Xavier: (Indestructible)

by Mortier, D. M.

  Xavier planted his fist into Dylan’s jaw, sending him hard to the ground.

  “Where the fuck is she?”

  “Man, that’s what I was trying to tell you.” Dylan slowly climbed to his feet, the panic he was feeling clear on his face. “If you want to beat the shit out of me, you can do that later. But we have to go get Cass. That bastard Qin has her.”

  “Where?” Xavier asked through clenched teeth.

  “They’re at a house about a mile from here. I tried going back to help her, but his place is as protected as Fort Knox. His men would shoot me on sight!”

  “How many men does he have guarding the house?” Xavier asked, not at all sure he trusted Dylan to tell him the truth. He pulled out his gun and started checking the amount of bullets he had left.

  “I’m not sure, but I was talking to some of the guys on the island, and they said Qin arrived about two hours ago with several planes, bringing his people with him. There were already some men at the house before, so he probably has close to forty armed men.”

  Xavier gazed at the three Marines. As he feared, from the looks in their eyes, they hadn’t come prepared for this. Besides, all three of them didn’t look older than twenty-five. They were too young for what he needed to do. I may be indestructible, but they are not, and neither is Cassandra. Fuck me! Everything in him boiled to go protect her.

  Just then, he spotted a movement in the bushes nearby. Without a word, Xavier took off after their spy. He caught up with the Chinese man a few seconds later. Fortunately, the Chinese man was not alone. Xavier wasted no time in taking out his frustration on the three men. Unable to use his gun for fear of alerting Qin of their presence, Xavier used his martial arts and knife skills to permanently silence the men.

  When he returned to the airstrip, he wasn’t even slightly winded.

  Dylan looked at him with admiration but also with a healthy dose of fear.

  Xavier ignored him and stabbed his fingers into his phone again, frustration eating his insides hollow.

  In seconds, Neo picked up the phone on the other end.

  “I’ve just sent you my location,” Xavier said tersely. “Qin is here with Cassandra, and he is heavily guarded.”

  “I got it. We’re in the area and will be there in less than five.” Neo’s demeanor was in mission mode. He didn’t waste time asking for details.

  Xavier paced for the entire five minutes, pissed that he knew where Cassandra was but didn’t have the adequate arsenal to rescue her on his own. He knew that if he attempted and failed he would be endangering her further. Fear made his palms sweaty, but anger fuelled him as well and made him want to kill Qin with his bare hands. He cracked his knuckles and then gripped the handle of his knife at his hip at the thought of what Qin could be doing to Cassandra. I’m going to bury my knife in that fucker’s head. No way am I going to lose another person I love to a sadistic bastard.

  He didn’t hear them, but he was never so glad to see two Stealth helicopters approaching the tiny airport from the side of the cay away from the house. The occupants of Qin’s house wouldn’t be able to see or hear the approach. A megawatt grin spread across his face at the sight of Neo and Enrique Ricardo Zayas, who they called Rico, and then the other copter came closer. Dominic Stone and Sean Anderson had also come to help.

  Xavier waited calmly as the helicopters landed softly on the ground. He had only briefly met Neo’s SEAL team before, but he remembered them well. To his surprise, he saw Sean jump out of the aircraft and simply melt into the bushes beyond. It was obvious that he had been sent on a fact-finding mission. Like Neo, all of the men looked dangerous and battle ready.

  He knew that Rico was the six-foot-three Hispanic with long ink-black hair worn in a ponytail. He had a way of looking at a man that was extremely unsettling. His olive skin was marred with the battles he had weathered over the years. The other dark-haired man, now striding toward Xavier, flanked by Neo and Rico, was Dominic Stone. Just as Dominic’s name implied, Xavier was convinced this guy was made of stone. He always looked as if he was in a perpetual pissed-off mood. Both Dominic and Rico were married. Dominic had two children while Rico’s wife had recently had a son. Xavier hated placing these family men in danger, but right now he had to do whatever was necessary to get Cassandra away from Qin. Neo had done him good by bringing all three members of his former SEAL team. Although they had been off the battlefield for years, they still wore that badass look of military men. Xavier was grateful and humbled by his friend’s support.

