“Oh maybe. Okay. Well, in that case, yeah. Just leave her alone, and we'll just hope that she doesn't go to the police."
“I didn’t mean to –.”
“Now you listen to me, you son of a bitch! You work for me! I’m in charge. Got it! Me! So what I say goes! So if I say I want you to take care of her, I mean I want you to take care of her. Understood?”
“Yeah, boss I understand. I’m just saying that maybe –.”
“Handle it God damn it!”
He and pulled the phone away from his ear when the call ended. He should know better than to second guess, Mr. Giancano. He owed him. He owed him everything.
Still, of all the jobs he’d been asked to do, this was his least favorite. She seemed to be such a sweet girl. And at such a young age she had her whole life ahead of her.
Had, being the key word in the equation.
She would no longer have a future. What Mr. Giancano wanted, he always got. No one crossed him. Ever.
It was how things were. He ran these streets. The Giancano family owned him, and it was either Elizabeth or himself.
He shook his head and looked up at her building. “What a damn shame.”
Chapter Twelve
Xavier stepped up off of the makeshift podium they’d set up in the abandoned warehouse. Most of The Hollows had since left once he’d addressed their more pressing questions. It was probably the most surreal meeting that their kind had ever known.
It hadn’t been easy for him to admit aloud and to the others that he felt as though he was losing control of his powers. He saw the pain in his brother’s eyes when someone had put Dante on the spot asking if he was ready to kill for their kind to ensure the rest of their existence.
Painfully Dante had said he would do his duty and fulfill the legacy, but Xavier knew it was no easier for him than it was on Xavier.
“You okay, man?”
Max, one of their kind that Dante and Xavier had grown up with always felt like more of a brother to them than just a friend.
“As okay as I can be, I suppose.”
“Listen,” Dante walked up behind them. “Nothing is set in stone yet. We still don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“We can’t chance everyone’s existence on what ifs, little brother.” Xavier reminded him.
Though he was trying to be strong, deep down his heart was dying inside. The reality that he may only have a day, or two at most, left with Elizabeth was the type of pain he didn’t want to consider.
He knew once his brother killed him he would be banished to hell along with Andras. There would be no staying behind to watch her from afar to make sure she’s safe. He’d have to trust Dante to make sure that she was protected. And while there was no one else in this world he trusted more. It still destroyed him to know that he may never get to see her again.
“Dante’s right, man. We still don’t know for certain that you’re changing.” Max reminded him.
“We don’t know I’m not either.”
"Well, I'm not speculating on your life, X."
"Just remember what you promised me," Xavier said.
“Something I should know about?”
The two brothers eyed one another, neither of them sure if they should say anything when Max’s persistence urged them on.
“Come on you guys. I’ve been working these streets with you guys since we first learned how to walk. You know you can trust me.”
Dante eyed Xavier. “He’s right, man. You know we can.”
“This is too important to me, Dante.”
“All the more reason to let Max in on it. What if you are changing? What if something were to happen to me? You know Max would be next in line to lead The Hollows. I don’t think we have a choice, man. We gotta tell him.”
“Tell me what? Would one of you tell me what the hell is going on, please?”
Xavier motioned for Max to take a seat. “You’re probably going to want to sit down for this one.”
“Alright.” Max sat and waited.
Xavier paced the room several times before turning back to face the two men. “I broke the covenant.”
“What? When? How?” Max asked.
“I don’t know how, and it happened fast. So fast that I didn’t even know what hit me at first.”
“Wait a minute. Which covenant are you talking about?”
"The human one," Xavier answered.
“Wait a minute.” Max stood up. “The human one. You mean to tell me that you mated with a human?”
“No. Not yet anyway. But I did fall in love with her.”
“Who?”
“Max, does any of this really matter?” Xavier pleaded, suddenly feeling very exposed.
“You’re damn right it matters. You know the rules. We’re here to protect humans. Not get involved with them. That was the deal. That was the mission given to us for what Andras did.”
“Max this isn’t helping.” Dante interrupted.
“Helping or not, man…” Max ran his fingers through his hair. “Shit, X. A human? I mean… how would that even work?”
“You think I have answers to any of these questions, Max? I didn’t exactly set out to fall in love with her. She was an innocent for crying out loud. I thought I was just saving her at first. But then…” Xavier let out a sigh and shook his head. “Shit. Things got complicated.”
“Damn right shit got complicated. A human, X? A God damned human?”
Max continued to look at Xavier as though he was sporting a third head or a couple of extra dozen eyes.
“I don’t think any of this is helping, okay?” Dante said.
“I’m sorry, man. But it’s not like this is small news. I mean it’s a –.”
“A human.” Xavier and Dante replied in unison.
“Yeah I got it, Max. It’s a big deal. I know. As hard as it is for you to comprehend, imagine it from my point of view. Add on top of that the possibility that my brother might have to kill me in a couple of days because our diabolical ancestor decided it would be a good idea to screw with the Prince of Darkness and I just have a little bit on my place right now. So forgive me if your state of shock and worry are not the most pressing on my mind.”
