17. Lyric

Chapter seventeen

Lyric

I STOOD BY THE DOOR, my heart pounding. A cold sweat trickled down my spine as I stared at my phone screen. He's back.

Lyric: How can I miss someone who killed the only person who cared about me?

I replied, my fingers trembling over the keyboard. I saw the familiar blue bubbles before a short reply came through.

Masked Spawn of Satan: You will.

Vivid memories of Carmen's lifeless body haunted me. Her wide, terror-stricken eyes and the crimson stain on her white blouse were unforgettable. And he was responsible. Even though I hated him and he put fear into my soul, I had to get him to meet me.

Lyric: Meet me.

I typed the words slowly and deliberately, sealing my fate.

Lyric: At the dance tomorrow night at nine.

A few minutes passed, and there was no response. I was ready to text again when his message came through.

Masked Spawn of Satan: A change of heart so quickly? Alright. Don't disappoint, sweet Melody.

My heart raced at the thought of facing him again. He was dangerous and cunning. But so was I. And now, with Xander by my side, we had the upper hand.

I exhaled, placed my phone in my bag, and left for class.

That night, when Xander returned from school and got off work at his secretive job, I was there, waiting like an overzealous housecat in an elderly lady's apartment. Before his foot touched the inside of the doorframe, I was practically on top of him.

"Xander, he's back."

Xander's piercing gaze locked onto mine as he ushered me into the kitchen and sat on the stool at the island, his chiseled features tense. He gestured for me to sit, and I did, feeling my heartbeat quicken.

"So, we take this opportunity to end this," he announced, his large palm engulfing mine reassuringly. The warmth of his touch sent shivers up my spine. "You get dressed up, and we go together," Xander suggested, excitement dancing in his eyes. His desire for freedom from this was palpable, as was mine.

"Okay," I agreed, swallowing hard. This was it—the moment we'd been waiting for.

Xander stood abruptly, scooping me up into his arms with ease. Laughter bubbled out of me, uncontrolled and wild. "What are you doing, silly?"

He walked to his room, kicked open the door, his strength sending a thrill through me, and carried me straight to the bed.

Sitting me down, he commanded, "Cover your eyes." I giggled, covering them with my hands. "Keep them covered," he said, guiding me off the bed and into the bathroom. My clothes were peeled away as laughter continued to escape me. "Okay, wait one second; no peeking."

The flick of a lighter cut through the air, followed by the soft glow through my fingers.

"Okay, open them."

Pulling my hands from my face, I took in the scene before me—lit candles surrounding us, casting flickering shadows on Xander's naked form. My eyes lingered on every inch of his muscular body, memorizing the contours of his tattoos dancing like shadows on the wall.

"Join me?" he asked, his hand outstretched. Our eyes met, and my heart swelled.

"Of course," I whispered, taking his hand. Together, we stepped into the shower.

The hot water cascading down our bodies washed away the day's tension. I sighed as Xander's strong arms enveloped me, pulling me closer to him. I rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

"What are you thinking about?" Xander's voice was low, rumbling through his chest and into my ears.

I tilted my head up to meet his eyes. "Tomorrow."

He caressed my cheek. "We'll end this. Together."

I nodded, conviction settling in my bones. We would end this. For Carmen. For us.

The hot water poured down my body, intensifying the sensation of Xander's hands, tracing every curve and inch of me. I gasped as his fingertips found their way to the most sensitive parts of me, sending waves of pleasure through my entire body.

Xander turned me around, pressing his chest against my back while moving my dark hair to the side and trailing his lips across my neck. The sensations were like the Savannah beach as the waves lapped against it. He spread my legs before he slowly inserted his cock inside me while wrapping his hand around my waist and pressing his middle finger against my clit.

"Mm…" I moaned as he moved with a slow and steady rhythm, building up momentum until I was lost in a blissful frenzy of pleasure.

"God, you feel so good," he murmured against my ear. His thrusts increased in intensity and strength as we moved together, soaring ever closer to our combined peak.