  “Hey, man,” Neo said as he opened a laptop once they all gathered around, including Dylan and the three Marines, who looked as if they were in awe. Neo wasted no time in chitchat; he was all business. “We have a virtual view of the compound, and Dominic has devised a plan.”

  Dominic was equally as businesslike, going through a series of maneuvers and target points. It was obvious that he was a born leader and took on that mantle with stoic confidence and authority. Every man listened intently and nodded their agreement whenever Dominic asked if they understood their roles.

  “Qin is mine,” Xavier voiced, ensuring that he made his objective clear.

  “As expected,” Dominic said coolly, his silver gaze unmistakably deadly.

  As everyone saddled up to move out, Rico handed Xavier a duffel bag after nodding his head in greeting, also showing that he wasn’t interest in chitchat either. Fine by me, let’s do this! Xavier unzipped the bag and almost cried like a baby at the sight of the beautiful arsenal the men had brought for him. He managed to hold his shit together, though, and simply nodded a thank-you to Rico. Rico smirked slightly, seeming to understand, as Xavier wasted no time in ensuring the guns were loaded and strapped to strategic places on his body.

  “Dylan, stay here with the Marines until we get back.” Xavier looked at a dazed Dylan, who had been speechless through the entire briefing from Dominic.

  “Thanks, man,” Dylan said solemnly. He didn’t look at Xavier. Instead, his eyes remained glued on the spot where Sean had disappeared into the bushes.

  “Don’t thank me. I’m going to kick your ass when I get back.” Xavier took off and wasn’t surprised when they took the same path Sean had taken a few minutes before. The former SEAL would have created a path for them to follow. Once they got about a quarter of a mile away from Qin’s property, Sean joined them, and then they all split up in the teams agreed upon previously.

  “I know where your girl is,” Sean said by way of greeting and then turned, retracing his steps, fully expecting Xavier would follow him. Fuck yeah I’m following. I have a knife to bury in that fucker’s head.

  As soon as the house was in their sight, Xavier shed all traces of civility; he was a man on the hunt, ready to tear apart anything and everyone who got in his way. Qin’s men came at them like a tsunami. It was already dark out, and they used that to their advantage. The sound of bullets, shouts, and screams filled the air as they took out the men in their path, but the Chinese men just kept coming at them. Dylan had said that Qin had only about forty men guarding him. He has significantly under-estimated the numbers, another reason I’m going to kick his ass!

  Xavier was impressed time and again by the skill of the big blond SEAL who fought beside him. Although Xavier himself was a master in traditional Japanese jujutsu and Russian sambo, Sean seemed to incorporate all of those fighting styles and the Israeli Krav Maga as well. He was fast, precise, and, most of all, smart, cutting down anyone who came into their path. They fought together with a coordination and camaraderie of men who had spent years protecting their teammate’s backs. They killed more than fifty men between them in their single-minded search for Cassandra. Qin had obviously not wanted to take any chances. In seconds, they had made it around the house to the room where Sean insisted Cassandra was being kept.

  Xavier heard Cassandra’s mocking laugh as they came to an open louvered glass window. “What happen, Qin? You can’t get a woman without drugging her?”

  “Co
me here, you bitch.” Qin sounded pissed and frustrated.

  Xavier looked through the window, trying to see what was going on. Cassandra was wearing a long silk gown that floated about her curvy body. Qin was advancing on her with a long saber in his hand. Xavier’s stomach was almost frozen with fear.

  “Perhaps you don’t have the right tool to satisfy a woman,” Cassandra taunted.

  How the fuck can she joke around at a time like this?

  “You know they have surgeries for that now, Qin,” Cassandra continued. “You should take some of that money you spent on this place and get a little enhancement.”

  Qin roared and launched at her.

  With the agility he’d seen her exhibit time and time again on the basketball court, Cassandra ducked and weaved out of Qin’s reach.

  Sean’s husky laughter reached him and, unfortunately, reached the occupants of the bedroom as well.

  Cassandra looked up to see who was there.

  That brief moment of inattention was all Qin needed. He grabbed her around her waist, lifted her off her feet, and threw her on the ground. He twisted her right arm back at an awkward and painful angle.

