23. Chapter Seventeen

Xander

"Anna!" I boom across the training yard. The little shit turns to me and glares before releasing her hold on Kimber, the raven-haired girl that still refuses to speak to Doxy even after being here for two weeks.

"What?" the little shit snaps as she pushes the strands of her brown hair from her face, murky brown eyes spitting fire. We found out she is only sixteen and her father was the one to sell her. She is Italian and her father owed a debt to the Irish he couldn't repay so that is why he sold her.

"No fucking weapons! This is sparring and you've already maimed three of our fucking men!" I snarl as I close the space between us and offer Johnson a hand up from the ground. The poor fucker releases my hand once he's on his feet and clutches his side where she stabbed him. "Go get that shit cleaned up." He nods and stalks away but not before shooting Anna a filthy look. The little shit just smiles and wiggles her fingers at him. "Stop bringing a knife to training. You do it again and the next time you spar you'll be fighting me," I warn her.

"Seriously?" The gleeful tone of her voice has me fighting not to groan.

"No." I spin around to see Doxy and Trey standing there. Ever since the night we brought the girls back from the club, she has shut me out. She speaks to Trey but in single word responses. She even ditched us for a whole day to go and get tattooed. None of the men would help us go after her and it was then we knew for sure that these fuckers are loyal to her alone. Nano was the fucking one to drive her there. Her arms, back, sternum and the back of her thighs, fuck, even her ass is tatted. She tried to play off their importance but Trey and I know, she got them in those places to hide her scars. We may fuck every night and morning but there are no emotions involved, she literally uses mine and Trey's cocks to get off and then that's it. Most guys would be okay with a chick that doesn't do attachments but not me. I can see it is starting to get to Trey as well. "You bring a knife to a spar again and you will be fighting me, Xander has a flight to catch." I jerk back in shock and dart my gaze to Trey. He and I are kind of friends now so he shoots me a look that tells me I won't like where she is sending me.

"I'm not going anywhere?—"

She cuts me off before I can finish. "Your plane leaves in four hours, your bags are packed and loaded into the car. Tell my brother I'll see him real soon." I stand here like a fucking idiot as I watch her stalk off without so much as a backward glance.

"I tried to talk her out of it but she wouldn't listen to me." I roll my lips over my teeth and nod. "If it helps, I booked you a return flight?" I shoot him a side eye that has him smiling. "Look, I know we aren't exactly besties or anything?—"

I snort. "What gave it away?" I deadpan.

"The fact you're such a cuddly teddy bear that likes to share his toys." I shake my head and smile at the asshole's comment as we make our way toward the cars. "I'll watch out for her. I'll call you tonight after the raid. I swear I won't let anything happen to her." I must be a fucking idiot because I believe him. I come to a stop beside the car and face Trey, holding my hand out to him. He flicks his gaze from my hand to me, then knocks it out of the way as he hugs me. I stand here stiff and feeling fucking weird, I may see his cock as often as Wave's pussy but that doesn't mean I want to touch the fucker. I push him back and shoot him a warning glare that has him laughing. "I licked your dick once and you're acting like I want to do it again."

"Do you?" I blurt out.

"It has crossed my mind." I balk at the fucker, it takes a second before laughter bursts out of him and I grit my teeth.

"Watch out for her and call me," I clip out as I climb into the back seat, leaving the bastard standing there laughing at my expense. I rest my head back and close my eyes. I haven't been home in eight years. Knox was clear, if I was to return home he would kill me and somehow I don't think Wave would shed a tear over my loss. I hate that she is pushing me away. She has no fucking trouble talking to Trey but when it comes to me, she detaches herself and turns fucking cold.

I lull my head to the side and gaze out the window, I hate that I have to fucking leave her. The fact I have to put my trust in Trey to keep an eye on her and keep her safe grates on my nerves. I just got her back and now I'm leaving her behind, again.

"Turn the car around!" I shout.

