Dark Lover: Sins of the Night

by Taylor, Delilah

  Jonah uncrossed his legs and leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees and blew his cigar smoke in my face.

  Violet was safe.

  That was all that mattered.

  And whatever Jonah had in store for me wouldn’t be nearly as bad as what the Shades would do once I was in their possession. This would just be foreplay.

  I cracked a smile of my own. “Bring it on, old man.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Violet

  I drew my knees up to my chest and buried my face in my pillow.

  It smelled how it always used to. Like roses.

  The pillowcase was powder pink and soft and familiar beneath my cheek. It was the same one I’d laid my cheek upon less than a year ago before I moved out of the Wynn estate.

  I never expected to find myself back here. Especially not so soon.

  Tears stained the pillowcase, but I didn’t care about the dampness under my face. I didn’t care about anything except Xavier.

  But I had no idea where he was.

  My stomach rolled with nausea when I thought about what my father might be doing to him. There was a reason I wasn’t being allowed to see him. And I knew he was at the mansion. Somewhere.

  I’d watched my father’s security detail haul Xavier’s unconscious body out of the trunk of one of the luxury cars of the Wynn entourage. They’d half carried, half dragged him across the driveway and in through the front doors, at which point he disappeared from my view where I watched from my second story bedroom window.

  And then I’d wept.

  And wept.

  And I was still here, still weeping. I cried for myself and for Xavier. I cried for the dream I had of us in Madrid, far away from this madness.

  I never should have believed it in the first place. Too much had happened for us to be able to escape that easily. Xavier had misdoings to atone for. As did I.

  But it shouldn’t be at my father’s hand. He was corrupt and wicked.

  There was a soft knock on my bedroom door.

  “Go away,” I said, my voice muffled by my pillow.

  Annie, the mansion’s live in nanny, called my name from the other side of the door. “It’s me. I made you something to eat. I’m coming in.”

  I rolled over to put my back to the door and face the window. I heard the door unlock, and listened as Annie closed and locked it behind her, then shuffled into the room to set a tray down at the foot of my bed.

  “Violet?”

  “Go away.”

  She sat down on the bed. “Can we talk?”

  “No.”

  “Please? I don’t understand what’s happening. I’m so worried about you and I’ve missed you terribly, Violet. I just want to understand. Please talk to me.”

  There was no way for me to make her understand. She’d never be able to wrap her head around it. How could I tell her that I’d fallen in love with the man who’d been hired to kill me?

  I hugged my knees tighter.

  Annie sighed. “Here. Just sit up and eat something. I brought your favorite. Tomato soup and toast. Comfort food.”

  I dared my stomach not to growl. I was starving—well past starving, actually—but I wasn’t going to eat or drink until I knew Xavier was safe. It was the only leverage I had.

  “Please, Violet.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “You haven’t eaten since you got here. It’s been sixteen hours. That’s impossible. You need to eat something. Or at least drink some water. Do you want tea? Coffee? I can—”

  “Annie,” I said, my voice sharp and angry as a whip. I pushed myself up and looked over my shoulder to glare at her. “I don’t want anything.”

  Annie blinked at me. Her chin puckered as she tried not to cry, and I couldn’t find the energy within myself to give a damn. “What happened to you?” She whispered. “What did he do to you?”

  I groaned and swung my legs over the side of the bed. I went to the window seat and sat down, putting my back to her. “He didn’t do anything to me. He saved me.”

  “From who?”

  “From the men who wanted me dead. Because of my father.”

  “Violet,” Annie got to her feet, too. “You’re not making any sense. Your father would never—”

  “My father is a very bad man,” I spat, flashing her a hard glare.

  Annie bit her bottom lip. “Your father loves you. He’s been pulling his hair out looking for you for weeks. And when he finally got word that you were in Montreal, he made sure he got right to you. He’s been sick with worry. And so have I. And Clara has been calling every day. Violet. What’s going on? What is making you say such things?”