  Cassandra screamed, bucked against him, and slammed her head back, hitting Qin square on his nose, crushing the delicate bone there.

  It was Qin’s turn to scream as blood poured from his nose, over his lips, down his chin, and spilling onto Cassandra’s ivory silk dress.

  Xavier didn’t wait around to see if Qin retaliated. He crashed through the French doors, followed closely behind by Sean.

  “Stop right there,” Qin shouted and pressed the tip of his saber against the back of her neck. “I will break her fucking arm!” He twisted Cassandra’s arm further.

  “You’re so pathetic, princess. First you had to give me an aphrodisiac, and now you have to twist my arm into screwing you?” Cassandra shook her head slowly and tisked, still taunting a foaming Qin.

  “Damn, X, you’re one lucky bastard,” Sean said with admiration.

  If he wasn’t so pissed, Xavier might have laughed at Cassandra’s refusal to cry out in pain, but, instead, she continued to poke the angry bear. Having a naked man on top of his woman removed any trace of humor from Xavier’s mind. “Qin, let her go now and I may just kill your ass quickly.”

  “Nope, I veto that shit,” Cassandra growled at Xavier. “I’m jacked up on some freaky drug this sick bastard gave me, and now I’m like a damn rapid dog in heat! No, you’re going to kill his ass slowly.”

  Qin pressed the blade so that it pricked her skin. “Shut the fuck up,” he screamed at her.

  Xavier had seen enough. He pulled the trigger of his gun, hitting Qin in the hand that held the saber, forcing him to drop the weapon and clutch his hand in pain.

  Xavier didn’t waste time. He flew across the room and dove into Qin, toppling him onto the floor and off of Cassandra. “Sick bastard,” Xavier muttered as he drove his fist into Qin’s face, causing bone and cartilage to crumble under the brutal force.

  Qin screamed in pain but retaliated with his own vicious left hook to Xavier’s eye.

  Xavier was in too much rage to feel pain. He easily absorbed the hit and then hammered Qin in the face again, pummeling him over and over, breaking more bones and drawing more blood.

  Qin slammed his good hand into Xavier’s stomach and tried to get out from under him.

  It was as if Xavier was a boulder; he was immovable. He hit Qin again, making sure to shatter his jaw.

  Sounding like a wounded animal, Qin emitted a blood-curdling scream.

  He delivered a sharp jab to Qin’s throat, cutting off the sound mid scream.

  Qin choked and coughed and writhed around on the floor, out of his mind in pain. He struggled and grappled until he grabbed the handle of his sword again.

  Xavier hit him again, and Qin’s head slammed back into the floor. He was out cold.

  Xavier stood and started walking toward Cassandra, who looked back at him with distress still in her golden eyes. He curved his lips into a smile to try to calm her, but her gaze instead showed horror. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came.

  Xavier turned in that split second and saw the deadly weapon coming, but wild desperation and fury allowed Qin to bury the blade into Xavier’s side before he could stop it.

  Xavier roared in pain.

  Cassandra screamed.

  Qin tried to smile his satisfaction for finding his mark, but it appeared as more of a grimace, given his broken jaw and nose, his swollen lips and dislodged teeth, and the thick blood covering his face.

  “Oh God, X,” Cassandra whimpered in distress.

  Xavier heard her anguish, and that pissed him off even more.

  Qin laughed, the sound clogged in his throat as Xavier tried desperately to remove the blade. It was a fruitless endeavor; Xavier’s hand kept slipping off the bloody handle.

  Sean took a few steps, obviously coming to offer assistance, but Xavier glared at him. “Stay the fuck out of this,” Xavier growled.

  Qin came at him again, this time using his legs to deliver vicious kicks to Xavier’s head and stomach.

  Xavier staggered backwards.

  “Xavier,” Cassandra screamed.

  Qin laughed. The sound came out in starts and stops, sounding more like a gurgle as blood obstructed his throat and flowed unchecked from the side of his mouth. He pursued Xavier, kicking him in the chest.

  Xavier crashed into the wall behind him.

