Page 27 of Concealed Deception

It’s frustrating how I can’t form a simple thought.

Xander’s making me question everything.

Having slept off my hangover through the day and getting extra beauty sleep through the night, I get up and find a long jumper and a pair of leggings to put on.

I know I’m not locked in my room because Camille has been bringing me food and checking in on me.

Being as quiet as possible, I open the door to peer outside.Seeing the office door now closed and the coast clear, I tiptoe toward the living room.I don’t want to look suspicious if someone is out here, but I’m hoping that his men are preoccupied discussing whatever that phone call was about yesterday, and I might be able to leave without being noticed.

The hardened look Xander gave me is seared into my memory.It must have been important if he was that rattled by it.

Shaking my thoughts, I carry on with my escape attempt.I hope like hell Lacey went home alone so I can at least get into the apartment without being caught.

I’m almost at the elevator when a voice startles me.

“Going somewhere, Savannah?”

I mutter curse words under my breath at being caught.

“I honestly thought you’d know better.Perhaps I’m becoming complacent with the way things work around here?After all, it wasn’t long ago I foundmyliquor cabinet contents spread throughoutmyhome.Thenmylittle treasure showedmymen her naked body from withinmypool.Do you see where I’m going with this, Savannah?”

“You’re an asshole,” I state.

“And you need to be taught a lesson in manners.”His snide remark is meant to intimidate me, but it doesn’t.It encourages me to fight back.

“You’ve already threatened that and failed.What do you want with me, Alexander?What could I possibly give you that you haven’t already taken from me?You say my dad owed you a debt, and that is me, but I don’t understand any of it.It should have been easy for you to find me if I was with my aunt.Why now, and why me?If you’re not going to tell me what the fuck is really going on, I’m getting in that elevator and I’m walking as far away from you as possible.There’ll be no morelittle treasurefrom now on.”

It happens so fast I have no time to defend myself from the big arms that engulf me from behind, immobilizing me.“Let me go,” I protest.I try to kick out but every move is countered with another to keep me still.I scream in frustration, then groan in defeat.

“Please, just tell me what it is you want from me.”I’m done.If he won’t tell me, I’ll put myself back in my shell and stay there for self-preservation’s sake.

Xander looks from me to Vince, then walks away.As soon as he lets me go, I’m following Xander back toward his office.“Nuh-uh, I’m not going back in there.”

He’s on me in a split second.My back slams against the wall with his hand firmly wrapped around my throat.I start to panic and his grip lessons slightly.I see the internal struggle, because his eyes are forever changing with emotion.

“Tell me.Or kill me.I’m as good as dead anyway,” I manage between gasps.As I close my eyes, a lone tear trickles over my cheek.The pressure around my neck is gone and I know there’ll be no answers today.

Sixteen

Xander

I’m torn.I once locked away any emotion that would lead to weakness.With weakness comes distraction that gets you killed.

“Vince,” I holler from my office.

“Boss, is everything okay?”He’s been tying up some loose ends for me during the day while Ava sleeps.She should have thought better than to try and walk out.

“I need you and Knox with me.I have some place I need to be.”

“On it, boss.”The good thing about having these men with me is their intuition never wavers.If I run into trouble anywhere, they sense it before it happens.

When he’s out of my office, I pick up my phone to make a call.“Antonio, get your ass back to my penthouse now or I’ll send Knox to put a bullet in that pretty little blond you’ve become attached to.”I hang up the line before he has a chance to respond.

I hate that he’s become distracted with the little tramp.

Once I gather all I need, I make my way into the living room, where Camille is fussing over Vince.These two have been in a relationship longer than I’ve been alive, and I commend them for keeping it out of my business now.But it irks me the wrong way seeing her out here now when I’ve specifically told her she needs to be watching over Ava as an extra precaution.

Seeing my displeased glare, she scatters off.Vince doesn’t look affected by my appearance, but I know he’ll be brewing on the inside.

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