Page 19 of Out of the Darkness

She bristled at his remark, her guard beginning to rise. She didn’t trust the FBI any more than she trusted the police, and she didn’t like the way he was already speaking to her. It felt like he was implying that she was some kind of hussy. Who she slept with and how well she knew them beforehand was none of his concern.

“Excuse me?”

“As I said, I’ve been tracking him for quite some time.” He must have seen the look on her face because he quickly continued. “Don’t be embarrassed. A lot of women find themselves incapable of resisting his charms. However, lately, his sole focus seems to be on you. Why do you think that is?”

Madelyn wasn’t even going to try to figure out how he knew that Xavier was focused on her or how he knew they had slept together. But the way he was talking made it sound like he believed the two of them were in a relationship instead of the fact that Xavier was stalking her. Though, after last night, she didn’t know where they stood anymore.

“I assure you I have no idea,” she replied truthfully through clenched teeth.

If Agent Marks noticed how irritated she was becoming with him and the conversation, he didn’t let on. “Ms. Hart, I feel like I should warn you about the kind of guy you are getting into bed with.”

“I really don’t see how that’s any of your business,” she snapped.

She didn’t like how this interaction was going at all. It seemed very unprofessional and felt more like the guy was here on some kind of personal vendetta. It was in the way he spoke to her and the tone of his voice. Why else would he bring up the other women Xavier had been with and attempt to ‘warn’ her about him? There was no way it was solely out of the goodness of his heart. There was malice and contempt there; she just didn’t know why.

“Were you aware that he was a hired gun for the Cortez Family?” he asked her pointedly as though he hadn’t heard her.

Despite it being damn near impossible, Madelyn forced her face to remain impassive as she said nothing. Meanwhile, her heart began to race in her chest, and her mouth had suddenly gone dry. She had known that he had killed before last night; he had admitted as much to her. But she had no idea he had been a hitman, of all things. Though she guessed it made sense.

From what she knew, which wasn’t much at all, hitmen were required to learn everything they could about their target. Xavier may not have been trying to kill her, but he had done his research on her as well. He knew things about her that not many people did.

Madelyn had also never heard of the ‘Cortez’ family, but she figured they had to be some kind of crime family. She made a mental note to do some googling later, once she got rid of the good agent.

“Rodrigo, the head of the family, took Xavier in after he had killed his father at the age of eleven,” Marks continued to explain. “Because Xavier didn’t have anyone else, Rodrigo raised him himself as if he were his own son, but he raised him to be a weapon. Though, that didn’t take much considering he was already messed up and had killed his own father.” He shook his head as if in disgust. “For years, Xavier dutifully followed Rodrigo, killing whoever he was told to without question or hesitation, and quickly climbed the ranks. He was paid handsomely for it too, including Rodrigo’s daughter. Our sources say that they were inseparable, and everyone thought the two of them would marry. But then, eight months ago, he just up and left the family, breaking Rodrigo’s daughter’s heart.”

“Maybe he was just tired of being used,” she quipped, unsure of what else to say.

She was struggling to process this information while also trying to determine how much of it was true. While she had wanted answers, and it seemed like she was finally getting some, she didn’t like what she was hearing. Then again, all of it was contingent on whether or not this guy could be believed. She wasn’t so sure of that anymore.

He laughed, actually laughed at her comment. “My dear, Xavier wasn’t being used. He enjoyed the killing; he enjoyed inflicting pain. He lived for it, in fact.” He looked at her pointedly, a smirk playing across his lips. “I really hope you aren’t expecting him to fall in love with you or anything because he’s a monster and incapable of feeling things like love or empathy. He’s incapable of anything but pain and torment, and he would destroy an innocent girl such as yourself.”

“Is there a reason you came by to talk to me?” she asked him. She was getting tired of whatever game he was playing here. He didn’t know the first thing about her or what she had been through. She didn’t want or need him to try to protect her if that was even what he was doing. It seemed as though he was just here to try to drive a wedge between her and Xavier.

Whatever was going on was between him and Xavier. She wanted no part in it whatsoever.

Agent Marks opened his mouth as if he were about to respond, but the front door suddenly flew open so hard it banged into the wall. Madelyn screamed in surprise, jumping to her feet as Xavier stormed around the corner. His eyes narrowed at Agent Marks, and his hands balled into fists at his sides.

The traitorous butterflies in her stomach went wild at the sight of him. He was wearing a tight black T-shirt and jeans with his signature boots. His hair was tousled, and even with the frown marring his features, he was like a walking wet dream. And he was pissed. However, it was clear that it wasn’t directed at her as his eyes were locked on Agent Marks.

“Well-well-well. Look what the cat dragged in,” Marks chided, rising to his feet. “Long time no see, Xavier.”

Xavier closed the distance between him and the agent in just a few strides before he slammed his fist against the side of his face. “You have a problem with me, you come after me. Leave her the fuck out of it!” he roared.

“Xavier!” Madelyn squealed, rushing forward and grabbing his arm before he could hit him again and get them both into even more trouble. “You can’t just go around punching federal agents! What’s wrong with you?”

“Federal Agent?” Xavier sneered, not taking his eyes off Marks. “That’s a new low, even for you.”

Marks laughed and spat a glob of blood and spit onto her floor. “It worked, didn’t it? It got me in the door.”

“Wait,” Madelyn stated bluntly. “You’re not with the FBI?”

“Not even close,” Marks replied. “I had to get you to trust me somehow. Tell me something, Xavier. I’m curious. Is her pussy better than Isabelle’s?”

This time, Madelyn didn’t try to stop him and even took a step back as Xavier took another swing at the guy. The sound of flesh striking flesh filled the room as Marks’ head snapped to the side, but she didn’t feel the least bit sorry for him.

She should have known he wasn’t a real agent. She should have listened to her instincts when she started getting a bad feeling about him. If the FBI did know all that stuff about Xavier, and if it was even true, then he would have been in prison a long time ago. Which begged the question: Who was he really, and what did he want with her?

Chapter Nine

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