Page 138 of The Penalty

Xavier closed his eyes, his expression oscillating between anguish and annoyance. “Nothing is broken.” The heat behind his stare when he looked at me added emphasis to his words. A marked heaviness edged his tone. “Nothing will ever be broken between us.”

“How did you know I went to see him?”

“Bennet texted me when your taxi pulled up here.”

My mouth popped open. “He had me followed?”

“Apparently.”

“You’re not angry with me?”

He remained quiet long enough for me to regret asking.

“With you? No,” he finally said. “I’m not happy you put yourself in that situation but I get it.” Our eyes locked. “Although the possibility of losing you terrified me.”

A lump burned in my throat. When I rubbed along the column of my neck, Xavier placed his hand over mine.

“He hurt you.” His voice lowered to a dangerous decibel as the atmosphere turned ominous. “What happened?”

Telling him everything will trigger a series of events that cannot be undone. A long silence passed before I answered.

“I told him to leave you alone or I’ll have him formally charged with rape for what he did to my sister.” My lips thinned into a tense line. “He didn’t like that so I ended up in a chokehold.”

Slow, poisonous rage crept into Xavier’s eyes. “I see. Is there anything else?”

I nodded, relaying what Jordan said about my dad and the investments, and his threats to destroy me and my family if I ever went to the authorities. “I don’t know if he’s lying about the investments. I need to talk to my father.” I conveniently left out the part where he pressed his dick against my body.

“Is there more?”

“He threatened to go after you.”

A small, joyless laugh shook his body for a moment. “Nothing new there.” The feel of his hand on my thigh alleviated some stress. I almost relaxed into the cushions. Almost. Xavier’s anger rolled in like a wave, slow and calculating as it devoured everything in sight but when he spoke, his tone was smooth and even-tempered.

“What aren’t you telling me, Tori?”

“He, um,” I swallowed, attempting to control the obvious shake in my voice. “He had a tight hold on me so we were standing close and—” I collected myself and continued with more confidence “—I could feel his erection. He said a few vulgar things to me. I guess intimidating women turns him on.” Xavier’s hand remained on my thigh, gently stroking it. I blurted out the rest in a rush. “He let go of me, mentioned he knew about the foundation, and then told me to ask you if you still share your girlfriends.”

A rouge tear slid down my cheek. Not quite the image of composure I wanted to convey.

Xavier’s chest rumbled from a low growl. He rubbed the tear away with his thumb, his touch calm and loving, but his eyes blazed with ruthless intentions.

“I see.” I wasn’t fooled by the measured softness in his tone. “Our tea must be cold by now. I’m going to put on the kettle. It’ll only take a minute.”

I sat in numb silence, watching him move through the townhouse with his trademark sleek fluidity. His body language betrayed nothing. On the surface, he appeared unbothered.

Slumping into the couch, I twisted the sweatshirt’s hem in my fingers. It smelled like Xavier. Clean and outdoorsy and comforting. Grasping the neckline, I pulled it over my nose, breathing him in. Our encounters over the last few months played over and over in my mind.

His overconfident flirtatious advances.

My feeble attempts at resisting.

Our lives and pasts intersecting, becoming irrevocably entwined.

I will risk everything, Victoria. I will fucking destroy him if he comes near you again.

That day on the beach felt like a lifetime ago. Xavier’s not-so-quiet promise of violence didn’t concern me at the time. Even the best of us succumb to hyperbole when emotions run high.

Now?

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