Xavier bit out his reply. The full effect of the cluster fuck he'd become a part of finally hitting him full force all at once.
“Wow.” Max looked over at Dante and then Xavier. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I can only imagine how hard this is for you.”
“It’s alright. I’m just… shit, I don’t know what I am anymore.”
“You got a lot on your plate, brother. We both understand.”
“Listen, X. I may not be your brother by blood. But we are connected by who we are. And I want you to know that I, not just as a Hollow, but as your friend, have your back.”
"Her name is Elizabeth," Xavier explained. "I've told Dante all I know about her. And in the coming day or whatever time I have left, I will find out more."
“Alright.” Max nodded.
"I need your assurance that when I'm gone, she'll be safe. I know she's an innocent and it's your duty to protect them all. But she's special. She comes first. Always.”
“X… come on, man. We don’t even know if –.”
“Just promise me, Max. I need to hear you say it. I know Dante will look out for her. But I need to know, that no matter what happens to me or my brother that she will be shielded from all evil.”
“Alright. You have my word.”
Max held out his hand and shook Xavier’s, squeezing tightly as he looked into each other’s eyes. He knew the sincerity that was looking back at him. Max’s word was one of the strongest he’d ever known. Elizabeth would be safe.
Regardless of what happened to him, he could at least suffer his fate in hell knowing that she would alright.
She was all that mattered. Everything else paled in comparison.
Chapter Thirteen
After a long and hot shower, Elizabeth had laid down for a sho
rt nap. Her shift hadn't been very tiring, but staying up most of the night talking with Xavier had come at the price of a few yawns. Looking forward to another evening with him, she woke up feeling hopeful for a night even better than the one they'd shared before.
A part of her felt sad when her hand only met with the soft pillow beside her. Xavier’s chest served as a much better fit for sleeping and curling up against.
Where was he, she wondered? Where did he and his brother go? There were so many questions she had and very little that he had answered.
He’d said they’d talk that night. And a smile crept up her face from ear to ear when she laid there waiting for him to appear. At least he hadn’t gone far.
The bathroom door opened, startling her for a moment until she saw him standing only feet away. He was so handsome. His short dark hair seemed almost to disappear and become one continuous trail as it met with the five o'clock shadow that he never seemed able to rid himself of.
His olive toned skin was tight, warm and inviting. Her mind wandered to what all of him may look like, and a blush warmed her when the image was a bit of a tease to her imagination.
He laughed when she held out a hand to him and said, “Come here.”
He took a few steps closer to the bed and slid in beside her. “No. You come here. I need to hold you.”
Just like she was made for his arms and no one else’s, she rolled into his chest and snuggled close.
She took a deep breath and reveled in his masculine scent. It wasn't fresh and clean like right after a shower. Instead, it was musky and manly, rugged, only like a true man could be.
“Wait. When did you get here?” she asked.
He shrugged while trailing his fingertips along the small of her back. “About an hour ago. You were sleeping so peacefully. I didn’t want to wake you.”
“How did you get in?” she asked, positive that she’d locked the dead bolt.
“You gave me a key.” He answered.
Her body stiffened with his reply. "No, I didn't, Xavier."
“Baby, let’s just relax and enjoy this moment, okay?”
“Xavier, I’ve never had an extra key to this place. Why are you lying to me? How did you get in?”
She felt his body tense with her question, and it scared her to think what he may be hiding.
His silence hurt more than his lie. She had already fallen in love him. For the first time in her life, she knew what it was like to know the type of love her parents had before her father had died.
Why was Xavier trying to ruin that?
“Xavier, you’ve lied to me twice today. Why won’t tell me what’s going on?”
He pulled her in closer and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I will, Elizabeth. I promise I will. I just need a little more time.”
“How much more?”
“Just a little tiny bit more.”
“Then you’ll tell me?” she asked.
“Yes, I’ll tell you everything.”
She drew in several deep breaths, trying to keep her nerves from completely unraveling. Whether it be from hope or blind faith, she found enough resolve within herself to believe in his word.
Closing her eyes, she rested against his chest and wrapped her arms around him.
Please let him be here when I wake.
Please…
Chapter Fourteen
He’d been sitting across the street from The Lexington for hours. The boss had called him so many times in the past hour alone he was afraid to even answer another call. To say Mr. Giancano was growing impatient was a massive understatement.
Paul Giancano waited for no one and accepted no excuses. When he wanted something done, it got done. Simple as that. And if it didn’t, whoever was to blame would be done themselves.
Like a ruthless dictator, Giancano ran this town with a brutal iron fist, showing compassion to no one, not even his own sons.
He'd once heard stories of how Giancano had gunned down his uncle in an argument over a Gin Rummy game. That kind of diabolical and unforgiving evil was not the type he never cared to be on the receiving end of. Ever.
