She was trying to intimidate him, confuse him, Xavier thought as he suppressed any notion of getting sense out of this female. She would try the patience of angels, and he was no angel. Never in his forty seven years had he ever encountered anyone that spoke back to him or taunted him as she did. Even when carrying out torture to extract information, the prisoners he took may have been full initially of bravado, but the underlying fear was never far from them. This...this…Xavier struggled to find the right word…little minx was testing him beyond his limits, and although his natural response would be to knock her clean out, there was a part of him — up until now undiscovered part of him — that found her damned fucking irresistible. As she sashayed away, over emphasising her wiggle and throwing her hair over her shoulder as if to punctuate her ‘don’t give a fuck’ status, he stood dumbfounded.
Well, he stood dumbfounded for a maximum of ten seconds before his senses returned to him.
“You really are a piece of work, aren’t you, Sweetcheeks?” Xavier stood his ground, eyes piercing into the back of Alicia’s head. “A twisted, delusional piece of work.” He left out the fact that he found her beguiling and as hot as the fires of Hell. Even he wasn’t fully prepared to accept that as fact — just yet.
“So, get that ass back over here, because you are as of now my prisoner, understand?”
Chapter Twenty One
Shuggie zoomed in on the docks cameras that he had managed to hack into. Peering at the screen his face contorted as he watched his Commander waving his arms about and gesticulating while shouting at thin air
“Ach shite, it’s worse than ah thought! He’s gone completely mental.”
To and fro, the commander walked, and he was either really pissed off with the dirt on his boots, or he was having an argument to himself. Either way, it was not a good sign.
Shuggie’s frown deepened. What he wouldn’t give for some audio to accompany the pictures on the CCTV from the dockside. He was playing witness to his best friend, his Commander, having a nervous breakdown. He was trying to work out just what Xavier was giving his death glare to. The screen showed him glowering into empty space and then talking to himself, again.
“Shite, Commander, ah ne’er seen ye lose it like this afore. Ah need tae help ye, bit ye need tae help yersel’ first.” Shuggie could have wept as he watched the great man he respected and loved like a brother coming undone before his very eyes.
****
Xavier smirked a little as he watched Alicia stop in her tracks. He didn’t realise that he was holding his breath waiting for her to respond. “Cat caught your tongue, Friera?”
Alicia stopped dead, mulling over his words quickly as it suddenly registered the she had given him the false name, and that he knew exactly who she was and what she’d been doing. She turned around slowly to face the huge male.
“Tell me Commander Prick…what crime am I guilty of that you feel the need to take me prisoner? I’m sure I told you I have a flight to catch. Are you deaf as well as ignorant?” Alicia stood still, staring at the angered man before her.
Never before had the phrase ‘Mexican standoff’ suited a situation as it did now.
Xavier’s jaw nearly dropped when she answered him, but he kept his composure as he tilted his head to the side, keeping his voice low and steady.
“I have your laptop, thank you for the gift.” His smirk widened into a wicked smile as he seen the recognition flash in her eyes that she had left it behind with all of her grandstanding. “So, you can go for now, Friera. I will be back for you, I can guarantee it.” Xavier gave a short, sarcastic salute, as he tucked the laptop into his leather jacket, zipped it up and walked, with equal deliberate casualness towards his bike. He was going to play this female at her own damn game.
And I have your name, Alicia hissed to herself as she inhaled deeply. You have just crossed the wrong female!
“Oi! Commander Prick.” She shouted at him, masking the panic in her voice that he had her laptop with all her details on it. “You know fuck all about me or who I am.”
“But thanks to you, I soon will, yeah?” Xavier barked a laugh as he started to walk through the dockyard, making his way back towards where he had hidden his bike. “Don’t miss me too much, female,” shouting over his shoulder at her. As soon as he made it back to base, he would have Shuggie hack into her computer and let it spill all of Friera’s delicious secrets. That female was as good as his!
Chapter Twenty Two
Back at the base, Shuggie shut down the link to the CCTV and waited for Xavier to return. He needed to broach the subject of his nervous breakdown carefully. A man as skilled and deadly as Xavier had to be handled with kid gloves. An hour had passed since he had turned off the computer and he knew Xavier was back when the door to the deserted hotel that they had commandeered flew open and he heard the dulcet tones of his commander announce, “Shug, get your ass over here, asap.” Fixing a nonplussed expression on his face, he walked out to be met by Xavier in the hallway.
“Got a present for you,” Xavier grinned as he handed over Alicia’s laptop to Shuggie.
Shuggie was confused as he took the laptop. “Ah, Commander, where did ye get this?”
Xavier was already in his quarters and starting to undress for a quick shower when he heard Shuggie behind him. “It’s Friera's,” he answered, as though Shuggie should already know that information. “Got it from the docks where I found her.”
Shuggie wanted to shake Xavier and tell him that he had witnessed him talking to himself at the dockyard, that he had been alone the whole time, and there was no way on earth that he could have gotten her laptop from there. Besides, she was a geriatric, and probably didn’t even know what a laptop was never mind own one, even less that she would be down at the dockside using it.
