday came along faster than I expected it to. On my first day at work, Xavier introduced me to Jax, my new bodyguard. I was hesitant to meet him at first, and a bit nervous. It didn't help that when we first met I was extremely intimidated by him. He towered over Xavier's 6ft 6in frame. He was extremely well built. It looked like he could kill someone just by looking at them wrong. He was wearing a tight black t-shirt, and ripped black jeans. Arms crossed along his muscled body. From the visible skin showing, he had two full sleeve tattoos, interlaced with random scars. Just one look at him made me feel so much smaller. Predicting my discomfort, Xavier led us to a private conference room outside his office. He had some work to do, but wanted us to get to know each other, so I could feel more comfortable with him. Over the next two hours, I was lost in conversation with Jax. After I began to lower my walls, he turned out to be a really fun guy. I've never had a friend before, but J

"Lexi! Open this door!" I hear someone yell out.Thoughts of Craig and Gary fill my thoughts. As they would pound on my door in hopes of getting in. When I had first moved in with Craig, I had done something that made him upset with me. My instincts had taken over, and I ran in fear to my room, and locked the door. Hoping that he wouldn't be able to hurt me. I could hear him pound on the door. He continued to scream and threaten me, until I unlocked the door.The more he would pound his fist and yell at me, the last thing I wanted was to give the monster entry to my room. So instead I tried to hide. My room was basic. Only a bed, and a closet. Immediately, I ran to the closet to take cover. I pulled my legs to my body in a protective manner. I tried to make myself appear as small as possible. Hoping that if he did get in, he wouldn't find me.I remember feeling my tears hit my skin, as I continued to cower in my closet. I had hoped and prayed that h

When I woke up the next morning, I turned to see Xavier fast asleep beside me. A smile instantly crosses my face. He stayed the entire night, just like he said he would. He kept his promise to me. I slowly get up and out of bed. Trying hard not to wake him. I head to my bathroom to shower, and get changed for work.By the time I was out of the shower. Xavier had begun to wake up. "Good morning sleepy head." I call out to him, a large smile on my face.Xavier gets out of bed, and begins walking closer to me. He stretches his arms above his head, lowering them around my waist shortly after."How are you feeling?" He asks me."For the most part ok. Just a little mortified, if anything.""How come?""I'm just afraid that Jax will think I'm like a faberge egg. He'll treat me as if in any moment, I could fall apart.""No he won't.""How do you know? I know I would probably do that if the roles were reversed."Xavi

It's been two weeks since I moved in with Xavier. My first day here, Xavier gave me a cell phone. He programmed his phone number, Jax's, along with Ryker's. So that way I could call them whenever I wanted. No one else had my number. It took me awhile to learn how to use the phone. I had never owned one before. So it was a foreign concept to me. I also had to keep on remembering to bring it with me. So often I would forget about it. Either at home, work, even a restaurant. I wasn't used to always having it. So I tend to lose it often.It has been awhile since we heard anything about Craig and Gary. Even though Xavier has assured me that neither Craig or Gary will manage to get to me. I'm still terrified that they will come after me. It's not that I don't trust Xavier to keep me safe, rather I just know Craig and Gary. They are relentless at making my life miserable, and there's nothing they wouldn't do to make sure I'm theirs again. In the pit of my stomach, I can't shake this