  I rolled my eyes and looked back out the window. “It doesn’t matter. Just leave me alone.”

  “I won’t. Not until you talk to me. Or until you eat something. You pick.”

  “I’m not eating until I see Xavier.”

  Annie sighed but stayed quiet for a minute. Then, after she’d chosen her next words carefully, she said, “Violet. You need to see reason. You’ve been through something very traumatic. You were trapped with a very bad man and who knows what kind of things he’s made you believe. You need to—”

  “He’s not a bad man.”

  “He’s a murderer. There is more blood on his hands than you or I could ever imagine.”

  That was true. Very true. But it didn’t change how I felt.

  Annie rubbed her hands together. “Who knows what he would have done if he actually got out of the country with you. We may never have seen you again. You scared the hell out of us, Violet. And now—now we need to figure out how to get you through this.”

  “You don’t understand,” I growled.

  “Then help me.”

  I rounded on her. “Xavier has done a lot of bad things. I know that. I saw him do it. But he was doing what he had to in order to keep me safe. He killed people he’s known for decades because he was protecting me. And I won’t turn my back on him now because my father sent you to whisper in my ear and trick me into thinking Xavier has been bad all along. It won’t work.”

  “Your father didn’t send me.”

  “Bullshit,” I spat.

  Annie flinched. “I came because I wanted to see you. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “Well, I’m not okay. Are you happy? I’m not okay. My fucking father is as cruel as they come, and he’s the reason we’re in this position. He’s the reason Xavier is who he is. And I will never, ever forgive him for what he’s done. Is that what you wanted, Annie? Does that make you happy? Can you leave with a clear conscience now?”

  “I don’t understand,” she whispered.

  I felt no guilt. No regret for lashing out at her. “Let me out of here.”

  “I can’t do that, Violet. This is for your own good.”

  “Is that what he told you?”

  Annie licked her lips.

  I slid off the window seat, shaking my head and scoffing at her. “You’re unbelievable. And just as trusting as I used to be. My father had Xavier’s parents killed, Annie. Did you know that? Xavier was only a child and he had watched his family be murdered in a hotel room by a bunch of highly trained killers. They spared him, and he became one of them. Not by choice—by circumstance. They made him into what he is now. But Annie, there is so much good in him. There is more good in Xavier’s pinky finger than my father has in his whole body, and I will never, ever trust my father again. Understand that.”

  “Don’t say such things about your father, Violet. You’re confused. And you’re angry. You just need time to—”

  “I don’t need time!” I screamed.

  The room became thick with silence and Annie got to her feet to back away toward the door.

  I pressed the heels of my hands to my forehead and let out a furious yell. Then I looked back up at Annie. A woman I used to love and trust as fully as I loved and trusted my father. “My father is a bad man. And I want nothing to do with him. If I ever g
et out of here the first thing I’m going to do is get as far away from him as possible. And I’m going to change my name. I want nothing to do with this family. With his money. With his name. Fuck him and everything he’s done.”

  “Violet. That’s enough.”

  “And fuck you too, Annie. I thought I’d still have a chance of getting through to you. But you’re as much one of his lap dogs as those assholes down in the driveway. You have no idea what you’re aiding. No idea of the things you’ve helped him do.” Tears were welling in my eyes again and I wiped them desperately away before more bloomed in the corners of my eyes and poured down my cheeks. “I don’t have anyone left. Except for him.”

  “The assassin?”

  I pressed my back to my bedroom wall and slid down the length of it. I let the tears come. “Xavier. I love him, Annie. I would do anything for him. And he would do anything for me. And I have no idea where he is. Please. If you want to help me. Tell me where he is.”

  Annie stared at me.

  “Please,” I begged.

  She shook her head. “I can’t, Violet.”

  I wiped at my eyes. “Can’t or won’t?”

  She frowned. “Both.”

  “Then get the hell out.”

