I don’t know how this guy knows all of this information, but he can go fuck himself.Hard.
“What do you want?” I snap.
Although I can’t see his eyes, I can feel the heat of his gaze as it sweeps over me from head to foot, returning to my face. I scrutinize him in return, wishing I could kill him with a single glance.
“What Iwantand what I intend to do are two separate things,” he says. The unknown meaning behind his words both piques my curiosity and terrifies me. “All you need to know is that you’re safe.”
A harsh laugh bursts from me. “Really?” I give him a pointed look. “I don’t believe that shit for a second.”
He nods. The moonlight streaming through the window glides over the lower half of his face, revealing sculpted lips twisted in a smirk, a nearly straight nose, and a square chin. The youthfulness of his features contrasts heavily with the aura of danger surrounding him. He can’t be much older than Ben, yet he commands the room as if bearing the experience of a man a decade older.
I glance at the knife on the floor, silently calculating the seconds it would take for me to grab it and stab this guy. Again. Only this time, I wouldn’t have the element of surprise.
“Don’t even think about it,” he says.
“I thought I was safe?”
“You’re safe from the world, but not from me.”
Fear streaks through my veins, making my heart beat dangerously fast. I fist my hands at my sides to curb my impulse to reach for the fallen weapon. “What does that even mean?”
“Listen carefully, little raptor.” I bristle at the stupid nickname but remain silent when he continues speaking. “Frank won’t ever threaten you or anyone else ever again. I promise you, Delilah.”
I don’t know what shocks me more: the idea of my foster parent no longer being a danger to me, or the fact that this stranger said my name like heknowsme. My legs threaten to buckle at the renewed adrenaline rush flooding my system. I glare at the man while reining in my body’s need for action.
“What do you mean? Is Frank gone? You’re not making any sense.”
“Aren’t I?” He tilts his head. “Let me be clear: I killed him… but not before torturing an apology on your behalf from him. Once your name crossed his lips, I removed his tongue for saying it in the first place. Now do you understand?”
The air thickens with malevolence. It seeps into my body, clogging my lungs and making it difficult to breathe. My breaths come out in tiny pants as his words fully penetrate my mind.
The stranger makes his way up the stairs with a lethal grace that I admire, although I’d never admit it. He might be young, but his every move speaks of power and authority. That’s as much a part of him as his skin.
I throw out my hands and press my spine against the wall. “Stay back.” My high-pitched voice has me mentally cringing atthe show of weakness. My warning holds no more power than I do at this moment.
He stops. Stunned, I can only stare helplessly as he slowly folds his arms across his chest. With him being on the same level, he towers over me, looming like a demon despite proclaiming to be my guardian angel.
“Why?” My whispered question is the only sound in the night. As I wait for his response, I swear my heart is going to burst out of my chest.
“Why?” he repeats softly. “Becauseno onetouches what’s mine.”
Despite this man breaking into the house and admitting to murder, I can’t stifle the righteous indignation that surges through my body. I lift my chin in defiance. “I’m not yours.”
“Not yet.”
I part my lips to say something appropriate to that ridiculous statement, like a “fuck you” or “kiss my ass,” but he turns around and descends the steps without another word.
My head spins until I grow dizzy and sit down on the carpet to avoid fainting.
What—and I can’t stress this enough—the fuck just happened?
Chapter 4
XAVIER
The crisp morning air rushes past my body, tugging at my clothing like a needy girlfriend. My motorcycle hums louder when I twist the throttle. I rush down the freeway going faster than is advised and not giving a fuck. This is one of the few times I’m in complete control of my life.
Too soon, the large gates of my father’s mansion come into view, forcing me to slow down. And shift my mind back to reality. The wrought-iron gate slowly swings open, and I ride through, dreading this encounter.
