Chapter 58 – Xavier
Three Weeks Later
My mind had settled a little since we locked Kabir in his basement. During that time, Wilkes had the property condemned as a health hazard and was still working on selling it as park space. Before that, he had concrete poured into all the rooms and the stairwell, sealing off the entire basement with a concealed vent for oxygen. A cruel end but by no means enough to compensate Mikaela or all the girls who’d suffered under Kabir.
Wilkes reported that per the monitor left down there, Andrew lasted about two weeks while Kabir and Tahir were slowly turning into raving lunatics, either from eating rats, living with a dead body for company, or lacking space.
We chose not to update Mikaela, nor did she bother asking. She’d settled into a quiet life of reading, painting, or learning to cook. Regardless, I wanted more for her. After my talk with Luke that day, I decided to take her future into my hands and make her choose something more viable.
Three weeks later, I remained torn. Still, it had to be done.
I was sitting at my desk in my study, staring out my window, when Mikaela cleared her voice and shifted my gaze to meet hers, her beautiful smile in place. I’d asked her to meet me here since I had no idea how she’d react to my decision. At the time, this seemed like neutral ground. Given I’d fucked her over my desk, that would remain a point of contention, depending on who argued it.
“You sent for me?”
I nodded and pointed to the chair on the opposite side of my desk. Her frown was a clear indication that my formality confused her. Slowly, my stomach churning, I slid the brown folder I’d stared at for so long I could make out the wood pigmentation in the paper toward her. She picked it up and riffled through the contents, pausing occasionally to study something.
Done, she looked at me. “What is this?”
“It’s everything you need to start a new life. Passport. A bank account with enough money to live the life you deserve. Access to the jet. Wilkes will stay with you until you don’t need him anymore. He’ll help you settle into a suitable home and arrange full-time staff. Housekeeper, driver...” I trailed off, hating the finality my words created.
“I don’t understand.” She stared at me, her eyes growing more confused by the second.
“You deserve freedom, Ella,” I said quietly, unsure how else I could word it for it to mean anything other than a goodbye.
“Don’t I have that already?” God, she was so sweetly innocent. It hurt.
“You recall your conversation with Mark when he said that once you learn to believe in your strength and understand you can make decisions for yourself, it will be easier to differentiate between men?”
“Yes. Between men like Kabir and you.”
“And why you need to go out into the world and discover what you’ve missed out on.”
Slowly she shook her head, dropping her gaze to the floor. “You’re sending me away?” she murmured, her voice thick with unshed tears. “Why? Did I do something wrong?”
My head and heart fighting a war for control, I tried to ignore both. “No, love.” I stood and moved around to her side. With my arse leaning against the table edge, I palmed her cheeks, forcing her eyes back to mine. Her crestfallen look shaved my intention to do the right thing. I’d be selfish if I didn’t. “You’ve done nothing wrong. You’re a beautiful twenty-four-year-old woman. You have your whole—”
“Twenty-four?” she asked, surprised.
