Page 21 of Midnight Danger

Xavier crouched low, his hand grabbing the man’s throat. “Consider me the judge, jury, and executioner of the Council.” Xavier’s eyes came up to mine for just a moment, then back to my attacker. “And right now, consider yourself on death row.”

Several days ago, I’d ran because I saw this side of him. Now, I was grateful he had this side.

“My men are on their way back.”

Xavier turned those ice-cold blue eyes to him. “Your men are dead. The clean-up crew will be here in a few hours to ensure there is no evidence left.”

He tried to crawl back from Xavier, who reached behind his back to retrieve a gun from the waistband of his jeans. “Goodbye, Malcolm.”

“Wait! I have information that the Council can use.” His hands tried to ward Xavier off.

Jordan stepped into the room, his dark gaze roving over me. “You okay?” he asked in a low tone.

I blinked, unable to move or vocalise anything.

“All the blood has been spilled outside, Zee. A good rainstorm will wash away any evidence. Let me take him to our facility. You can deal with him there.” The smile on Jordan’s face made me shudder.

“No! No! Fine, shoot me! Just fucking shoot me!” the man called Malcom screamed.

A dark smile tipped Xavier’s lips up as he dragged Malcolm to his feet. I couldn’t make out the words of what he said in a low tone into his ear.

“No, you can’t. No!”

Xavier pushed him toward Jordan. “Leave him in our facility. I’ll deal with the coward myself.”

“No worries, man. Hello, Malcolm, you’ve been a very bad boy. Come with me and I’ll tell you about all the new toys we’ve installed in our interrogation room. I’m so excited we’ll be sharing them with you since you’re a fucking rapist.” Jordan twisted his arm up his back until there was a sickening pop followed by a whimper. “It’s called karma, Malcolm. Be a good boy and take your punishment like a man.”

My gaze moved from Jordan and his bizarre conversation, to Xavier. He knelt in front of me, his blue eyes the only thing I could focus on. “I need to get you to a medical unit. Can you stand?”

My mouth opened and closed. It was only when his fingers weaved through the ones on my uninjured hand that I finally found words. “You came for me.”

“Always will, baby. Let me fix your arm and then I’ll get you out of here.” He gently lifted me, his fingers moving around my shoulder and arm. “Take a deep breath, this is going to hurt.”

My lungs expanded and then all the air emerged as he twisted my arm and my shoulder popped back into place. My scream filled the room before I collapsed.

Everything was a blur around me. Xavier helped me into the Jeep I’d arrived in, the smell of sick still in the back. I was vaguely aware of being in a helicopter, all the while held in Xavier’s arms. Even when we reached the private hospital, he sat by my side, holding my hand.

When we were finally alone, I looked at him. He was pale and hadn’t shaved in days. The circles under his eyes made them appear bluer. “When they took me, there was only one thing I could think of.”

His eyebrows rose in question, his fingers still stroking mine.

“I never told you that I loved you.”

His full lips curved up into a smile. “I already knew, baby. I loved you before I ever saw you in the light. There was nowhere in this world you could have gone that I wouldn’t have followed you.”

I lay back in the bed. “I still don’t like blood on the carpet.”

“Noted. I’ll try my best to keep our enemies outside.” His mouth twitched.

My eyes fluttered closed. “Thank you for saving me.”

“You saved me first, baby. I was just saving you back.” His lips covered mine in a gentle kiss that made me feel safe for the first time in days.

***

Chapter Nine

Xavier

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