“Friera’s laptop ye say? Xavier, ye dinnae mind me askin but why would ye think it wis Friera’s?”
Xavier turned around and gave Shuggie a withering look.
“Because she was using it when I found her with it. Now stop yammering like a bitch and get to work on it. I want to know everything that’s on there. She probably has contact information on her whole damn gang of thieves in there.”
Shuggie sidestepped as Xavier walked past him towards the bathroom, then stared at the laptop in his hands.
“Ye think Friera is behind the burglaries?” When he got no answer, he mused to himself that maybe the elderly Friera was some sort of pensioner mastermind who crocheted plots to rob wealthy Mafia families in between naps and playing sudoku. “I’ll jist go ahn huv a look at this then, Commander?” Shuggie took the fact that Xavier had now turned on the shower and was singing loudly, obviously trying to drown him out, that was precisely what his Commander wanted him to do.
He shut the door behind him and pulled out his cell as he headed back towards the comms room.
“Doc? Aye lassie, it’s Shuggie. It’s worse than ah first thought...”
Chapter Twenty Three
Word had got back to Belcastro that Xavier had a lead as to who was behind the thefts and the attempted break-in at the main mansion earlier that day.
Snr Belcastro had flown to Mexico from Europe and had arrived back early without notifying any of his people. No one except the chef and housekeeper had known he was home when the attempted robbery had taken place, and as the commotion had started he headed straight for his fortified panic room for safety.
Belcastro, however was more interested in the fact that none of his trusted people had been contacted by this ‘Xavier Raige’ and been given an update by him. Instead, this ‘respected Commander’ had spent less than ten minutes on the grounds before leaving as quickly as he had arrived.
The weight of suspicion was starting to grow that Xavier Raige might in fact be the enemy from within.
****
An hour into the ten hour and forty two minute flight, Alicia turned the overhead light on, pulling out her back up laptop from her carry-on bag.
To say that she was fuming was an understatement after the ‘meeting’ with the huge soldier prick earlier.
She may not be able to erase the hard drive on the stolen laptop, but she could disable her e-mail address, leaving her ‘fun’ one behind. How could she have been so careless to not see him taking her damn computer? He was going to pay for this…Oh boy was he going to pay and she would be the one laughing all the way to the bank as they say.
The airsickness started after two hours airborne, so Alicia closed down the laptop, hugging it close to her — she wasn’t taking any more chances tonight.
****
The only living heir of Snr Belcastro, appropriately named Junior, had been spoiled from the moment he had been born, and a life of money and privilege had landed him in a top spot, studying History and Politics in Oxford University, London, England.
It had nothing to do with intelligence or aptitude, a simple case of not what you know but who you know. And Snr Belcastro knew enough secrets and scandals to enable his pride and joy, Junior, to do just whatever the hell he pleased.
The Belcastro family hadn’t been so successful in health or longevity, however, so Snr Belcastro was playing the long game with his son. He had banked on the fact that if he pandered to his every whim, eventually he would repay him by providing his own son and thus preserving the family name and line.
Tragedy and bad fortune had struck the Belcastro’s through the decades — unfortunate accidents; fires; drowning’s; poisonings — until it was only Snr Belcastro and Junior who were left. Retribution had been handed out by the Belcastro family, but in truth no one had ever been proved to be behind the deaths, and so scapegoats had to be used to keep up the fear and respect of the other families.
However their fortunes would change, Snr Belcastro was convinced. His son was healthy, and had a legendary appetite for female company. It wouldn’t be long before the next in line to the Belcastro name would be conceived and born, and so ensuring the empire would go on for future generations.
Chapter Twenty Four
After a quick freshen up and change of clothes, Xavier shouted down to Shuggie that he would be back late, and decided to drive his SUV to the Belcastro mansion. He wouldn’t take any chances that Friera would attempt to run him down a second time and make him late for the meeting.
When he arrived at the mansion, the atmosphere was decidedly grim and he was marched into the plush, ostentatious office. Snr Belcastro was a small, rotund man with a reddish complexion and a moustache that would give Salvador Dali a run for his money. He must have been quite the dandy in his younger years, but a life of riches and spoils had taken their toll on him. He eyed Xavier like he was something stuck to his shoe and then motioned with a chubby finger for him to take a seat. Xavier looked right, then left, noting that the guards had not been dismissed, but said nothing as he sat opposite Snr Belcastro.
“I’ve been told that you have a lead on the thefts, Commander, and yet...” Snr Belcastro shuffled some papers on his desk, as though to emphasise his next point, “...I have no report from you on such.” A snake like smile formed on his red, balloon face as his eyes tried to peer over the apples of his cheeks.
Xavier relaxed back in his seat, keeping his features unreadable as he processed the information that someone had been enlisted to spy on him.
“If you have proof that I have a lead on the gang of thieves, Senor, then surely whoever was tasked with shadowing me would have furnished you with that information already.” Xavier gave a short smile, before adding, “However, I am a professional, and as such will only confirm facts in reports to my employer when and if I am in a position to do so.” Making a move as if to stand he added, “But it seems that you already have matters in hand, and have no need for my services since you have found it necessary to have me followed.”