"What?" Paul says.

"Turn the fucking car around and take me back to her, now!" I roar. I can see him debating my request so I pull my gun and press the barrel into his temple. "Do it now." He growls his displeasure but does as I say. The second we get back I don't wait for him to come to a full stop. I leap out and race inside our cabin, following the sound of voices and storm into the kitchen. The moment I enter they all go silent and face me.

"Xander?" Wave looks shocked at the sight of me. I cross the room, grab her face and kiss her not caring that all her men can see it. I break the kiss and rest my forehead against hers, we're both gasping for air.

"You want your brother to know you're coming, then you call him or text him but I'm not leaving your side, do you hear me? I'm not fucking leaving you again." A flicker of emotion passes through her eyes briefly before she snuffs it out. Fuck, I hate when she hides how she is feeling.

"You disobeyed an order, Grayson," she grits out.

"Then punish me but I'm not leaving you," I vow.

"We need him for the raid tonight, Doxy. He's got a skillset none of the others have. He is an asset to this mission and with him here I can guarantee that we will get in and out without any casualties." Pulling back I look to Trey, slightly awed by the fact he isn't pissed I'm back. He looks happy to have me here… that reaction is fucking unexpected.

"Fine," she clips out before turning away from me to face the others. "We raid the two clubs tonight, I want all the girls out alive and safe."

"Some of the girls want to come tonight," Brett announces.

She shakes her head. "No. They aren't ready for this. All the men are named that I want alive and brought back here. They can get their revenge on them," she declares.

"Karl won't be there tonight," Nano says from his perch on the arm of the sofa.

"I know. Once we raid these two clubs he's going to go underground and stay hidden." She turns to face Trey and me and an uneasy feeling begins to churn in my stomach. "The both of you will go after Karl while we?—"

"No!"

"We do this together!" Trey and I both say in unison.

Her eyes darken. "You will do as you're fucking told. Bring me Karl alive. If he goes underground it will be months before we find him and we don't have that time."

I cut a glance to Trey who looks just as confused as me. "Why don't we have time?" I ask.

She lifts her chin and meets my gaze. "The Murdochs, Memento Mori and Godfathers have aligned themselves with my brother. The Re Della Strada is planning on invading Ireland and I won't allow Knox to step foot inside my turf."

I reel back. "Why the fuck are they coming after us?" I snap.

"Calvin managed to get word from one of his guys inside Karl's circle. Karl placed a call to the Don of the US and told him he was under attack. The dumb fuck thinks that they will come to his aide, they aren't coming to help, they are coming to overthrow Karl and take Ireland." That is not what I expected to come out of her mouth.

"You want Karl and his operation to shut down quickly so you can go to Canada." I think out loud but then it clicks, I scowl down at her. "You were never sending me back to Knox, you were testing me to see if I would run to your brother or prove my loyalty to you!" I grit out through clenched teeth.

She shrugs her shoulders, not caring that her test hurt me. "I had to know if you were loyal to him or me, turns out I was wrong and you aren't as attached to my brother's side as I thought." My mouth parts but no words come out.

"I told you he wouldn't betray you, Doxy, he is loyal to you, not your brother." I cut a glance to Trey and grind my teeth.

"You knew?" I growl. He at least has the decency to look sheepish.

"I told her it was a bad idea but she wouldn't listen. I'm sorry."

I tear my gaze from him to look at her. "When will you see that I am fucking here!" I roar. "I never left you, Waverley, I never gave up on you."

"Yes, you did!" she screams.

"Leave, now!" Trey barks at the men who quickly obey him.

"No, I didn't. I tried to find you for years, I never gave up hope."

"You found me by pure luck because you and Knox had a little fight and he kicked you out," she taunts.

"No. He banished me because I ran his wife down the night your car went over the bridge which resulted in her losing her memories and miscarrying their kid," I spit before I turn on my heel and flee.