  Annie went to the door. She stopped with her hand on the handle and turned back to me. “This will all be okay, Violet. We’ll take care of you. We’ll find someone who can help you. Once you rest and eat some food you’ll feel better. Your father and I will get you through this. I promise.”

  She left.

  I buried my face in my hands and sobbed until my back and chest and lungs ached and there were no more tears left to cry. Then I curled up in a ball on the carpet and prayed to a God I wasn’t sure I still believed in to protect the man who had saved me time and time again.

  Who I loved more than anything else in this world.

  And who I knew was probably suffering a great deal at the hands of my father.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Xavier

  Jonah placed his brass knuckles on the silver tray beside me. They were coated in my blood and so were his knuckles. Folded up neatly on one corner of the tray was a silk handkerchief, which Jonah used to wipe his hands clean. Then he tucked it in the front pocket of his suit jacket like a trophy.

  “I have to say, Xavier. You’re a hell of a lot more fun than I expected. This? It was well worth all the resources it took to catch your ass.”

  I swallowed blood and rested my head against the back of the chair to gaze up at Violet’s father. He was smiling down at me like he’d just finished playing with his favorite new toy on Christmas morning.

  My whole body hurt.

  Jonah Wynn was more than just a business tycoon. He was a strong bastard with a wicked punch, and he was glutinous for pain. The pain of others, of course.

  “What?” Jonah smirked. “No snappy comment for me this time? Too worn out?”

  I ran my tongue along the raw cuts on the inside of my cheek, from where my teeth had bit into the flesh when he punched me. “I suppose I just get bored quicker than you, Wynn.”

  Jonah looked like he was considering putting the knuckles back on.

  He didn’t.

  Instead he leaned forward to rest a hand on the back of my chair. He bent down so that his face was inches from mine. “Shit is going to get so much worse for you before it gets better, Xavier. Mark my words. And you’d better believe that my daughter will know the suffering you went through. That will teach her to run from me.”

  “Fuck you.”

  Jonah threw his head back and laughed. “The only one getting fucked here is you, Shade. Now sit tight. You’re expecting a visitor.”

  I glowered after Jonah as he left and locked the door behind him, plunging me into silence and misery.

  My skin was spotted with blood and sweat, and I gave into the shivering I’d kept at bay while Jonah was in the room. My teeth chattered a few times before I got it under control with slow, deep breaths.

  How long had Jonah gone at me?

  At least two hours. Maybe more.

  I was fairly certain I had a couple broken bones. Some bruised ribs. A gash on my cheek that I was fairly certain would need stitches.

  Well, would need stitches if I was going to survive this. At this point it would just be a waste of sutures.

  I leaned to the side and spat a clump of blood onto the concrete floor. Then I slumped back in the chair and closed my eyes.

  Exhaustion rested heavily on my shoulders. Rest was the only thing I could do, so I let the darkness carry me away.

  Unfortunately, thoughts and visions of Violet followed me into my descent, and in every one of them she was crying. And she was on her knees. And Jonah was there with a foot on her shoulder—just like the tyrant he’d always been.

  “Xavier,” a firm, deep voice spoke my name.

  I couldn’t open my eyes right away. They were so fucking heavy.

  “Xavier.”

  A hand closed on my shoulder.

  “Xavier. Wake up.”

  Whoever it was slapped my cheek. Once. Twice. Harder the third time.

  My eyes fluttered open and I found myself staring into the dark, tired eyes of my boss. Arman.

  A month ago, it would have been a relief to see him in a situation like this. But it wasn’t relief that trickled through me now. It was dread.

  I forced myself to keep my eyes open as Arman took the chair in front of me. He fell into it heavily and let his elbows rest on his knees. His hands dangled between his legs and he stared at the floor, shaking his head.

  Refusing to be the first to speak, I sat there silently, staring at my boss with anger and bitterness swelling inside me.

  Arman sighed. “You’ve been a royal pain in my ass.”

