Page 47 of Concealed Deception

Searching through the bag, I pull out a little sundress and some underwear.Quickly changing in the adjoining bathroom, I return with a straight spine and a no bullshit attitude.If I’m going to break through to Xander, I need to think like him.

Camille and Knox lead me toward Xander’s room, which is a mess.Staff are currently cleaning up turned over equipment and all kinds of liquid and… “Blood.”I gasp at the sight of the red stain on the floor.

“Ava, it’s not what you think.”Camille’s reassurance fails.

“Don’t start with me on that crap.Where is he?Is he hurt?There’s blood down there!”

I’m interrupted when Tony comes barging into the empty room.He comes over to me, much closer than I’d like.

All it takes is one swift move from me and I’ve caught him off guard.I take his knife and hold it against his throat.“Tony, if you keep me from him, I’ll tear you apart limb from limb.I’ll start with your head, then I’ll take his”—I point to Knox— “and anyone else who gets in my way.”I look at Camille, who suddenly has her hands up in surrender.

“Let’s get you out of here, boss lady.”

“Best thing you’ve ever said.”

“I’ll be taking that back, thank you.”He releases the knife from my grasp, then I follow him out of the hospital and to an awaiting car.

“You better prepare yourself for what you find, Ava, because if he’s pushing you away to keep you safe in his mind, there’s no telling what he’ll do.”

“I can handle him.”They’re the last words spoken as we drive through the streets toward the man who stole my heart and soul.

I’m able to make my grand entrance, thanks to Tony’s help, and what a grand entrance it is.

“Who the fuck are you?”I stare down at the slut who’s in the hotel room withmyman.

“Leaving.Good luck with this one.He’s got stage fright.Couldn’t get it up if he tried,” the silly bitch whispers, thinking she’s funny.She has no idea who she’s messing with.

I take one slow step at a time until I’m up close and in her face.She steps back until her back hits the wall, at the very moment she’s going to regret thinking she can have a man like Alexander Lamont.

My hand wraps around her throat, squeezing on the same pressure point Xander did with me the first time I tried to escape from the penthouse, and it’s empowering.

“Take another look, darling.Does it look like he’s having trouble to you?It looks like he’s ready to rip your innocent ass to shreds while fucking mine.I suggest you get out of here as fast as you can before I change my mind and rip you apart myself.”I release my hold and watch her scurry to the door, grabbing her discarded clothing as she goes.

“You’re both sick—” Her departing words are cut off by the slamming door.

I round on Xander.“I came here to talk some sense into you.”He remains silent, dark storm clouds glazing over his eyes.

“How could you?After everything, Alexander, how could you?I might be young and naïve with a lot of things, but not when it comes to the hunger between us.I thought we were finally on the same page?”The storm that was there a moment ago, his fight, is now gone.I’ve cracked him open in a bad way, and it’s tearing me apart as well.

I watch as he puts the bottle down and stands with his back to me.

I square my shoulders and remember my pep talk from earlier.I need to match his asshole-ness.

“You’re a fucking coward.When I pulled Tony’s own knife on him and threatened him to bring me to you, I almost thought you’d be proud of me.I came here to show you that no matter how this whole thing started, we’re good together.”

He's on me faster than my next breath.“You think this is good?”He holds enough pressure to restrict my breathing rather than to cut it off completely.

This is a power play.

“It could be.”

If he wants to play.Game on.

“I’m going to break you, my little treasure.”His pupils are as black as black, swallowing his irises.With war wounds still evident, he’s still the strongest man I’ve ever met.He put himself in the line of fire, so I’d survive, and I’m not letting it be in vain.

“Despite what I walked in on earlier, I believe you’d never lay a hand on her because you can’t let me go.I’ve ruined you for other women, Xander, so I say checkmate,sir.”

The hand that was around my neck has moved to my chin, angling my head, so our lips are perfectly aligned for him to take.They come down on mine with the dominance I witnessed when we were together in the club.I kiss him back with the same wanton fervor.We don’t do nice or sweet.Together, we’re an inferno.We leave devastation in our wake.

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