Chapter 8

Xavier's POV

I sat behind my desk, staring at the reports spread across the polished surface. My office was quiet except for the occasional turn of a page and the low voices of the men standing in front of me.

I preferred it that way.

Silence made it easier to think and lately, I needed all the clarity I could get.

"How did the meeting go?" I asked.

"Everything went according to plan," one of my men replied. "The shipment has already been moved."

"Good."

I picked up another file.

"And the situation at the southern docks?"

"Handled."

I nodded.

One problem after another.

That was my life.

There was always something that needed to be handled. Someone who needed to be reminded of their place. A deal that needed to be secured. A man who thought he could take what belonged to me. I had long ago stopped questioning it.

This was the world I had built. A knock sounded against the door.

One of my men entered.

"Boss."

I looked up.

"What is it?"

He hesitated for a moment.

"It's about Arthur King."

My expression remained unchanged.

"What about him?"

"His operations in Italy are being sabotaged."

I leaned back in my chair.

Arthur King had always been ambitious. He built his shipping empire through legitimate business, but that didn't mean his hands were completely clean. Over the years, he had made deals with people he shouldn't have dealt with, people who didn't forget debts and worst of all people who didn't forgive easily.

I wasn't surprised that something had finally caught up with him.

"How bad?"

"Bad enough that he's travelling to Italy himself."

My fingers stopped moving.

"He left?"

"Yes. He is expected to stay there for at least a week."

The room suddenly felt smaller.

My mind immediately went to one person.

Cassandra.

I stood.

"Where is she?"

The man looked confused.

"Sir?"

"Cassandra King."

He quickly understood.

"She's still at the estate."

I stared at him.

Arthur was gone.

Cassandra was alone.

The realization sent something cold through me. If someone was bold enough to attack Arthur's business in another country, what would stop them from looking for another way to hurt him?

And what better way than his daughter? I spent centuries learning one thing, people always went after what you loved and Cassandra was the one thing Arthur loved more than his empire.

"Double the security around the King estate."

My men looked at each other.

"Sir?"

"You heard me."

"Yes, sir."

"I want men watching the property at all times. No one gets close to her without us knowing and Cassandra......."

My jaw tightened.

"She doesn't need to know."

I walked toward the window. The city stretched below me, bright and alive. Somewhere in that city was the woman I had spent five hundred years losing.

I promised myself I would stay away and I would keep my distance, but distance didn't mean I had to leave her unprotected.

If I couldn't stand beside her, I would protect her from far away. Even if it meant she would never know.

"Keep me informed of everything," I said.

"Yes, boss."

The men left.

I remained by the window.

My reflection stared back at me.

I had told myself that keeping Cassandra away from me would keep her safe, but I had forgotten something.

The world didn't need to know that I loved her for her to become a target, It only needed to know that she was Arthur King's daughter and I would not take any chances.

____________________________

Cassandra's POV

The next morning, I woke up to something strange. There were more guards around the house.

I noticed them immediately.

There were men standing near the entrance, others positioned around the driveway, and even more near the gates.

I frowned.

"What is going on?"

One of the guards gave me a polite smile.

"Nothing to worry about, Miss King."

That only made me more suspicious.

"Then why are there twice as many guards as yesterday?"

He hesitated.

"Your father increased security."

Of course.

I sighed.

I should have known. After everything Dad had told me before leaving, it made sense.

Someone was after him.

Maybe he was simply being extra careful because he wasn't here to keep an eye on me himself.

I decided not to make a big deal out of it. By late morning, Stacy arrived.

"I brought snacks."

She held up a bag.

I smiled.

"Awe Stacy you're my most favorite person."

"oh I know sugar plum." she replied in a baby voice

We spent most of the morning in the living room watching movies. For a while, I forgot about everything. then Stacy noticed me staring at the television without really watching it.

"What?"

"Nothing."

She narrowed her eyes. She definitely didn't believe me

"You're doing that thing again."

"What thing?" I asked innocently

"Thinking too much."

I laughed.

"Maybe I am but what's it to you."

She tossed a pillow at me.

"Stop."

I caught it.

"You're too violent."

"I'm your friend. I'm allowed to be."

We laughed.

By afternoon, Stacy suddenly sat up.

"Let's go shopping."

I looked at her.

"Shopping?"

"Yes."

I hesitated.

"Do you think Dad would—"

"Your father isn't here."

"Exactly and he emphasized that I do not leave except it's absolutely important."

She grinned.

"But with him away that means we have freedom."

I laughed.

"You make it sound like we're escaping prison."

"Aren't we?"

I rolled my eyes.

Still, the idea sounded very tempting.

I hadn't been out much except for the party, and perhaps getting some fresh air would do me good.

"Fine."

She jumped up.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then let's go."

The drive to the mall was peaceful at first. Stacy talked about a store she wanted to visit, while I watched the city pass through the window.

Then I noticed it.

A black vehicles behind us.

I frowned.

It had been there for several minutes.

I looked again.

Still there.

"Stacy."

"Hmm?"

"Do you see those cars?"

She glanced at the side mirror.

"Which one?"

"The black ones."

She looked.

"I don't know."

I sighed.

Maybe I was imagining things.

But when we turned onto another road, the cars turned too.

I stared at it.

My irritation grew.

Then I remembered the extra guards at home, he was worried about me. I understood that.

But this?

Following me without even telling me?

I crossed my arms.

"Seriously?"

Stacy looked at me.

"What?"

I glared through the window at the black car.

"This is bullshit."