  Qin continued laughing in triumph but was stopped mid cackle as Xavier blocked the kick aimed at his head and delivered a punch to Qin’s groin.

  Qin fell to the floor in stunned agony.

  Xavier fell to the floor toward him.

  Grabbing his knife from his boot, Xavier drove the blade into Qin’s forehead. In death, Qin’s face was frozen in a grotesque distortion of shock and pain.

  With the sword still protruding from his side, Xavier tried to get up from the floor. Now that the fight was over the avalanche of pain from his numerous injuries finally penetrated his brain. He glanced about the room, searching for Cassandra. Tears ran unchecked down her cheeks.

  Sean stared back at him, sympathy in his eyes.

  Xavier looked away, but then his gaze fell on the men standing in the doorway of the room.

  Neo, Dominic, and Rico stood there looking on. It was obvious that they had been there for awhile watching. They hadn’t offered assistance, confident that Xavier could handle his business. Xavier was certain that none of them had anticipated that he would take a sharp blade to his side, the sharp edge embedded in flesh and bone. He was embarrassed that his legs felt weak as a kitten’s, and he crumpled to the ground.

  Cassandra crossed the room, dropped to her knees, and crawled toward him. “Xavier, please,” she sobbed. She sat on the floor and eased his head into her lap. Her fingers shook, and tears poured down her face. The warm liquid fell and splashed onto him. He felt her body start to tremble under him. He knew that the drug Qin had given her was still affecting her. I should revive him and kill his ass again! The need to hold her to offer his help and the excruciating pain that raked his body fought for supremacy.

  Xavier started to feel lightheaded, only then realizing he had been holding his breath. He breathed out deeply. Big mistake! It was as if a red-hot poker had impaled his body. I can’t believe I’m going to go out like this, indestructible killed by a fucking skinny-ass Chinese!

  Unlike Sean, Neo ignored his glare to stay away and advanced on him. He pulled the blade out of Xavier’s body, causing blood to flow unrestrained from the gaping wound.

  “Son-of-a-bitch,” Xavier hissed with pain. Now that the sword had been removed, he felt his body start to mend, start to heal. The pain immediately started to subside.

  “Are you going to lie about all day?” Neo grumbled. “We need to get the hell out of here.”

  Xavier held his friend’s gaze, silently thanking him. He rolled to his feet and turned to assist Cass
andra from the floor as well.

  She stared at him mutely and shook her head, refusing to take his hand or get up from the floor.

  Xavier could see the stark distress on her face. She looked as though she was in such agony; her pain was almost palatable. He sucked in his breath, finally understanding her anguish.

  “Excuse us,” Xavier muttered. “We’ll meet you at the airstrip in ten minutes.” He picked her up and left the room, completely ignoring the smirk on Sean’s face.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Cassandra felt as though she was in heat. She couldn’t even voice her need at that moment. Being surrounded by five virile men, all in their prime and one she was madly in love with, propelled her senses into overload. She no longer had a sane thought. Her body demanded a hard cock, and that was all she seemed to be able to focus on. The drug had saturated every pore and had completely taken over her body.

  As soon as Xavier strode from the room with her held high in his arms, she melded her lips with his. The taste of him was so euphoric, an absolute bliss to her starving senses that she immediately screamed into his mouth as she exploded in a spine-tingling orgasm. She didn’t know and didn’t care any longer where they were. All of her senses were focused on him; all that she saw was him. Her world at the moment began and ended with him.

  He pushed her back against a wall.

  Cassandra eagerly opened her legs, grinding her sensitive flesh against the hard bulge in his jeans. The feel of his thickness between her legs made her more agitated and aggressive. The ache inside of her grew, and she was desperate to get him inside of her. She couldn’t care less that she was rubbing against him so hard she would be chafed the next day from the rough fabric of his jeans.

  Xavier gripped her hips and stopped her frantic movement. “Easy, baby,” he soothed.

  “X,” she whimpered, tears rolling down her cheeks in distress.

  He swooped down and covered her mouth with his, thrusting his tongue within the warm cavity. She eager sucked his tongue deeper into her mouth. He held her hips away from him and unzipped his jeans.