“He doesn’t care about me. Not really.” I wave a hand. “He just sees me as his property.”
“It seems that way, but I saw him watching you like?—”
At Ben’s abrupt silence, I look up at him and tap his arm. “Like what?”
My foster brother inhales deeply before blowing it back out. “He looks at you like he’ll die without you.”
I burst out laughing, the sound bouncing off the walls. The alcohol swirling in my veins only adds to my hilarity and my disbelief.
“That’s ridiculous,” I say. “Have you met Xavier? He has no fucks to give and doesn’t need anyone. Maybe you’re the one who’s drunk.”
When Ben doesn’t laugh, or even crack a smile, my amusement dies. Instead, his expression hardens, seriousness etched into his features.
“I’m not joking,” he says. “You might not see it, but I’ve known him a lot longer, and there’s something going on with him when it comes to you.”
“I’ve known him lo?—”
By some miracle, I slap a hand on my mouth, muffling my drunken confession. I never told Ben that Xavier killed Frank all those years ago. And I definitely didn’t disclose the fact that I had a brief conversation with Xavier—afterstabbing him.
At first I kept that information a secret because I was freaked out and needed time to process everything, but as the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, I couldn’t find the courage. If I’m honest with myself, it wasn’t only that.
Xavier made me feel important.
Ben threatened to kill for me, but Xavier actually fuckingdid.
“What were you going to say?” Ben asks me.
I let my hand fall away. “I can’t remember. I thought I was going to puke. Are we there yet?”
He smiles at me and shakes his head. “You act like we’re hiking Mount Everest.”
“Feels like it.”
Ben stops in front of a door that I assume is Xavier’s. I stare at it blankly. My foster brother takes my wrist and flattens my palm against the panel, and the door unlocks with a click.
“That shit is so cool,” I say.
“My tech empire had a hand in designing it.”
I look up at Ben and smile at the pride in his voice. “That’s a-maz-za-zing.”
He groans. “I don’t know if I should leave you alone.”
“I’m fine. I’m just busting your balls.”
“Okay then. Go inside.” He juts his chin at the doorway. “Promise me you won’t open the door for anyone. You’re protected under your bride title, but that doesn’t mean one of these fuckers won’t try something with Xavier gone. If he’s not back by the morning, I’ll come get you.”
“I promise I won’t open the door. Goodnight.”
“Night.”
Turning toward the room, I walk inside, letting the door lock behind me. Ben’s words repeat themselves in my mind, a riddle that makes my head pound more than the alcohol. Xavier looks at me like he’ll die without me?
Yeah, right. What do I have that he can’t get from any other woman? Especially with someone like Brenda actively wanting him?
The buzz from before lessens significantly after I chug a lot of water. Then I collapse on the bed and stare at the ceiling until my thoughts quiet. The room doesn’t spin as much anymore, and I sigh in relief.
A knock on the door a few minutes later has me stumbling across the room. I squint at the monitor, trying to make out the image that looks like Ben wearing a hoodie. He must’ve changed his mind about leaving me alone in my drunken state.
