Chapter 10

Xavier didn't wait for the chaos to settle.

He grabbed Cassandra and pulled her through the crowd, moving quickly toward the opposite side of the mall.

People were screaming and running in every direction. Security guards shouted orders, while shoppers pushed past one another, desperate to get away.

Cassandra could barely keep up.

"Xavier—"

"Keep moving."

His voice was sharp.

She looked at him.

For the first time since she had met him, Xavier didn't look cold or untouchable.

He looked panicked.

His eyes kept moving around them, searching every corner, every doorway, every person who came too close.

He looked terrified.

Cassandra didn't understand it.

Why was he so worried about her?....why was he suddenly acting like keeping her alive was the most important thing in the world?

She didn't have time to think about it.

They needed to get out.

They hurried through another corridor until Xavier spotted an emergency exit.

"There."

He pushed the door open and guided her outside.

A black car was waiting nearby.

Cassandra barely had time to process what was happening before Xavier opened the passenger door and helped her inside.

He had apparently thought ahead.

He ordered his men to park cars at every exit.

The thought barely registered before he climbed into the driver's seat and sped away.

For several minutes, neither of them spoke.

Cassandra sat frozen in the passenger seat, her hands trembling in her lap.

The sound of the gunshots kept replaying in her mind. She had never been that close to a shooting before.

She never felt so helpless.

Finally, she broke the silence.

"Who were those people?"

Her voice shook despite her attempt to keep it steady.

Xavier's hands tightened around the steering wheel.

"People who hate your father."

She turned toward him.

"What?"

"Your father works with some very dangerous people."

His voice remained calm, but his eyes stayed on the road.

"And they don't play when someone ruins their business."

Cassandra went quiet.

The words settled heavily inside her.

Your father works with some very dangerous people.

She stared through the windshield.

Was her father involved in illegal business?

Was that why he had always been so protective of her?

Was that why she had been kept away from so many things?

Questions began racing through her mind.

She felt angry and disappointed.

Her father had always told her he was protecting her, but perhaps there had been much more to it.

She slowly turned back toward Xavier.

"Do you think they'll come after me at my house?"

Xavier didn't hesitate.

"Yes."

Her heart dropped.

"They probably know where I live."

"They do, That's why we're going to one of my safe houses"

He glanced at her briefly.

"A safe house?"

"You'll be safe there."

Cassandra didn't argue.

What could she say? This man had no reason to protect her.Yet here he was. he put himself between her and a bullet.

He had dragged her out of a crowded mall, found an emergency exit, and gotten her into safety without even thinking about himself.

She couldn't pretend she wasn't grateful.

She looked down at her hands. Just like that, her life had changed in a single day.

She needed to speak to her father, she needed answers.

Then something suddenly occurred to her.

"Oh my goodness."

She turned sharply toward Xavier.

"Stacy"

"Don't worry."

His answer came immediately.

"She's fine. She can defend herself."

Cassandra exhaled in relief.

Thank God.

But then she frowned.

"Wait."

She looked at him.

"How did you know that?"

Xavier's expression tightened.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Cassandra waited.

But he didn't answer.

Before she could ask again, the car slowed.

They had arrived. Xavier walked into the building and Cassandra followed.

The safe house was nothing like she expected.

She imagined some dark, isolated building surrounded by armed men.

Instead, it looked surprisingly warm.

The moment she stepped inside, she was pleasantly surprised.

The house was cozy.

Comfortable.

There were soft couches, warm lighting, and simple decorations that made it feel almost like a home.

Cassandra walked farther inside, looking around.

Xavier entered behind her.

He looked around the room before turning his attention back to her.

"You can stay here until your father comes back and everything dies down."

Cassandra nodded.

"Okay."

She turned around.

And froze.

Xavier was standing very close, much closer than she expected.

Her heart began beating faster.

He looked down at her, his dark eyes fixed on her face, there was something in his expression.

Something she couldn't quite explain.

It made her nervous.

He slowly raised his hand.

For one second, she thought he was going to touch her.

His fingers moved toward her face, almost as though he wanted to brush away the strand of hair that had fallen across her cheek.

But he stopped.

His hand remained suspended for a moment.

Then he lowered it.

Xavier stepped back.

Cassandra felt a strange flicker of disappointment.

She immediately pushed the feeling away.

Why would she be disappointed?

This man was practically a stranger. She should not be thinking about him touching her.

"Don't leave without telling the security team," he said.

His voice had returned to its usual calmness.

"And don't trust anyone who doesn't have my tag on them."

Cassandra nodded.

"Okay."

He looked at her for another moment.

Then his expression softened.

"Be safe, Cassandra."

He paused.

"Please."

Something about the way he said it made her chest tighten, it sounded more like a plea than an order. Like he was genuinely afraid something would happen to her.

She didn't want to disappoint him.

So she nodded again.

"I will."

Xavier stared at her for another second.

Then he turned and walked toward the door.

He left so quickly that Cassandra almost thought he was running from something.

She stood there watching the door close behind him.

Her fingers slowly tightened around the edge of her shirt.

She didn't understand Xavier Vance.

She didn't understand why he cared so much, she didn't understand why his eyes always made her feel as though they held a memory she couldn't reach.

And most of all...

She didn't understand why, when he walked away, a strange emptiness settled inside her chest.

And she hated things she could understand .