I could feel my orgasm drawing nearer and nearer. "Oh, Xander. I'm so close," I whimpered, palms pressed against the glass for stability, but as my climax was near, Xander pulled out.

"Not yet," he said. "Beg me for it." He whispered seductively in my ear.

I couldn't think of anything else but him inside me and the orgasm I so desperately needed, so I gave in and pleaded for him to give me my release.

"Please?" I whined.

"Please, what?" Xander traced his fingers lightly over my wet nub, quickly retracting them as a whimper dripped from my lips.

"Please fuck me," I begged, pushing my ass against his hard cock and gliding up and down against it.

He slapped my ass. "Bad girl," he scolded. "Ask me if you can."

I licked my lips as he bit into my shoulder. "Please let me cum," I begged, grabbing his hand and placing it on my clit. "Please."

"God, I love it when you beg," Xander growled, and like a beast, he turned me around, lifted me, and pressed me against the glass. I loudly moaned when his cock entered me, and he pounded into me.

"Ah…Yes, yes…" I cried out, and the sound of our flesh against each other echoed off the walls.

We both shuddered as I felt my inner muscles contract around Xander's shaft as I was engulfed in wave after wave of pleasure.

"Oh…fuck me!" I whimpered. "Xander!" I screamed, my pleasure cresting and washing over me, my climax rushing through me so intensely that my head fell back as I felt his orgasm follow right after, unbridled and powerful.

Xander's arms slowly let me down, but they held me in place as my legs quivered too much to stand. Finally, his body slumped against mine in sweet exhaustion. He gently kissed my shoulder before pressing his forehead against mine.

We caught our breath, eyes still locked. A small smile played on Xander's lips, and I smiled as I placed my hands on his face, the warmth of his skin exciting my fingertips.

We broke apart; the spell was broken, but the connection was still strong. A connection that would last a thousand lifetimes.

Xander's eyes sparkled as he reached out, lacing his fingers with mine, helping me out after turning off the water.

He grabbed a towel and wiped us down. Afterward, he tossed the cloth over the side of the shower and scooped me up from the floor.

My laughter filled the room as he carried me to his bed and carefully placed me down.

I crawled up to the bed's headboard and grabbed one of his t-shirts from the nightstand to pull over my head before watching him rummage through his dresser, pulling on black boxers, a pair of gray sweatpants, and a black t-shirt.

Xander walked toward me and grinned. He stood at the edge of the bed, tapping his finger against his lips and counting down.

"3...2..."

I rolled my eyes playfully, and then he pounced on me.

We laughed and wrestled until we were both breathless. Then we lay there, face to face, staring longingly into one another's eyes.

I smiled and asked, "What?" My giggles bubbled up, reminiscent of a schoolgirl's laughter.

"I'm not sure if it's too soon to say this..." He stopped mid-sentence, holding his breath as he searched my reaction for any signs of disapproval.

As I spoke, my fingers trailed his rough, five-o'clock shadow along his jawline. "It's okay," I said quietly. "You can tell me anything."

He nodded and leaned in to kiss my lips tenderly, then drew away from me and tucked my hair behind my ear. His voice was soft as he whispered, "I love you."

My heart swelled at his words. I pushed away the doubts and fears that were trying to overpower me, and with a shy grin, I said, "I love you too."

Xander pulled me closer to him, his lips brushing against my forehead. "Goodnight, amor," he whispered, and my head shot up, looking at Xander with wide eyes.

"Why would you call me that?" I choked.

"Call you what?" Xander searched my fear-stricken eyes.

I felt as if I were being suffocated, my chest rising and falling heavily. "Amor?" I uttered it with difficulty. "Why would you call me that?" My body tensed up, preparing for flight.

"Lyric, take a deep breath," he said as he touched my face. "It's what we call someone we love, but if it freaks you out that much, I won't repeat it, okay?"

