The Warrior

by RT Lucas

  She didn’t see him as a ‘trophy fuck’ – in fact, they hadn’t even consummated their relationship even though they had taken to sleeping in his bed together every night. Xavier respected Alicia, and felt that respect from her. She was teaching him how to be a better male, how to love and more importantly – how to be loved.

  Alicia’s cell phone was glued to her ear as she made her way along to Xavier’s quarters, speaking in her native tongue of Italian, her voice was getting sterner as she listened then quickly gave her orders back to the men who were keeping an eye on the warehouse for her. Alicia never opened doors the practical way, it was always with her left pink cladded Doc Marten boot. As the door swung open, her jaw dropped, the pink cased cell bouncing off the floor as she drank in Xavier…Naked.

  “Hey…”

  Bending over to pull up his sweatpants, Xavier smirked, hearing the hesitation in Alicia’s voice. “S’up? Who’s on the phone?” Standing up and walking over to her, he leaned down and kissed her soft lips, before grabbing the cell from off the floor.

  “God…” Alicia shook her head to bring her back to earth but the sight of Xavier before her…those scars that covered his perfect body done something to her in all the right places. “Franco.” Alicia opened out her palm for Xavier to return her cell phone. Her eyes however were glued to his torso.

  “Which is it – God or Franco?” Xavier had a smartarse grin on his face, but his thumb was scrolling down her ‘call list’. “And who the fuck is Franco?” Yeah, his wolf had been wondering that too.

  Alicia jumped up on her foot to grab her cell back from Xavier. “Franco is one of my men at the docks. Word just reached me that something looks a miss with one of my containers. All in nights work as they say.” Alicia gave a small smile, she was pissed off but Xavier didn’t need to take the brunt of it, he had enough on his plate to deal with without a minor hiccup to do with her business.

  Shoving the cell into his pocket as he zipped up his bright red hoodie, he pursed his lips. “Does this Franco need some ‘encouragement’ to work harder, Sweetcheeks?” He did not like the idea of anyone fucking around with her business arrangements, and he also knew she was holding back on him. She’d started fiddling with the tag at the back of her boots, and he had observed that she only did that when nervous or being secretive.

  “No, Franco is doing what I pay him to do, he was just checking in.” Alicia dropped the label from her small, delicate fingers and leapt up to sit on Xavier’s wardrobe. He was getting too good at reading her and she didn’t want to add any more stress to his already hectic workload.

  Xavier was making a note to have this ‘Franco’ vetted by his own team – no harm in ensuring his loyalty to Sweetcheeks. And there was no need to bother her with that unless something came to light.

  “How was your day? Red suits you.”

  “Every fucking colour suits me,” he grinned, laughing as she sat on top of his wardrobe, they were almost the same height now. “The day was same old shit – but the night?” he waggled his brows, then turned his back on her to start his stretches before his run. “Why don’t you join me?”

  Alicia was laughing so hard at Xavier’s invite to go and workout with him that she fell from the wardrobe in hysterical laughter, landing with a large thud on the wooden flooring on Xavier’s room. To anyone else that would have hurt, but Alicia rose to her feet as if it was nothing and jumped on Xavier’s back as he was crouched over, hoping she could avert his attention away from her.

  Xavier let out a theatrical “Oomph” but in reality, she was as light as a feather on his back. “Better lay off the pies, porky,” he smirked and stood up, reaching back to cup her ass as he walked out the room, heading for the exit to the north of the Compound. Outside, the fresh air hit his lungs like a furnace, and he inhaled deeply, picking up the scent of the forest and wildlife. He started to jog, bouncing Alicia on his back as he went, pretending to ‘drop’ her at intermittent intervals but he always had a secure hold on her.

  As Xavier ran through the thick, dense woodland, Alicia’s harms gripped tightly around his neck as the fresh air filled her lungs, as she started to relax. “You are a big goofball Commander Prick you know that?”

  Passing through the perimeter gates, Xavier ignored the soldiers who saluted him and started to pick up the pace. When he was with Alicia, he figured he was a goofball – whenever he was with her she made him feel fun again – she gave him the freedom to be himself. All the troubles and responsibilities he carried around with him seemed to vanish whenever Alicia was in his sights.