He could tell by Snr Belcastro’s change in body language that he had hit the nail on the head, and by the way his voice had started to waver Xavier also knew that Belcastro had more need of him now than ever.
“No need to be so hasty, Commander.” Snr Belcastro was backpedalling at an extraordinary rate for such an unfit man. “Please, please sit down.”
He clapped his hands twice and ordered his finest cigars and Scotch to be brought for the Commander. It took all Xavier’s training not to burst out laughing in his face.
The meeting went on for hours, well into dawn and by the end Xavier had Snr Belcastro eating out the palm of his hand. He had also managed to up the price for the mission by fifty percent, a fact that would only dawn on Snr Belcastro when he sobered up the next day.
It had been a long-ass day and Xavier was beat. He was used to living on the edge and multi-tasking. However with the energy being drained from him with the emergence of his wolf trying to break through, the stirring up of his emotions regarding Sweetcheeks, and the usual fuckery of running an elite mercenary unit he desperately need to lie down and not think for just a couple of hours.
As Xavier closed his eyes his wolf awakened, fighting with him to stay alert. Groaning, Xavier rolled over onto his flat stomach, and buried his head under the pillow, holding the corners tightly in his fists. He was going to sleep and nothing —not even his wolf — was going to stop him.
The minute Xavier’s body relaxed and he drifted into a deep sleep his dreams started again. His subconscious was fucking with him, sneaking in a ninja attack of images of ‘Friera’ and he was helpless to stop them.
Instead of being at the roadside, he was at the docks and could hear Friera calling his name and laughing softly as he ran past the myriad of containers and vehicles, trying to find her.
“Friera….Friera show yourself fucking now!” He was shouting as he ran, every heavy footfall brought a deeper sense of urgency for him to find her. He was losing his cool and wherever he ran, he caught a glimpse of his wolf standing at a distance, watching him as his tail swished slowly. “Shit, Sweetcheeks - where are you?” By now he was racing through the dockside, his arms were pumping at his side, and his knees were high as he ran faster, thigh and calf muscles tight as his feet dug into the dirt.
Xavier’s heart was thundering in his chest, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead and down his spine as he dreamed, his mouth murmuring her name.
In his dream, the sun was beating down punishingly, and he was blinded as he looked up hearing her voice teasing him to find her. Reaching an arm up, he made contact with her ankle and pulled her down off of a container to slam her body against his.
“There you are, Sweetcheeks,” he grinned as he cornered her. “I’ve been looking for you for a long time, yeah.”
Xavier’s pulse was racing as he cupped Friera’s face in his hands and leaned down to kiss her. His tongue swiped across her lush lips and then forced her mouth open to accept him. As their tongues duelled, he slid his hand behind her back, the other bunching her hair between his fingers as he tilted her head to the side to gain more access.
She tasted the same as the first dream he had —sinful cherry and vibrant life — he needed more of her, and as he backed her up against the side of the container, his body was rolling up and down against her.
Friera’s hip was grinding against his as Xavier sucked on her lower lip, tugging it before release as he pulled back slightly and grinned down at her, he had messed her hair up and her eyelids were heavy with lust.
“Take me, Com-an-derr,” she said to him, the Italian accent accentuating the ‘r’ and her big brown eyes full of promise.
“Not here…” Xavier ran his hand over her hip, still keeping grip with his other hand in her tousled chestnut brown locks, “...you deserve better.” With that, Xavier’s dream had them transported into an expensive hotel suite. It was lavishly decorated and bigger than most apartments he had lived in. Standing on the balcony as the sun was setting, the patio doors were open and he thought that they must be somewhere in Europe, but he wasn’t quite sure where. Not that it mattered, as he took Friera’s hand and led her
away from the balcony, through the reception room and into the imperial sized bathroom.
As Xavier kissed Friera again, he started to undress her with gentle attention, his fingers caressing lightly over her skin as he removed her clothes. The shower was already on, and the steam was starting to fill the room. “You’re so fucking beautiful, Sweetcheeks,” he whispered as his eyes moved down her body, drinking her in.
“I’ve been waiting so long...so damn long for you.” Xavier didn’t know why he kept thinking and saying this, but he meant it with every cell in his body. His wolf was scratching at the door outside the bathroom, but he was ignoring it. This was all about him and Friera.
As Xavier dreamed, he started to move towards Friera and realised that he was as naked as she was, even though he hadn’t undressed. The heat was rising and not only from the hot spray and steam of the shower. The blood was boiling in his veins and as his body reacted to seeing her unburdened by her clothes, he was sure that he couldn’t wait much longer to claim her.
“She needs you…needs you…needs you…” an echo of voices sang out in Xavier’s dream but he couldn’t see or feel anyone else in the room. “Protect, defend, the One…” again, he did not recognise the voices, but he didn’t have any concerns. They were just saying what he was thinking — and he didn’t need to be told twice. He knew that Friera was the reason for his existence. He had been waiting for her all his life, and he was certain that it was his duty to shield her, guard her, save her from harm.
The Heist Page 7
