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Mia's eyes widen in surprise as a rush of gratitude flows through her. She's never had anyone take care of her like this before, and the notion that these men, these dangerous, powerful men, would do such a thing for her leaves her feeling humbled and grateful.
"Thank you," she whispers, looking down at her hands. "Thank you so much."
Xavier smiles reassuringly at her. "It's our pleasure," he says softly. "Consider yourself our guest."
There's a warmth in his tone that touches something deep within me, a flicker of jealousy igniting in my chest despite my attempts to keep it at bay. I know what Xavier is capable of, the kind of damage he can cause when he sets his sights on something or someone. The idea of him getting close to Mia is enough to make my blood run cold.
But then again, I can't really blame him for being interested in her. She's beautiful, smart, and kind-hearted - all the things that make a woman irresistible. I just hope Xavier knows what he's doing and doesn't wind up hurting her in the process.
As we discuss the logistics of Mia staying with us, I can see the apprehension written all over her face. She has every right to be scared.
"You can have your own room, of course," Antonio says with a smile. "We'll get you whatever you need. You’ll be our princess."
Mia nods, grateful for their generosity, and I can't help but feel a tinge of guilt. But as the meeting comes to an end, and everyone disperses to handle their assigned tasks--mine being to show her to her room--Xavier pulls me aside.
"Lucas," he says, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You need to be careful with her."
I nod in understanding, feeling a knot form in my stomach. "I know," I reply softly
Xavier gives me a knowing look, one that tells me he sees the conflict raging within me. "You like her," he says simply.
I can feel my cheeks flush at his words, and I quickly look away. "It's not like that," I mutter, feeling the weight of the lie even as it leaves my lips.
Mia waits for me by the door. I can sense the fear radiating off her, like waves of heat on a hot summer day. She's in way over her head, and it's all my fault. I should have been more clear yesterday, I should have made her leave.
Her footsteps are hesitant as we walk toward the stairs.. I want to reach out to her, to tell her everything will be okay, but I know that would be a lie. Mia is in danger and there's no telling when or where the threat will come from.
When we reach the hallway that leads to the rooms, I pause and turn to face her.
"If you need anything, just let me know," I say softly.
Mia looks up at me with those big, green eyes of hers. "Thank you," she whispers.
I can't help myself. I reach out and take her hand, feeling a jolt of electricity shoot through my body at the contact.
"We're going to keep you safe," I promise her. "As long as I'm here, no one will hurt you."
Mia's eyes tear up yet again and she throws her arms around me, holding me tight. "Thank you, Lucas. Thank you."
18
ANTONIO
As Lucas leads Mia out of the room to give her a glimpse of where her quarters will be, she looks back at me over her shoulder before disappearing from sight. In that fleeting moment, I catch a glimpse of longing in her eyes, a silent plea for understanding and reassurance.
"You'll be okay," I promise, knowing she can't hear me anyway.
I watch her go, my heart heavy with a mix of emotions. I turn to Xavier. "You feel it." I state plainly. "Don't you?"
He sighs, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. "Yeah. And if what you feel is anything close to what I feel... we're screwed."
As I listen to Xavier's words, a sense of understanding settles between us. We both feel the pull of attraction toward Mia, a magnetic force that cannot be easily ignored. The complexity of the situation becomes more apparent, and yet, there's a shared acknowledgement that our connection with her goes beyond friendship or fleeting infatuation.
I meet his gaze with determination. "Xavier, we've always had each other's backs, and I don't think this should be any different," I say, my words filled with a rare honesty. "We need to be there for Mia, no matter how complicated this becomes."
Xavier nods his head in agreement, "I know. It's just...this is uncharted territory for me. I never thought I would feel this way about someone." He rubs the back of his neck, a sign of his unease.
I walk over to the cellaret and pour us both a hefty glass of whiskey. Handing his over, we sit back down and nearly down our glasses respectively before finding the words to talk again.