  “How you doing back there, Yoda?”

  “It’s Ali, you dork! Who the fuck is Yoda?” Alicia’s arms gripped a little tighter around Xavier’s neck, like the Angels, this Yoda person was now on her ‘kill list’.

  Xavier pumped his arms as his feet pounded on the undergrowth – they were heading into the heart of the forest, and he had to duck and swerve to avoid low branches and felled trees. Alicia had him in a stranglehold as she clung onto his back. “You’ve never fucking seen Star Wars? Seriously Sweetcheeks – why the fuck do I date you?” laughing as he leaped over a large tree–stump, then taking a sharp left headed for the stream.

  “Books are my way of learning, not television.” Alicia relaxed her grip a little, the urge to kill passing as Yoda was no longer a threat. “Where the fuck are you taking us?”

  “To a Galaxy Far, Far away…” Xavier barked a laugh as he referenced his favourite film and knowing that the reference would be lost on Alicia. Starting to slow his pace down as the stream came into view and he swung Alicia around, still holding her tight to him.

  The growl that came from Alicia’s chest, reverberated off Xavier’s back. “We are not visiting any winged skanks!” Satisfied that she had got that little outburst out of her system, her whole body went rigid as she heard the sound of fresh, running water.

  Laughing, Xavier let Alicia down as he took her hand and led her nearer the stream. He was unaware at the change in her demeanour and hadn’t thought for one minute that taking an ex-drowning victim near a body of water might freak her the fuck out. He was too immersed in the moment, enjoying the freedom of being away from the compound with his Sweetcheeks to notice.

  The heels of Alicia’s boot were digging into the earth causing it to upturn and leave a trail behind her, her nails were starting to draw blood in the palm of Xavier’s hand as he lead her neither the water. “No…No...No.”

  Looking down at Alicia, Xavier stopped and tilted her chin up with his finger. “What the fuck’s got your panties in a knot?”

  “Falling, water, dragged.” Unable to form a sentence, Alicia willed her eyes to look into Xavier’s, the green was her calm place as she tried to step away from the water’s edge, her boots however had other plans and were going nowhere fast.

  “Bananas, skateboarding, sandpaper – is this a new fucking game, cos I don’t know the rules.” She wasn’t making any sense – well, less sense than usual! As Xavier grinned down, his face started to straighten. “What is the fucking problem Sweetch...ahhh fuck,” he spat out, annoyed at himself for not realising sooner. Without another word he was dragging Alicia away from the stream, back towards the trees, cursing his stupidity under his breath.

  Taking deep breaths as Xavier led them away from the water, Alicia’s body started to calm as they stopped by a thick tree branch. “Not your fault, it’s silly anyway.” Alicia shrugged her shoulders a little, she hated feeling weak and certainly did not want Xavier to think she was some weak female that couldn’t look after herself. Rummaging about in her pocket, she found what she was looking for and offered Xavier a lolly as the sugar instantly calmed her with the one she shoved in her own mouth.

  Xavier’s brow creased and he bridged his arms over his huge chest. “Who else knows about your…” he inclined his head to the side indicating the stream, “...problem?” He needed to know because any weakness perceived or otherwise could be used against her by he
r enemies.

  Alicia slid down the bark of the tree until her ass hit the soil, twisting her head up to look at Xavier. “No one…well just me and you, Mabel might know but she’s securely in her box, why?”

  He scrubbed his hand down his face as his jaw ticked. “I need to make Hawkeye aware of it, yeah?” He was thinking out loud as he stood like a shield around Alicia from any visuals she may have of the water.

  “Why the fuck would you share my fucking fear with him?” Alicia was puzzled as to the whys of Xavier wanting to share one of most fearful secrets with some random, well he was just a random to the shaking vampire.

  Arching a brow, Xavier leaned down and hauled Alicia up from the ground, smacking her ass to clean it from leaves and dirt. Not that he wasn’t enjoying it at the same time. “You know something female? The more time you spend with me the more you start to fucking sound like me. Stop all the cunting swearing, yeah.” The irony was lost on him as he was being serious.

