Page 62 of His Mistress by Blackmail

His gaze dropped from hers, a tinge of red flowing into his unshaven face. After a long moment, he reached behind him and tugged something out of his waistband. It was an oblong-shaped object wrapped in black cloth. He tossed it on the table. ‘I don’t care what happens to me, but we had an agreement.’

Xandro took a deep, shuddering breath. Reached for the object. Discarding the cloth, he opened the velvet box. The necklace was a simple design. But the three rubies were huge, enough to command much more than the sum Xandro had bargained for all those years ago.

It would’ve been anticlimactic, had she not witnessed the pain in his face as he stared at the piece of jewellery. Then the emotion was wiped clean from his face as he snapped the box shut and set it back on the table.

‘I wish to renegotiate.’ He spoke directly to her. ‘With this.’ He held up the box.

But it was Ben who answered. ‘No chance—’

‘I can speak for myself, Ben,’ Sage interrupted him. ‘You do whatever you want, Xandro, but I won’t be a part of it.’

Xandro stepped towards her. ‘Sage—’

She held up her hand. ‘No, this ends now. You have what you want. I’m going home.’

Xandro stepped in front of her. ‘I brought you here. I’m taking you back.’

‘No, it’s over, remember?’ The reminder was more for herself.

His eyes darkened to a stormy grey. ‘Trust me, I haven’t forgotten. But if you think I’m going to leave you in this place, you’re sorely mistaken.’

She stayed mutinously silent, afraid that the tears building at the back of her eyes and throat would accompany whatever she attempted to say.

Xandro dragged a hand through his hair. ‘Besides, your brother shouldn’t be subjected to a long flight. Not until he’s been medically cleared.’

She glanced at Ben, saw the pain etched on his face. ‘Ben?’

He attempted a shrug that didn’t quite come off.

Xandro’s lips firmed. ‘He needs medical care. I can have him in a private clinic within the hour,’ he said, his eyes piercing ferociously into hers.

‘I’ll pay you back.’

Xandro’s jaw gritted. ‘If you insist.’

‘I do.’

With her heart still reeling, she took Ben’s arm, fighting back tears as he leaned heavily on her. She was aware of Xandro following them out but she concentrated on Ben until they were outside and the bodyguards took over.

She was so focused on not breaking down that she didn’t notice Ben had been placed in the second SUV until it drove away and Xandro strode towards her.

She rushed after the vehicle. ‘Why is he leaving without me?’

Xandro blocked her path. ‘You’ll be reunited with your brother soon enough. If you get in the car.’

She got in, but kept her gaze fixed straight ahead. Silence reigned. Thicker. More charged. And with each mile they drove higher into the hills of Monaco she fought harder to hold herself together.

She was at her wits’ end when they finally drove through a set of high double gates. ‘Where are we?’

‘We’re at one of my properties,’ he replied.

‘I thought you were taking me to Ben.’

‘I will, right after we talk.’

‘I really don’t see what more we have to say to each other, Xandro.’

He scowled. ‘You may not have any more to say, but I do. I have no problem carrying you in if that’s what you prefer?’ he snapped.

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