I nodded and leaned back into the bed, still eyeing him warily. Xander laced his arms around me in a comforting embrace, and I finally relaxed, and after an hour, we finally fell asleep.

The following day, Xander left ahead of me to attend his classes while I stayed behind in the apartment, mulling over the words he'd said the night before.

Grabbing a cup of coffee, I went onto the balcony and watched the cars drive by, and Carmen surfaced. I opened my phone and went through some pictures we had together. I missed her and hated X for taking her from me.

The doorbell rang, startling me from the photos. I got up and headed to the door. When I looked out the peephole, no one was there. I carefully creaked the door open to find a black box on the hall floor. Quickly, I grabbed it and closed the door.

Heading over to the island, I set the box on the counter and slowly opened it. A bright red dress with a slit up the thigh lay inside. I lifted it out and ran my hands along the fabric. It was made of lush satin, soft to the touch. The bodice was strapless, with a V-cut between the breasts and tiny red rubies sewn across the front for sparkle. It had an empire waist that cinched at my curves and cascaded to the floor.

The door opened, startling me from admiring the gorgeous dress in my hands. Xander stepped inside and did a double-take at what he saw.

"Where did that come from?" He asked, and my eyes widened.

"You didn't send it?"

He nodded. "No."

I turned rapidly and searched the box. Inside, a black card sat at the bottom. I grabbed it and swallowed before opening it.

Dear sweet Melody,

Here is a little something for our special night. You always looked so lovely in red, and it's my favorite hue—like the liquid that I'll savor off your body for your betrayal. Tell your boy toy, Xander, I will have his head on my wall for taking what's mine! See you soon, Reina. -X

The notecard fell to the ground. "He knows..."

Xander's grip on my shoulders was suffocating, yet I could not move from the terrifying trance I was in. X had come prepared and was determined to end us both.

"Lyric, what did it say?"

Xander picked up the card that had fallen to the floor and read it.

I snapped out of my daze and paced around the kitchen, determined that we shouldn't go until Xander stopped me.

"We have to do this. We both have the skills. Don't be afraid of him. I know you can do it." He tried to encourage me, but my apprehension persisted until I realized he was right.

"You're right," I said, exhaling. "I'll get ready." I turned toward the room when Xander called out.

"Wear the dress. It could help distract him, giving me a chance to find a place to get a good visual of the two of you." Xander declared, handing me the dress.

Hesitantly, I took it and walked off.

I took a fast shower, dried off, and got dressed. I strapped my gun to my thigh under my dress. To style my raven hair, I arranged it into a classic pin-up style from the 1950s with soft curls, then added some black eye shadow to make my amber eyes shine brighter, almost like glowing gold stars.

The last few months of fear and terror had become the driving force of my life, but with Xander by my side, I was ready to break away from the heavy chains that X had put on me.

After putting on heels, I took a few calming breaths and was ready to face X.

As I entered the living room, Xander's eyes glanced over my curvy body from head to toe before he spoke. "You look stunning," he declared, walking to meet me. His hands cupped my face as he steadily brought his lips to mine in a gentle kiss.

He frowned momentarily, then smiled. "We'll get through this together." He said, releasing my face from his hold.

We both gave each other a last kiss and then took off. The entire car ride was silent. All I could hear was the sound of my heart pounding against my chest, and every color I passed was muted until all I saw was X's red mask.

When Xander stopped the car at the campus entrance, he smiled at me. "Do your best to stay level-headed and not let him catch you off guard. I will park and find a spot to get to you if you need my help. Lead him somewhere out of the way, and I'll be close by." His thumb gently brushed my cheek as he spoke. "I love you," he said softly.

I gulped down my trepidation and gave him a weak smile. "I love you," I said softly, pecking his lips one last time before leaving the vehicle.

As I went to the ballroom, I was shocked to find the massive room completely deserted. The hall had a capacity of thousands, but not a single student was in sight.

Only eerie silence consumed the air, with minimal light throughout.

