Cradled in a blue blanket sleeps a dark-haired baby boy. He’s sleeping so peacefully, I’m afraid breathing will wake him from his happy dreams. Lifting my gaze from the baby to Xander, I realize he’s watching me.
I smile. “He’s beautiful.”
“He is, and he’s the primary reason I brought you and Damon here. His safety is my biggest importance, and just like you would do for your brother, I will do anything and everything to make certain my son is safe.”
I nod, swallowing past the knot in my throat. Xander is a dark and sadistic man, but watching him hold his son, seeing how much he cares for him, proves there is a deeper, caring side to him I didn’t think existed.
He walks back to the crib, kisses his son once more, and places him back down. Then he turns on his heels and heads straight for me. His facial expression is masked, and I’m afraid of what may happen next.
When his hand touches the small of my back, edging me forward, my knees buckle.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Keira. There is no point. I got what I wanted already, and my brother got what he wanted as well.”
“And what is that?” I gulp, afraid to even ask. We slip out into the hall, and I let him guide me.
“You. He wanted you.”
I exhale sharply, realizing Xander has figured us out. He’s realized I am his brother’s weakness.
“No, he doesn’t want me. He just wants to use me.” I stumble over my words, trying my best to make some of them sound believable.
Xander chuckles. “You’re a terrible liar. Terrible.” He shakes his head, stopping in front of a door to our right.
I’m not sure how long we’ve been walking, but I’m terrified to see what is on the other side. When he twists the knob, I squeeze my lids shut.
Xander ushers me forward, and I assume this room is his torture chamber. My legs wobble, thinking about all the pain and suffering I’m about to experience.
“You don’t have to be afraid of me anymore. Yes, I am very much the monsteryou assume I am, but you’re my brother’s property now, and I will respect that. He has something he cares for greatly, just as do I. We’re even now.”
I open my eyes and realize I’m not being led into a killing room. I’m standing in a huge bedroom with a four-poster king-size bed.
“What happened to his mother? Did you...? Did you kill her?” I scurry away from Xander, wanting to put as much distance between us as I can. The rest of the lights in the room flicker on with my movement, and now I can see Xander’s entire body.
He slides his hands into his front pockets and gives me a somber look. He appears more like a laidback businessman, and less like an unhinged murderer.
“Yes, but not because of you what you’re thinking. She betrayed me. She planned on using our son against me, and I just couldn’t allow that to happen.”
I blink, trying to understand what he’s saying. I can’t wrap my head around everything I’ve learned tonight—and I can’t wait to tell Damon all about it.
When he removes his hands from his pockets and takes a step toward me, I put a hand out to stop him. He smiles, returning to his normal self.
“Loyalty means everything to me, Keira, and even though my relationship with my brother has been turbulent over the years...my brother is still my brother. He is blood, and I will kill anyone who hurts him, including you. Do you understand me?”
I lick my lips. “I would never hurt your brother.” I try to decide whether I want to tell him how much Damon means to me—how much he makes my heart sing and my body shudder.
“I love him. I love him with my entire being. Hurting him isn’t something I’m ever going to do.”
Xander smiles. “I know you won’t hurt him, and I know you love him. I may not be as emotional as my brother, I may not show feelings at all sometimes, but I can tell you love him…simply by showing up here with him. People who love someone do things for others they may not like to do, and you clearly do for him things you may not enjoy.”
“I do. I came for him—partly because I knew he needed me here, and partly because I knew you’d kill me if I didn’t.”
He rolls his eyes, and the look is so unnatural, I almost laugh.
Who the hell is this man?
“Dramatic much?” he scoffs. “I need an actual reason to kill you. Simply not accepting an invitation to dinner isn’t one. Though…not accepting would have sped up the process of me coming back to get you—to push Damon’s hand where I wanted it.”
Chess. This is all a game of chess, and I suppose Xander has everything lined up, ready to steal whatever it is he wants most. He controls the entire board now.