  Alicia’s brows creased in confusion, as if Xavier should understand. I’ve always cussed you fucking Prick! What Xavier had failed to pick up on was that Alicia studied everything he did, from the way he moved so the way he spoke, it was how she learned, she studied people and their mannerisms.

  “And as for telling Hawkeye, of course I fucking have to tell him – he is your substitute bodyguard,” Xavier said as though it should be obvious. “He needs to know so that he can keep you from danger and not let others lead you into any situations where you’ll be vulnerable.” He gave her a ‘d’uh’ look as he shrugged a shoulder.

  “He’s my fucking what?” Alicia was on her feet in a millisecond, hands on her hips, teeth gritted, starting up a Xavier.

  “Less of the fucking swearing, christsakes – and you fucking heard me, yeah.”

  “Fuck Off! Prick.”

  “Swear to fuck female if you don’t keep a civil fucking tongue in your head I’ll punch you on the tits! He’s in charge of you when I’m not around. Deal with it.”

  “Fuck You Xavier! You can fuck right off! I don’t need to be babysat.” Alicia was now pacing the forest floor.

  “And the Oscar for Best Dramatic Performance goes to...” Xavier smirked. “Bodyguard not babysitter – and it’s done, so suck it up.”

  Alicia’s eyes flashed with fury as she flew for Xavier, her left hand shooting out, grabbing his balls and twisting them. “I can look after myself! As I said Fuck You!”

  Xavier winced at the vice-like grip she had on him, but merely grinned knowing that was pissing her off more. “That’s it, Sweetcheeks – but use your nails, yeah,” he gave a low, erotic growl as he licked his lips, even though his balls felt like they were about to explode. “And no, you fucking can’t look after yourself. You have half the world’s Mafia families out after you because of Mexico. And you’re mistaking this for a fucking debate. It’s done. End of discussion, understand?”

  “Argh! You infuriate me so fucking much you prick!” Alicia loosed her death grip on Xavier’s balls and leapt upwards until she was perched on the branch of the tree, staring down at Xavier. “No one knows I killed Belcastro…I can’t be seen on the video footage, his guards entered that room after he was dead. So tell me again Commander…who is after little innocent, moi?”

  Xavier grabbed his crotch, massaging the blood back into his groin as he looked up at Alicia. “You’re back in business and expanding your Mafia Empire at an alarming fucking rate, yeah – so regardless of being caught on cunting candid camera – they’re after you. Besides that, you’re like Dracula Gold or some shit with all that daywalking crap Shug was talking about – so you have the Supernatural world gunning for your buns too – don’t forget. Oh, and Sweetcheeks?” A slow smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. “Innocent and you should never be in the same sentence, yeah?” he said laughing hard.

  She knew his was right, every damn word he said was right, her life wasn't so simple anymore and needed the protection. “As you wish Comm-an-derr as you fucking wish.”

  Xavier didn’t realise he was being played by Alicia – he just liked getting his own damn way, so yanked Alicia by the ankle and brought her back down to earth, slamming her against his rock hard body. “Correct answer, Sweetcheeks”. As he scooped her up in his arms and carried her back towards the compound he kissed her slowly, forcing her lips apart as his tongue duelled with hers. Pulling back only to comment, “You know, it’s manners for you to kiss them better, yeah?” as he forced her hand down to his sweatpants. He drowned out her response by kissing her hard. Yeah, life was fucking good with Sweetcheeks in it.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Alicia strolled into the kitchen yawning her head off, her trusty ever growing companion Frazzle following her lead as he always did at six a.m. Alicia always fed him his raw steak and a bowl of milk before she poured the hot water into her pink mug. They had the same routine; same time every day it worked for them. Alicia spun around and almost scolded herself with the hot amber liquid as it sloshed up in her cup.

  “Duck a fuck Dory! You’re like sleeping Moses.” Alicia kicked the legs of the vacant chair and sat down beside the Doctor, they had never actually spoken just the two of them.

  Teodora looked a little perplexed at Alicia’s words then remembered one of her and Shuggie’s many late night conversations, ‘the youngling has an issue with modern day phrases’ and was even more puzzled when a hand shot out towards her.

  “I thought I’d introduce myself properly, I’m Ali.” Alicia had offered Teodora her hand to shake. She only knew this female as the Doctor around here, but she saw the way her best friend looked at her and the way that Xavier respected her, and she had promised Commander Prick that she would behave!

