Xavier's POV Two shots ring out as I watch the bullet pierce the forehead of the two men straddling Andre.Vicenzo is nowhere to be found but I know he is behind this. I know these are his men. I know this is his handiwork.Setting my anger aside, I take forceful steps towards her on the floor, staring at her pale white face and wondering what on earth they must have done to her.I told her not to move an inch.I told her not to go anywhere without the guards.But she defied me yet again.Vicenzo abruptly ended our so-called conversation and my intuition was right the very moment I turned back to go back to my seat to see her absence.I was seething in anger. But it vanished and got replaced with anxiety when she didn't appear after a moment.Mathew had seen her going towards the bathroom and the moment I heard the loud sound of a gun, I knew there was trouble."Vicenzo and the others have fled", Mathew rushes back into the restroom to inform me while I am still standing over her.I

Xavier's POV CHICAGOFor a moment, I didn't want to believe the stark naked truth in front of me, including her narration about her encounter with Vicenzo.The truth was right in front of me all along but I pretended not to see them. I had my doubts but my ego blinded me, stopping me from knowing that I am the wrong one here.Despite everything, I still want real evidence to know that I am wrong. All of these might just be a ploy, who knows? I need real evidence before I can finally admit I am wrong and let her go.Carefully lifting my head from the two pictures in front of me, I lock my gaze on one of the local restaurant's cooks.He seems extremely nervous and clumsy as he darts his eyes away. This was the restaurant where we found her. I should have known that Andre, that spoiled brat would never settle for less, not working in a local place like this just to throw me off the rail. I should have known. Maybe I know but I decided to ignore my instincts. I guess I should blame that

Xavier's POV What I wanted to do immediately after the helicopter landed at the heliport at home was to have a drink all night. I didn't know I was going to face Jasmine tonight. I thought that I would wait till tomorrow. All I wanted to do was to check her in the room to be sure she was fine because I thought she would be asleep already. I was met with her absence instead and no guard was in sight. I was frightened that something bad had just happened. None of the guards had seen her leaving the room. The only thing that came to my head was that she had been kidnapped. It made my blood boil and my head in turmoil. Everywhere was searched but she wasn't in sight. It made me angry not until I noticed the door to the painting room was open. My first instinct was to check there, not because I expect her to be there but to satisfy my curiosity of who could be in there by that time of the night. This room is always locked. It has been locked for years. How did she get in? The mo

Xavier's POV My eyes scan over the silky robe she is dressed in, showing a clear picture of her cleavage as she rolls over to one side while I take a drag of my cigarette.I lean backwards in my chair, my eyes not leaving her as I continue to puff out the air and take in another drag just to get my mind occupied with something else other than the guilt I feel each time she is like this.I don't want to think about anything else but the fact that she is Andre and my woman.I don't want to think about her being Jasmine, a weak woman who wants to leave the second Andre is found. I don't even want to think about what would happen to her if she leaves and gets into Vicenzo's trap.That bastard must have injected her with heroin.My business also entails the shipment of drugs and weapons. The moment she lost consciousness, I knew it was a result of the drug from the day before.I didn't expect her to wake up so soon that morning. The first time I gave that to a traitor, he slept for 18 hou

Xavier's POV Like someone who has been awaiting my return, she jumps up from the bed the moment I push the bedroom door open. With my creased brows, I venture fully into the bedroom to see her rubbing her hands over her sleepy eyes.She must have been asleep. I thought as much."Welcome", she murmurs in a sleepy tone before darting her eyes to the wall clock. It is 11 pm."Thanks", I say in a low tone like hers. I wonder why she is welcoming me home. I am thinking she will be fast asleep, probably because she is still trying to avoid me like she did this morning after seeing each other naked or because she can hardly hold back her sleep.When I walk to the closet, she follows behind me, making me more curious about what she really wants.Now, I am more than sure this isn't a coincidence. She wants something.I whirl around suddenly, making her almost bump into me. I raise a questioning brow at her, waiting for her to spill whatever it is she wants.Smiling shyly, she plays with her f