Page 50 of Xavier

“Dad, please. I’m an adult, so I get to decide what happens in my life. I’m not going to be locked up in a tower like a princess. I have a life to live.”

I mentally roll my eyes. When the rich encounter a problem, they leave and find a resort because there’s no problem serious enough that a massage and a cocktail can’t fix.

“Don’t be so dramatic, Bri. You’re not going to be locked up in a tower. It’s a nice house away from here.”

The mayor sounds fed up with this conversation, like he wants her to obey his every demand, but Brianna is stubborn and strong-willed.

“Where is this so-called nice house?” Brianna’s tone is demanding, as if she won’t consider going unless she knows where this house is.

“I can’t tell you that, but please trust me. I only want what’s best for you.”

It sounds like John has a safe house somewhere, but why would the mayor of a small town need a safe house?

Brianna rolls her eyes and puts her hand on her hip. “How do you have another house, a nice house I might add, that Mom and I don’t know about?”

Elizabeth, who has been silently observing this conversation from the side, now speaks up. “We have another house, John?”

All eyes are on him as the three of us wait for an explanation.

His gaze flits from Elizabeth’s, to Brianna’s, to mine. “There’s no time to explain right now.”

Neither woman budges. Simultaneously, they cross their arms.

John glances between the two women that he loves and sighs. “Fine. I’ll tell you everything if Brianna agrees to go to the other house.”

Everyone turns their attention to Brianna.

“Fine. I’ll go home and start packing.”

Brianna turns toward the main doors and walks away, but Elizabeth stops her. “Wait, I’ll ride with you and help you pack.”

Brianna looks like she’s about to breathe fire.

Was she planning on running away instead of going home to pack?

The two of them walk outside, leaving me alone with John. I feel awkward standing here. I should have left ages ago.

I could be drinking an ice cold beer and cleaning up my own yard.

“Xavier, I need to ask you a huge favor.”

Shit. I knew I should have left a long time ago. He’s going to ask me to babysit her. I just know it.

“Yeah?” I ask, hoping it’s something different from what I’m imagining.

“How do you feel about an all expenses paid vacation to Florida?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “I thought you didn’t want her in Florida?”

“I didn’t want her at a resort. The house is in a remote town about a half hour from St. Augustine.”

“A couple hours’ drive isn’t too bad, and it’s close enough that we can be back in no time.”

I mull over the proposition, but I still have things to do here.

“If I didn’t have to clean up from the storm, I would help you out because I’m on your side. Brianna needs protection until these men are found.”

“I’ll handle the cleanup. You just keep my baby safe.”

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