Page 45 of The Order

“He was making you uncomfortable, right?” Xavier questions quietly, watching Nick leave the room with a lowered head.

“I can’t say I like being looked at like I’m a meal. Any particular reason he let you speak to him like that?” I question, watching Xavier’s mouth curve upward once more.

“I may or may not have some proof he visits Unfortunate backroom dancers on his days off,” Xavier says slyly.

“Prostitutes?” I question silently. I expected him to tell me it was all a joke.

“Funny how they walk on such a moral high ground above the Unfortunates and yet have no issues doing things like that,” Xavier scolds, crossing his arms with a shake of his head.

I can tell by Max’s sudden tenseness he heard the comment. A small camera lingers by the cabinet near Xavier’s head. Despite those two things, Xavier still speaks openly.

“I think the Untouchable’s self-gain is their only priority, no matter who they hurt. It’s selfish,” I utter, expecting him to disagree with me immediately.

“It’s nauseatingly selfish to act like we've done any Unfortunate any favors,” Xavier whispers, holding my eye contact with nothing but a genuine expression.

“You believe that?” I question, watching his eyes move toward the camera before returning to me.

“Don’t you?” he questions, moving his body in front of the watchful government device.

I give him my first genuine smile, which is confirmation enough. Xavier’s presence is like a breath of fresh air. He’s the first person I have found myself wanting to be around. Everything about him only draws me in. Every sly comment, every small joke, and every stolen moment alone with him makes the years of being alone with my thoughts feel lighter. I cling to our interactions, wishing nothing more than to be alone with him and away from all the noise around us.

“What did you do?” he questions, breaking me free from my reverie.

His fingers gently touch my wrist, grazing over what’s left of the bruises from last night. I wince at the touch, taking a mental note of the countless cameras and Officials in my home. He looks displeased by the sight, running his finger over the textured pattern the boot had managed to make in my forearm.

“Is that from a shoe?” he continues, keeping us turned away from my friends and their wandering eyes.

I want to tell him everything. I want to scream into his chest and reflect on the horrors of the night.

But Fallan’s words close my throat, stopping the truth from escaping.

“If you want to stay alive, close your fucking eyes and don’t move.”

It wasn’t Unfortunates who pulled that trigger. It wasn’t Unfortunates who Fallan feared. It was my people. As much as I want to tell Xavier, he’s still not safe, and until I know he is, there's no way I can throw all of this onto him. I know the fact that I remember what happened last night would create a target on my back and most likely end in a death sentence. If I tell Xavier, I just put him on the chopping block with Fallan and me.

“No,” I begin, letting his finger continue tracing over the skin.

“She fell at the screening,” Max says, answering for me in a dismissive tone.

“Thank you, Vega. I didn't realize you were also the beautiful brunette standing next to me,” Xavier says.

My stomach does a flip, filling with heat at his words. I can't stop the smile that spans across my face, my red cheeks now on full display for everyone. Xavier continues to eye down Max with his taunting smirk, keeping his hand on my wrist as Rae and Kai exchange a look. Max scoffs at the man, turning forward, defeated and unable to find a response.

Xavier's hair falls onto his face, moving with him once he looks back at me.

“Beautiful?” I whisper, nudging him gently, poking fun at the comment.

“Would you rather I lie, Ms. Blackburn?” he questions.

My desire for him to move his hand from around my wrist down to my waist crosses my mind.

“But seriously, are you okay?” he questions, gently dropping my wrist and crossing his arms.

I pause, reflecting on his words.

“I don’t know how to answer that if I’m being honest,” I admit, walking the line between a lie and the truth.

“Kai, my boy!” Adam’s booming voice yells, making Xavier wince as he takes several steps away from me.

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