Chapter 49 – Xavier
Over the last fourdays, Mikaela remained on edge. I didn’t blame her. Sharing her past had taken a lot out of her, more so reliving the horror of her mother’s death. She clung to me, and I gave her all the comfort I could while Andrew sat bound and gagged in a cell much like Mikaela’s green room. As long as he refused to talk, I’d keep him there, not caring about his status or family. He was done for anyway. Reports had already made its way through the press about Andrew’s disappearance resulting from his alleged ties to human trafficking—a subtle leak instigated by Wilkes’ intelligent team I was glad I had on my side.
“Are you okay?” I reached for Mikaela’s hand.
In a beautiful white dress that seemed to give her height and bring out the blue swirls in her dual eyes, she sat across from me, her nervous gaze darting around the restaurant. To take her mind off recent events, I took her to dinner. While still wary of large crowds, my presence always eased her tension. Although the spacious setup provided ample privacy, the other patrons made her anxious.
Her gaze came back to mine, her smile light. “Yes.” She slipped her hand into mine. “It’s a pretty place,” she said, still reliant on her crux words.
Nodding, I glanced around, taking in the cream and gold décor lit by soft lighting that created a delicate ambiance ideal for calming her. Given the restaurant’s exclusive patronage obtained only by advanced booking, Wilkes and Ramone were allowed to sit at a table on the opposite side. Notwithstanding the fair-sized dance floor spanning the space between them and us, their attendance further comforted Mikaela. Alert, they refused to eat despite my insistence they order.
With a quick acknowledgment to them, I brought my gaze back to Mikaela. “Would you like to try something other than broth today?”
Her regular meal was soup, and although she attempted varying dishes, the portions were always small, ultimately returning to her comfort food. Beth and I decided never to push her until she indulged herself.
She nodded. “You can order for me.”
Smiling, I scanned the menu looking for something that would be easy on her stomach yet a pleasure to her taste buds. My attention distracted from her for barely a moment, I wasn’t sure which registered first:
The soft approach of feet signaling the waiter’s arrival, Mikaela squeezing my fingers, or her loud gasp. I looked up to find her eyes rounded in shock, her fear palpable in her flared nostrils, and her chest rising and falling in choked breaths.
It took a second to realize her eyes were riveted on the man standing between us. Frowning, I lifted my gaze to the smiling waiter, one hand holding a bottle of wine, the other hidden under a napkin draped over it.
“Ella,” I soothed.
In response, her gaze shifted to mine, her nails digging into the back of my hand, still linked with hers. Slowly her head shook from side to side, her wide eyes filling with panic I hadn’t seen before, her mouth opened and closed, resembling a dying fish.
“What’s wrong, love?” She began trembling, her eyes jumping back to the other man before she shot to her feet and backed away. “Mikaela.” I quickly stood, catching Wilkes’ movement in my periphery.
“Don’t move, Xavier!” The explosion of a gunshot had Mikaela slapping her hands to her ears and dropping to her knees. While the rest of the restaurant broke into a cacophony of screams and rushing feet, probably hampering Wilkes and Ramone’s passage, I spun around, coming face to face with a gun aimed at me. The other end was attached to the waiter’s hand.
Fighting the urge to go to a shaking Mikaela, I looked at the gunman. “Who are you?” I ground out, keeping my anger at bay.
He cocked the gun, loading another round into the chamber. “Move, and he’ll fucking die,” he yelled, telling me that my security team was behind me. “Lower your fucking guns!” He withdrew another weapon from behind him and pointed it at them, keeping the first one trained on me. “Back the fuck away,” he warned.
“Do it,” I heard Wilkes, probably directing Ramone to obey. If I knew him well, Wilkes wouldn’t chance it until he assessed the situation.
“Who the fuck are you,” I asked again, this time taking a step toward the waiter.
He waved a gun from side to side, warning me to stay put. His lips widened in a slow smile before he shifted his gaze to Mikaela. Every inch of me tensed into protective mode. I looked at her, barely keeping my shit together. With her head bowed, hands clasped in prayer to her chest, her eyes were closed. Instinctively, I knew the name of my adversary.
Kabir Shah?