  I was glad to see how much of a toll I’d taken on him. He was worn down and looked about as tired as I felt.

  Arman rubbed his forehead. “I’ll be glad to wipe my hands of all this soon.”

  “You’ll never wipe your hands of it,” I grated.

  Arman’s eyes flicked up to me and narrowed.

  I shrugged. The tape on my wrists bit into my skin. “If there’s one person to blame for all this, it’s you. You and Jonah. Two peas in a pod. Bastards with too much money and too much power.”

  Arman studied me. “Your mouth has always been troublesome for me, Xavier. I won’t miss it.”

  I chuckled. “Yeah. Fuck you too, Arman.”

  “How did we end up here?”

  “I’m in no mood for philosophical chats with you. Shit happens.”

  “I never saw this coming,” Arman said. “And I always see shit like this coming. But you were the best I ever had. Obedient. Smart. Loyal. And then one girl walks in and changes everything? In a matter of a week? How is that possible?”

  “I’m all ears if you have any ideas. Because it doesn’t make a lick of sense to me either. But here we are.”

  “Yeah. Here we are.”

  I might have been mistaken, but I thought I detected notes of sadness in his voice.

  “Don’t be a bitch, Arman,” I said.

  The corner of his mouth twitched in a smile. “This isn’t what I wanted for you. I tried to stop it. That’s why I sent Devon. I thought if he could keep you on track—” he trailed off and shook his head. “None of that matters anymore.”

  “No. It doesn’t. Because he’s dead. And so is twenty five percent of your organization. You’re welcome.”

  “Don’t be a prick.”

  “What? You want me to play nicely while I’m tied to a chair after having the shit kicked out of me? Apologies if I’m not in the mood to be polite.”

  Arman nodded. “I understand. This isn’t how I wanted things to end, either.”

  “Don’t tell me you still have a soft spot for me.”

  Arman stared evenly at me.

  “Well, fuck me,” I sighed, leaning my head back and looking up at the ceiling. “That’s your problem b
oss. Not mine. Because I can sure as shit guarantee the feeling isn’t mutual.”

  “You’ve been like a son to me.”

  I laughed. “Glad I could fulfill that dark, empty part of your soul, Arman. You know who was like a father to me?” I looked him in the eyes. “My father. The man you murdered.”

  “You’ve killed people too, and never thought twice.”

  “You’re right.”

  “Why the sudden change?”

  “I never changed. I just came to terms with the fact that you were the man who stole everything from me. And I stopped denying it.”

  “She made you soft,” Arman said.

  “She showed me the truth.”

  Arman shook his head at me. “She ruined you. The best Shade our organization has ever had. Compromised by a woman with a pretty smile and a good rack. I should have known.”

  Arman got to his feet and paced back and forth behind his chair.

  I watched, wishing he would leave so I could close my eyes again, and he finally came to a stop, resting his hands on the back of the chair and looking up at me from beneath his brows. “I took the hit off her.”

  I swallowed. “I know.”

  “I thought that would make you happy.”

  “It does.”

  Arman nodded. “She’s safe. In exchange for you, we guaranteed Jonah that Violet would be safe from the Shades forever. Not everyone is happy about it. They think she should die. Right alongside you. But I fought for it. Consider it my last favor to you, Xavier.”

  “What do you want me to say? Thank you?”

  “It’s a start.”

  “Sorry if I’m not feeling particularly grateful at the moment.”

  Arman dismissed me with a wave of his hand. “You’ve never been one for niceties, Xavier.”

  “Stop postponing it, Arman. Get on with it. No more talking. How are we doing this?”

  Arman’s eyes flicked back and forth between mine. “It’s not a simple execution anymore.”

  “Of course it isn’t.”

  “The other Shades are furious. You’ve killed dozens of our brothers. There must be proof of your execution. And I’ve promised to bring you back to The Vex so the Shades left standing can see you die with their own eyes. It’s the only way this is going to end.”