  Teodora’s long slender hand took the small one that was offered and gently shook it, a small smile crossing her lips that Alicia was making an effort. “Oh gosh, I do not think I could shorten such a beautiful name as Alicia to Ali, yes?”

  “Duck that! My name up until Xavier realised who I was…well I’ve always went by Ali, and he only calls me Alicia when I’m in trouble, usually I’m Sweetcheeks to him.” Alicia withdrew her hand from Teodora’s and took a drink of her tea. Teodora giggled softly as she also lifted her mug of hot chocolate and took a sip.

  “I want to thank you Dory, what you did for Xav? Took some balls for a mortal to come in there.” Alicia was watching the Doctor discretely over the rim of her pink mug.

  Placing her own cup back down, Teodora pushed her glasses so they were resting on top of her head. “It was you who did the hard work Alic…Ali. I merely gave you a little nudge in the right direction, I knew that the Commander needed you, yes?”

  Alicia’s smile quickly turned to a mischievous smirk. “So… the thing is, I have as you know impeccable hearing and a teensy wasp tells me that you are in love?” Alicia swatted her left hand as Frazzle’s front paws appeared on the table. “Manners Fraz!”

  Teodora had went scarlet as she squirmed in her seat, what exactly had the vampire heard? But her eyes were also scanning what she was witnessing before her, she had never saw Alicia so relaxed than when she was around animals, but to have a white Bengal tiger as a pet was astonishing and she wondered where she had got him from.

  “Dory…”

  “Oh gosh, please excuse my moment of rudeness, yes, yes… I am very much in love with Shuggie”

  Teodora’s Spanish accented Shuggie as ‘Shuggggah’ and Alicia thought it was hilarious and cute at the same time. The Doctor was the colour of a beetroot, Alicia took her time to really look at her. She was five foot seven, her body was slender and athletic looking, so she worked out. Her hair which was normally tied back for work was flowing over her shoulders and rested in the middle of her upper back, as the sun shone through, you could see glints of red on her natural auburn hair. Teodora was a beautiful looking mortal and Alicia could see why Hugh was so smitten with her. When Teodora stood up to place her now empty cup in the sink, her scrub top had lifted a
nd Alicia literally fell off her chair in shock.

  Teo rushed over to where Alicia had fallen. “Ali, are you okay? Let me help you up slowly.”

  Alicia was crying from laughter, streams of red tears were flowing down her cheeks.

  “Duck Dory… Please tell me you don’t wear those pants around Hugh, they reach your fucking armpits!”

  Teo shook her head when she realised that Alicia wasn’t in fact hurt or in any pain, her choice of underwear had never been an issue before, but this was the second time a comment had been made, the first being her Warrior. Biting her lower lip, Teodora just nodded her head.

  “Intervention is needed and now! Go get into normal clothes, you and I are going shopping, Hugh will be salivating after you tonight once I’m finished with you. And it’s my treat!” Alicia smirked as she sauntered out of the kitchen. She could hear the mortal gasping and trying to worm her way out of it. Alicia may detest shopping but this was intervention that was needed and her best friend would enjoy the show.

  Sergeant Paterson’s mood was deadly as he took charge of his latest mission. Keeping his sights on his subjects and their surroundings, he silently cursed Lieutenant Shuggie for choosing a ‘lingerie’ assignment as his tester. Whilst Alicia and Teodora inspected the merchandise, he quickly typed a text message, “You son of a fucking bitch Lieutenant, I did not sign up for babysitting two females shopping for bras! You are dead meat when we get back,” and pressed send before standing guard outside the changing rooms.

  It was going to be a very long day.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Celeste Mazzara felt like she had been summoned to the Headmaster’s office. That same dread in the pit of her stomach from when she was a girl. Instead, she was a grown woman of twenty three years, and being escorted to her father’s office. He had sent a short, cryptic message that he needed to see her for something ‘important’. Shrugging her arm away from her ‘escort’ she walked into his empty office and sat down, drumming her fingers impatiently on the arm of the chair. Celeste didn’t like waiting – for anything or anyone. It was a trait she shared with her father.