6. Psycho Ex.

~XANDER~

All through the ride here and now sipping the champagne one of the female servers served us, I couldn't help but ask myself what the hell I was doing.

The plan was to have a plate of ice cream to diffuse the heat a bit before I would take a quick dive into the bathroom to assuage the remnants with a cold bath. But here I was, sipping from the champagne flute, inside a country club I never in my wildest dreams imagined finding myself in tonight.

Never had a woman had such control over me, making me change my plans overnight just by batting her eyelids and offering me a plate of ice cream. I had never given any of them that control.

Just...who was this Luna that had slipped past my defense so easily, and even without my knowing?

"Alexander!" The sharp calling of my name dragged me out of my thoughts. I turned immediately to face Ace. I might be a little popular—judging from a few people who were constantly waving and smiling at me from the minute we entered here— it was only Ace and Andy who would call me by my full name.

"Is there a problem, man?" He asked, narrowing a concerned gaze at me.

My brows furrowed. "Of course not. Why do you ask?"

He pointed at the hand that I held my champagne flute with. "You haven't taken a sip from that flute for several minutes. Plus, you look so distant, gazing pointedly at the door."

I didn't know I was that obvious, or that Ace was observing me.

"Is it about Luna? I know she may have crossed the line a little by insisting—" he started but I waved him away.

"This doesn't have anything to do with Luna..." At least not in the way he pointed out. But I wasn't about to admit to him that I was thinking about her in that way.

I wasn't known to give any lady a second thought. The last thing I needed was someone to be used as bait by my enemies to draw me out.

"Why did her brother put her under your care?" I asked, attempting to sway his mind away from my thinking mode earlier. I knew Ace, he wouldn't stop asking, and I wasn't ready to divulge.

I watched as he took a little sip from the flute and relaxed back on the seat, fixing his gaze on me. Somehow, I got the feeling he wasn't going to answer me plainly.

"You mean your dewdrop?" He asked with a boyish tilt of his head. I knew he was fishing for information. Typical Ace. Who was I kidding thinking he wouldn't bring up that scenario again.

I narrowed a deadpan gaze at him. "Can you answer the question, Ace?"

He chuckled, poking his inner cheek with his tongue. "Not until you tell me the deal with the dewdrop thing. Because, honestly, I'm still shocked." He took another sip.

A low groan escaped my lips. God! Could he be any more annoying? "Fine!" I gave in because I couldn't help the curiosity growing inside of me. The possibility that there might be something going on between him and her made my jaw clench.

"It’s just because of her eyes. They are dewy. That's all. Now, will you answer me?" I tried not to make my voice sound so eager, but I doubt if I hid it well. Ace's grin was proof that I probably didn't.

He shrugged. "He just wants a male figure protecting her till he's back."

That didn't sound so convincing. “Protecting her from what?"

Another sip before he replied. And I was still carrying mine while staring intently at him.

"From her psycho ex as he termed it. She caught the guy banging another lady in his apartment. Micheal didn't want him anywhere near her again."

I nodded slowly, my jaw clenching at the thought of any guy coming an inch close to Luna. Michael and I weren't close friends, but I had spent enough time with him to decipher the kind of person he was; thorough, composed, and handled things with precision. That was the more reason I helped him, not only because Ace recommended him.

"If he said the guy's a psycho, then he is," I muttered to myself before finally taking a sip of my drink.

"You think so?" Ace asked and I turned sharply to him. I didn't know I was being loud. I nodded anyway, my thoughts spanning back to Luna.

It had been close to thirty minutes since she stepped out to answer a call. What kind of call would take that long? An odd feeling dropped in my stomach. That sick feeling I always had when things weren't going so well. More like a premonition.

Psycho ex... I sprang to my feet immediately. I might be paranoid, but I needed to make sure Luna was fine. I took another sip from the flute before I dumped it on the large table, taking a step.

"Where are you going?" Yeah, in my haste I had forgotten to let Ace know.

"I just need to make a few calls." He narrowed a suspicious gaze at me, which I ignored as I made my way out of the table in quick strides. The odd feeling was growing.

I was hit with the evening air immediately I stepped outside. But as much as I wanted to bask in it, I needed to find Luna first.

My gaze darted quickly around the quiet compound, no sign of her. My worry was growing. I resumed my walk towards the extreme corner of the compound, the side that was a little dark.

That was when I caught sight of two people against the wall. Looking closely, I caught sight of Luna's dress. She was trapped in the wall, and the psycho was obviously trying to have his way with her.

Anger burned inside of me, my hands curling into first as I marched towards them. Micheal might be mild towards his sister, but no one would mess with her, not under my watch. The dangerous fireworks had started crackling inside of me by the time I got closer.

I didn't waste time landing a blow on his shoulders, causing him to fall to the floor on his ass, wincing in pain.

"Nobody touches what's mine!" I growled, feeling her gaze on me. I didn't know how that slipped out, but I had to let it be, for now.

The guy— whom I was guessing was her ex, glared at me, wincing again as he tried to get on his feet. "You already replaced me, huh?" He asked, gazing at her. She was still leaning against the wall, eyes darting in fear, her hair disheveled and her dress wrinkled.

"I guess we are both guilty of cheating."

With my fist totally ready for another blow, I made for him again but he doubled back, snarling at Luna. "I will be back." He called out before stalking off, massaging the place where I sucker punched him.

As he exited the building, I turned to beckon her. "Luna, let's—"

My words halted midway as she fell into my arms, wrapping her hands around me and sniffling.

The unexplainable warmth that washed through me, pushed me into wrapping mine around her slender frame and resting my head against hers. "He's gone."

"Thank you, " she whispered and I couldn't help closing my eyes to savor the sweetness of her voice and the relief that I arrived right on time.