Page 67 of Neverland

Sol clapped his hands together once more, a habit I noticed of his. “Yes!” He gestured for everyone to take a seat. “You talk money and we’ll talk guns.”

I leaned in close to Dominic so the others couldn’t hear. “I’m going to freshen up.” He slowly looked me up and down, his jaw tense, a telling sign he wasn’t happy. Why would he be? Just last night he was talking about ending my life after he had his way with me. And now here I stood, him unable to touch me in front of these men. For now, I was safe.

“Don’t be long,” he warned, with no ounce of warmth.

I walked down the dark hall to the one place I’d find momentary peace. Closing the door behind me, the room already softly lit, I sat on the edge of the bed inhaling and exhaling controlled breaths. I had no idea what Dominic would tell me to do with the men, or how the night would end.

The door opened, and I panicked.

Who’d followed me?

Xavier.

Shutting us away from the rest of the world, Xavier stood before me, taking note of my chest rising and falling. There was no smile, no banter to put me at ease. Instead, he let his eyes do the talking. There was a familiarity between us that caused an involuntary tremble, lust that weakened my knees, concern which hurt my heart, and something else I couldn’t quite place. There was a force between us, one that had me so swept up in the moment, I didn’t care about the consequences.

His tongue darted out, wetting his bottom lip. Before I could rush to him, Xavier closed the space between us, scooping me in his arms, his mouth crashing on mine in a hungry, passionate kiss. His lips felt like heaven on mine, and I became greedy. Xavier backed me against the wall, my body responding to his in the most dangerous of ways.

My hands ran up his muscular shoulders and into his hair, as he trailed a mix of tender and passionate kisses down my neck. I was breathing heavy, relishing in this clandestine moment that felt far too good to be true. When Xavier pulled away, catching his breath, his forehead against mine, I finally saw the truth I’d always thought to be there.

“I have to go,” I whispered, now petrified of being caught.

“You don’t have to go anywhere.”

“You don’t understand,” I said, pulling away. “He’ll kill us both if we’re caught.” Releasing his hand, I ran from the room and slowed my step down the hall, hoping my lipstick wasn’t smeared to cause suspicion. Back in the living room, I smiled at Sol and Charles who were sitting alone.

Dominic.

Faint from a sudden rush of panic, I searched for Dominic but couldn’t see him in the room. Xavier re-entered, took one look at me and immediately knew something was wrong. He saw my hackles raised, he felt my pounding heart.

“Everything okay?” Sol asked, concerned and suddenly suspicious.

Dominic’s dress shoes clip-clopped down the hall, slow and deliberate. I was frozen in place, nostrils flaring as I struggled to breathe, gripping the leather couch like it was my last lifeline. When he finally emerged from the darkness, his smile disturbingly cold and detached, I knew the game was up.

“Everything is just fine,” Dominic answered, his tone catching the other men off guard. As he passed, Dominic cast a sideward glance at me and then to Xavier. It was a look emphasized by his tense jaw and hardened eyes.

“Well, let’s get back to business shall—”

“Or everything will be fine,” Dominic interjected, holding his finger in the air as if ready for a big announcement. He chuckled to himself, a cold chill running down my spine. “I’m just not too keen on the wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

“What are you talking about?” Sol demanded, now with an obvious indicator the meeting had taken a turn.

Dominic looked over his shoulder. “You see what you did, Lucy? This is all your fault.” Without looking at his target, eyes still locked on me, and with the confidence of a hunter killing its prey, Dominic pulled his Glock from his waistband, straightened his arm and pulled the trigger shooting Xavier in the chest.

I screamed a guttural heartache, watching Xavier’s body being propelled back by the force of the bullet. Before I could reach him, Dominic hooked an arm around my neck, swinging me around and holding me captive. Both Charles and Sol were on their feet, their own weapons pointing at an unperturbed Dominic, shouts and curses erupting in the now broken night. They were rightfully seething, demanding my release, and hurt over their loss. Despite the Glock drilling against my temple, I fought to free myself from the monster who’d taken another life so undeserving.

“What the fuck was that about?” Sol yelled, no longer Mr. Hospitable. “Are you fucking insane? You think you can come in here and kill one of my men for no damn good reason?”

Dominic’s angry breath warmed my cheek, as he kissed my forehead. I could feel him smiling. The sick fuck thinking this was all a game. “You can blame Lucy for that. She knew the rules and she broke them within minutes.”

“You stupid motherfucker,” Sol bellowed, spittle slinging from his mouth onto the glass coffee table. “Do you know who will be coming after you?”

Dominic laughed, mocking the men in front of him. “I know the Croats will be coming for you when I inform them of their supplier’s double-crossings. You fuckers will be run out of this town and you can take that piece of shit with you,” he fired back, tilting his Glock to Xavier’s lifeless body. “Now, lower your fucking guns before you’re left explaining her death.” Dominic dug the Glock in deeper causing a yelp as I tried to escape.

“You think we give a fuck about her?” Sol asked, incredulous.

What happened next did so in a micro-second. Used as collateral blackmail, Sol took aim and pulled the trigger, his face beet red as he unleashed his fury. Caught in the line of fire, Dominic shoved me forward, the bullet hitting just above my collarbone. I jolted from the impact, excruciating pain roaring through my body as Dominic ducked for cover. I collapsed heavily at Xavier’s side, my hand landing over his. The room erupted into a war zone, gunshots fired in quick succession, explosions caused by bullets shattering glass, sharp shards sprinkling over us like snow.

But I didn’t care, it all became white noise, a small smile playing on my lips when Xavier’s fingers twitched in my hand, his eyes opening a sliver, barely enough to see mine.

As blood pooled under my face, and my world began to fade, I heard his voice and I saw briefly behind the disguise as he said the words, “I told you I’d find you.”

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