Still here he sat in the front seat of a vehicle paid for by the same dirty money that funded much of the Giancano cartel. He was mixed up in a world that he wanted no part of.
The sirens of an ambulance blared in the distance as a police cruiser raced by his window. He wondered how a sweet young thing like Elizabeth Hawthorn wound up in one of the most run-down parts of Los Angeles.
She spoke well, seemed fairly educated and seemed to have a good head on her shoulder. So he couldn’t understand what she was doing there.
He pictured her more of a soccer mom in training type. Of course, that would probably mean that she would have to have a man in her life at some point. And all his digging had warranted little information of anyone serious in her life, not even a casual boyfriend.
She seemed completely alone in this big city. A place that would most likely swallow up good girls like her, chew them up and spit them out.
He no sooner had the thought when he realized that was exactly what was going to happen to her. And the worst part of it was that he was going to be the asshole who wound up doing it to her.
A nauseating feeling hit him knowing that she was a good kid who by circumstances out of her control would be a victim of this crime riddled, Giancano ruling city.
Damn if he didn’t despise himself for ever getting involved with the crime family. The boss was making a special point to make sure Elizabeth was dealt with quietly and swiftly before she became too associated with The Top Hat, drawing attention from the local police.
No way was he going to be the one to screw up or piss off the boss. He had his own family to think of. No matter how much it pained him to have to kill Elizabeth, he’d rather it be her than any of his loved ones.
Lord knew Giancano had no problem with crossing the lines into families just to make a point. He didn’t want to test that theory now, or ever.
He just needed to get it over and done with. The more he thought it, though, the more he could feel his body tense under the pressure. Something just didn't seem right about this job. And it was more than just them offing some poor girl who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. There was trouble brewing. He could sense it.
Pushing his tenth cigarette out the window he drummed his fingers along the steering wheel, waiting for what would be a good time to head upstairs and finish things once and for all.
Something caught his attention, and he looked up at the windows of The Lexington. He couldn't be certain, but the window that he'd thought to be Elizabeth's apartment had a man standing in it. And if his paranoia wasn't getting to him, the man was looking straight down at him.
He froze in place. Not moving, like a bee was about to sting him. There was something menacing about the man who he didn't recognize but seemed to be looking straight at him.
He couldn’t place where, but somewhere he’d seen the man before.
It was odd. He was sure Elizabeth had no one in her life. She’d never mentioned anyone to coworkers. He’d done enough digging to know that she did little going out unless he were to count trips to the local market.
So who was the stranger peering down at him?
And what was he doing with Elizabeth Hawthorn?
Chapter Fifteen
Elizabeth was in the kitchen cracking open some eggs into a bowl when she felt Xavier’s presence. She smiled but didn’t turn to face him.
“Did you sleep well?”
Xavier rubbed at his stubble riddled jaw, obviously still sleepy and grinned. “Yeah babe, I slept great. How could I not sleep great with you lying beside me.”
Walking over to her he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer for a kiss. “How about you?”
She turned into his arms and laced her fingers behind his neck. "I slept like a baby. Though with it being nearly one in the morning, I'm sure I'll be dragging tomorrow. How are
you?"
"Absolutely fantastic." He answered. “Thanks to you.”
“Me huh? Why’s that?”
“Because…” He kissed her lips ever so gently. “You make everything better.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Does that mean that you’re going to tell me what’s going on?”
He let out a sigh.
“Xavier, please.”
“I know. You have questions. You deserve answers. I know I need to give them to you.”
“Okay, so if you know this then what’s the problem?”
He brushed a stray hair and tucked it behind her ear. “You want to know the truth?”
“That’s what I’ve been asking for haven’t I?”
“I’m scared.”
She stared into the depths of his eyes. His trepidation was real. Xavier was a man that she could never image knowing fear. Yet as he stood before her he saw just how worried he really was.
“I don’t know what has you so troubled, but I care about you. I care about you more than you know. All I can ask is that you trust me.”
“I do. It’s not that. I just need to find the words to try and make you understand.”
The smell of burning bacon tore her attention away from Xavier. “Oh shoot.”
She grabbed the pan from the burner and quickly used the tongs to set the crispy, nearly blackened bacon on a towel covered plate.
“Here, go sit down.” She shooed him toward the table. “We’ll talk. And you’ll see it’ll be okay.”
“Okay.”
She saw the uncertainty in his eyes and wondered what could make a man who seemed larger than life so terrified.
Whatever it was she had to believe that whatever it may be that they’d get through it together. She wasn’t willing to accept any other option.
A few minutes later she'd finished scrambling the eggs and brought them to the table. He'd sat fairly quiet the entire time, watching her as she moved about the small kitchenette.
“I hope everything tastes alright. I don’t cook often. Or ever.” She laughed, but a piece of her heart sank when he was only able to return a small smile.
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