CHAPTER 22: ESCAPE THAT FAILS

ATHENA'S POV

The elevator dings softly as it opens onto the private parking level and my heart thunders in my chest... perhaps even louder than the seemingly loud sounds of my footsteps.

I clutch the strap of my duffel bag tighter than I'm already holding it, feeling every nerve in my body wound up tight.

I’m almost there, I'm almost there, I say, repeating it over and over again in my head.

The driver’s side door to the pure black car Xander bought “for my comfort” is already unlocked— thanks to the spare key that I swiped days ago just in case.

I move quickly, opening the door and tossing the bag into the passenger seat.

Then I get in and my hands start to tremble again as I slide in behind the wheel and fumble to start the engine.

Freedom is just seconds away from me but the second I reach for the gear shift, I hear the elevator ding again and a figure quickly starts walking my way.

I freeze and then in seconds the driver’s side door beside me is pulled open.

... And my lungs literally collapse when I see that it's Xander.

He doesn’t say a word, he just stands there with one hand braced on the roof of the car and the other gripping the edge of the open car door.

His eyes are unreadable while he looks at me calmly.

"You really thought I would let you know?"

His voice is low and almost gentle, so that’s how I know he’s furious.

“I had to try,” I say, barely managing to let out the words.

“You gave me no choice.”

He cocks his head a bit. “No choice? Athena, I’ve given you more freedom than anyone else ever would’ve gotten from me. I've told you this before, and yet, here you are… running again.”

I unbuckle my seatbelt slowly, keeping my eyes locked on his.

“Because this isn’t freedom. This penthouse of yours it just a cage with glass walls.”

He laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “You call this a cage, but you're not running from walls. You're running from me.”

Annoyed by his words now, I step out of the car, slamming the door behind me.

“Damn right I am.”

Immediately he moves so fast, that I don’t even see it coming.

One moment I’m facing him, and the next his hand is around my wrist, yanking me towards him while keeping a hand on my waist so as not to disturb my baby bump, and I gasp, landing my hand on his broad chest.

“Let me go,” I growl.

“No.”

“You can’t do this,” I hiss. “You can’t keep me.”

His fingers tighten on my wrist, “I AM doing this. You’re carrying my children, Athena. Not just one child but two. Do you really think that I’ll just let you vanish into the night, put our babies at risk and let enemies hunt you like prey while you play runaway mother?”

I shove against his chest, and he lets me.

He lets me hit him, pound at his shoulders and scream my frustration into his face—but he doesn’t move, not even by an inch.

“Dammit, Xander!” I yell again and my voice breaks.

“You don’t get to own me. I’m not your possession!”

“I never said you were,” he says. “But you're mine all the same.”

And then he kisses me; crashing his lips on mine and swallowing every breath that I have.

His mouth claims mine with a hunger that borders so close too violent, tangling his hand in my hair and bending even more yet pulling me more closer to me, kissing me as if he’s afraid that I’ll dissolve if he lets go.

And for one stupid, spinning second, I kiss him back.

... Because I want to, and because even after everything, even after the lies, the do much control and the threats, my body still burns for him.

... I want him.

But I force myself to break the contact with our life and wrench away, gasping for air, my lips now swollen and my heart almost a wreck.

“Don’t do that again,” I rasp.

“You can’t make me forget everything with a kiss.”

His gaze drops to my lips, “I wasn’t trying to make you forget, I was reminding you who you belong to.”

“I don’t belong to anyone!”

He leans in then, running his voice softly against my ear.

“Run all you want, Athena. I’ll always bring you back.”

I slap him, and his cheek turns red, but he doesn’t react, flinch or even blink.

Instead, he lets out a slow breath and steps back, finally releasing me.

“I’m not your enemy,” he says.

“But I will be if you keep pushing me like this.”

I lift my chin at him, “Good. Because I’m done being pushed around.”

He lets out a humorless laugh and I, annoyed by that, throw my bag onto the ground and point at him.

“You want control right? And you want to pretend this is just about the babies? Fine. But don’t come near me. Don’t touch me, and don’t you dare kiss me again.”

He smiles faintly at me, “You don’t mean that.”

“Try me.”

He reaches down, picks up my bag, and tosses it over his shoulder.

“Come on. Let’s go.”

I don’t move.

He pauses and tilts his head at me. “You can either walk with me… or I’ll carry you.”

I glare at him.

Then he starts counting down. “Three… two------”

“Fine!” I yell and march past him, ignoring the smug satisfaction on his face.

We ride the elevator in silence, and when the doors slide open, two guards are already waiting.

I roll my eyes------ they must have searched for me till they were tired.

“Escort Ms. Foster to her suite,” Xander says coldly.

“And lock the door from the outside.”

I gasp and turn to him. “What?”

However he doesn’t even look at me. “Actions have consequences, Athena.”

I step out of the elevator and spin around to face him.

“You’re locking me in again? Like a prisoner?”

He meets my gaze, “No. Like someone who won’t stop running into danger while carrying the most precious things in my life.”

I don’t reply to his words.

... Because if I do, I’ll scream; so instead, I let the guards lead me down the hall.

As they close the door behind me with a click and turn the keys to lock me in, I...

... Just stare at the locked handle.