Declan: Yeah, pretty much.
Xavier: You know those organs you traffic? Well, you might want to check your supply because I’m going to fucking shoot you when I get back.
Declan: Love you too.
Ishove my phone in my pocket and pick up my plastic gloves, covered in blood. The Broker whimpers when he sees me put them back on, his eyes bulging from his skull.
“Here’s the thing,” I say. “My girl is back home, getting into all sorts of trouble. Which means I need to speed up this interrogation so I can get back to her.”
I grab the angle grinder and turn it on. The blade whirls, a high-pitched sound that blends in with the man’s cries. He jerks back, rattling the chains keeping him suspended in the air. The hook in his back digs deeper, and he screams.
“The faster you talk, the faster I’ll put you out of your misery,” I say. “A merciful death is something Edward Donovan would never offer you. Trust me, I think he’s a bigger dick than you do.”
“Then why are you doing this?” he sobs.
“Because my loyalty is to a woman, one that’s driving me fucking crazy. And if you don’t tell me what I need to know, you’ll be keeping me from her. Trust me, you don’t want to do that.”
Chapter 44DELILAH
Xavier: When I get home, you and I are going to have a chat about obedience, little raptor.
Delilah: I haven’t done anything wrong. How did you have a chance to program your info into my phone?
Xavier: I’ve done far worse.
Delilah: Why does that not surprise me?
Xavier: Who are you with?
Delilah: None of your business.
Xavier: Answer the fucking question.
Xavier: Delilah Scott, I asked you a question.
Delilah: I’m with Ben.
Xavier: Where are you?
Delilah: In his room at the fraternity.
Xavier: Fucking Christ.
Delilah: We’re just hanging out. I already told you it’s not like that.
Xavier: And I already told you, Benjamin wants to fuck you. If he touches you, I’ll kill him, and it’ll be your fault.
Delilah: Are you serious?
Xavier: Does it sound like I’m fucking around?
Delilah: I swear if you do anything to him...
Xavier: You’ll what, Delilah?
Delilah: 🖕😑🖕
Xavier: I'll give you a moment to enjoy that, but when I get back, you’re going to learn exactly what happens when you don’t listen to me.
Delilah: Can’t fucking wait.
Alcohol is my new best friend.
My blood hums merrily underneath my skin as Ben walks me back to Xavier’s room. I cling to his arm after nearly tripping, and my foster brother exhales.
“You’re worse than a lightweight, Lilah.”
My hazy vision makes everything slightly off-kilter, like I’m in a hall of mirrors where every image is distorted. But it’s amusing, not disconcerting. I think I like being drunk.
Ben scoffs. “You might like the way you feel right now, but in the morning, you’re going to hate yourself. And me.”
I blink up at him. “Are you a mind reader now?”
“No, you’re mumbling to yourself.”
“Ohhh. That makes sense.”
“You’re going straight to bed,” he says.
“Why can’t I stay with you?”
Ben shakes his head emphatically, the movement making my head spin. “X would fucking kill me if you slept in my room,” he says. “I already know he’s going to be pissed when he finds out that you’re drunk, but I’m not stupid enough to push him off the edge.”
“He doesn’t care about me. Not really.” I wave a hand. “He just sees me as his property.”
“It seems that way, but I saw him watching you like—”
At Ben’s abrupt silence, I look up at him and tap his arm. “Like what?”
My foster brother inhales deeply before blowing it back out. “He looks at you like he’ll die without you.”
I burst out laughing, the sound bouncing off the walls. The alcohol swirling in my veins only adds to my hilarity and my disbelief.
“That’s ridiculous,” I say. “Have you met Xavier? He has no fucks to give and doesn’t need anyone. Maybe you’re the one who’s drunk.”
When Ben doesn’t laugh, or even crack a smile, my amusement dies. Instead, his expression hardens, seriousness etched into his features.
“I’m not joking,” he says. “You might not see it, but I’ve known him a lot longer, and there’s something going on with him when it comes to you.”
“I’ve known him lo—”
By some miracle, I slap a hand on my mouth, muffling my drunken confession. I never told Ben that Xavier killed Frank all those years ago. And I definitely didn’t disclose the fact that I had a brief conversation with Xavier—after stabbing him.
At first I kept that information a secret because I was freaked out and needed time to process everything, but as the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, I couldn’t find the courage. If I’m honest with myself, it wasn’t only that.
Xavier made me feel important.
Ben threatened to kill for me, but Xavier actually fucking did.
“What were you going to say?” Ben asks me.
I let my hand fall away. “I can’t remember. I thought I was going to puke. Are we there yet?”
He smiles at me and shakes his head. “You act like we’re hiking Mount Everest.”
“Feels like it.”
Ben stops in front of a door that I assume is Xavier’s. I stare at it blankly. My foster brother takes my wrist and flattens my palm against the panel, and the door unlocks with a click.
“That shit is so cool,” I say.
“My tech empire had a hand in designing it.”
I look up at Ben and smile at the pride in his voice. “That’s a-maz-za-zing.”
He groans. “I don’t know if I should leave you alone.”
“I’m fine. I’m just busting your balls.”
“Okay then. Go inside.” He juts his chin at the doorway. “Promise me you won’t open the door for anyone. You’re protected under your bride title, but that doesn’t mean one of these fuckers won’t try something with Xavier gone. If he’s not back by the morning, I’ll come get you.”
“I promise I won’t open the door. Goodnight.”
“Night.”
Turning toward the room, I walk inside, letting the door lock behind me. Ben’s words repeat themselves in my mind, a riddle that makes my head pound more than the alcohol. Xavier looks at me like he’ll die without me?
Yeah, right. What do I have that he can’t get from any other woman? Especially with someone like Brenda actively wanting him?
The buzz from before lessens significantly after I chug a lot of water. Then I collapse on the bed and stare at the ceiling until my thoughts quiet. The room doesn’t spin as much anymore, and I sigh in relief.