Page 61 of His Dark Cravings

“Enough games,” Rico spits, his voice hard and final. “You’ve got 30 seconds before I decide how to make an example out of her.”

I feel Sable tense beside me, her body coiled like a spring. My palm brushes against hers, a silent reassurance. Xavier takes a deliberate step forward, keeping Rico’s attention. Winter mirrors his movement, her sharp eyes scanning the space as if daring anyone to move.

“Let me remind you,” Xavier says, his voice dropping dangerously low, “about the kind of trouble you’re courting if you don’t back down.”

Rico’s men shift uneasily, their eyes darting to their boss and back to Xavier.

“Or what?” Rico sneers, but the bravado rings hollow. “You’ll hurt me? In front of all these witnesses?”

"Witnesses won't stop me from making you regret this.”

Rico’s men seem to hesitate, their hands resting on their weapons but not drawing them. Xavier’s control over the room is palpable, a silent command that even I can feel.

I glance at Sable, her eyes locked on Xavier. There’s fear and determination in her gaze, and I know she’s waiting for the right moment to move. Winter’s sharp nod is almost imperceptible, but I catch it—a signal.

As one, the three of us act.

Sable and I move in tandem, our bodies low and quick as we dart from behind Rico’s chair. Winter takes down the man in our way with a sharp, muted sound.

Chaos erupts again.

Rico roars in anger, his chair scraping back as he stands. “Grab them! Don’t let them get away!”

But we’re already gone.

Sable and I slip through the gap between the table and the wall. Xavier and Winter create a barrier between us and Rico’s men. I can hear the sound of fists hitting flesh, the sharp crack of a breaking chair, but I don’t look back.

We dart around the edge of the room, avoiding the scattered men. The exit is in sight, the dim glow of the stairs a beacon of safety. Xavier and Winter fall back, protecting our retreat as Rico’s men scramble to respond.

We’re almost there when Rico’s voice rings out, his resignation echoing through the room. “Let them go! Take the money!”

I don’t look back. I don’t dare.

Xavier’s hand finds mine as soon as we’re through the door, his grip warm and steady. Sable stumbles beside me, her body trembling with adrenaline and pain. Xavier pulls her into his arms before I can react, holding her close as she finally lets go.

“Shh,” he murmurs, his voice softening. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”

Tears break through Sable’s tough exterior, her sobs quiet but shaking her entire frame. Xavier holds her through it, his expression unreadable but his touch surprisingly gentle. He guides us up the stairs, away from the chaos below, his protective instincts on full display.

As we reach the top, he pauses, his eyes flickering to mine. For a moment, there’s something there, something unspoken, before he turns back to Sable, his jaw tightening.

“Let’s get her home,” he says simply.

Chapter 20

Everly

"Ready for this, Everly?"

The cold air clings to my naked body. The chain above me clinks slightly with each sway of my frame. My wrists are secured above my head. Xavier stands before me, the paddle held casually in his hand. My heart pounds, but there's a strange sense of calm settling over me, like still water despite the storm beneath the surface.

On the floor, Winter and Sable kneel, witnesses to this moment. Winter's expression is a mask of ice, while Sable keeps looking away, her fists clenching and unclenching. I know what she wants to say, but there's no backing down from this decision.

Xavier tilts his head slightly, studying me as if searching for any crack in my resolve. The paddle in his hand seems to pulse with potential, a silent promise of what's to come.

"It's going to hurt, Everly," he says finally, his voice low and even. "But you'll take it. You'll take it, and you'll learn from it."

I nod once, my jaw tightening. My pulse quickens, but my voice comes out steady when I speak. "I understand, Sir."

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