A noise caught my attention, and I quickly looked in its direction. I saw a bright red light emanating from an open doorway. Instead of his usual wardrobe, he wore an all-black suit; his hands and neck were uncovered, the light from the stage beaming onto him.

My fear increased as I studied the ink in places I'd only seen in the shadows.

My heart dropped as I heard his real voice say, "Wow, mi Reina, you look absolutely to die for."

I uttered a desperate "no" as tears welled up in my eyes. "Impossible..." I paused with shock.

He moved closer and uttered, "Impossibility is not an option, amor."

I tried to back away but found my feet stuck in place.

"This whole time, it was you?" I sobbed. "I trusted you."

"I did what I had to. I told you that you were mine."

Before he could get close, I yanked out my gun and aimed it at his face. "Take off that stupid fucking mask!" I screamed, pushing the pistol's hammer back to indicate I was serious.

He raised his hands in mock surrender, a condescending chuckle escaping his lips. It infuriated me; he clearly saw me as no threat.

"Fucking do it!" I shouted, hurt-laced with disappointment in my voice.

Slowly, he removed his mask and let it drop on the wooden floor, and I gasped, my hands shaking as tears flooded my eyes to the point that I could barely make out Xander's face.

"You fucking bastard!" I cried, squeezing the trigger. However, the gun only emitted a clicking sound.

Xander rushed and pushed me against the wall without skipping a beat, shouting, "It wasn't loaded, Melody. Do you think I'm that stupid?" He held me tightly against the wall as my tears slowly filled the room. Then, I finally understood why he insisted on making love in the dark and never allowing me to see him without clothes in the light.

"Why?" I finally said.

Xander let go of me and stepped back. "Because I had to protect what was mine, and I couldn't be seen in the day with a mask, now could I?"

"You really are crazy." I wiped my tears angrily from my cheeks. He didn't deserve them.

In an instant, he shoved me against the wall, gripping my chin with his death grip. "I've warned you about that," he growled.

I scowled at him, my jaw tight with fury. "I hate you, and I'm going to kill you," I said in a threatening tone before lifting my knee and driving it into his groin. He released me, and I immediately bolted to the back of the stage.

"Oh, my fierce little Reina. I knew you had the fire that I needed in the mother of my children and future wife," he shouted, his voice moving around as he searched for me.

I dove under the stage and pulled off my heels, sliding them away. There was no way I would sneak out of here with those things on.

Xander continued talking as he looked for me.

"I did this for us. You said you loved me. Does that not mean a thing to you?"

"Go fuck yourself!" I yelled, not being able to resist from shutting my fucking mouth.

"I'd rather fuck you. It's like you were made for me, amor."

"You're sick," I replied.

"Come on, Lyric. I know you're hiding under the stage. I won't get close to you if you don't want me to. You can ask me anything you want." His footsteps stopped right after he spoke.

Even though he played me like a fool, I still felt love for Xander and needed to understand why he did this.

Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I stepped out from the shadows beneath the stage, my heart pounding violently. As I walked around the dimly lit room, I spotted X leaning against a wall, a smug grin plastered across his face.

"Xander," I called out, trying to keep my voice steady. "Why? How could you be in all these places and text me while sitting before me?" My eyes darted around the ballroom, still unconvinced that he was X and that the real one would come out.

He let out a low chuckle, sending shivers down my spine. "You should have gathered by now that I am a very powerful man, very well trained to kill people, and have lots of money to move freely through the world."

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "So, the secretive job, what was that?" My voice quivered as I asked the question I dreaded the most.

"Professional hitman." His smirk widened as he responded, his black eyes never leaving my face. "I literally kill people for a living, Melody."

My heart raced, and I could feel the bile rising in my throat. "And texting while sitting before me or being in two places simultaneously? Please explain that."

"I have a twin brother. His name is Elias. He was who you would see in class sometimes and the one who was in front of you at the coffee shop when I told you to get to the park." The revelation left me reeling. How could I not have known? But there was still one question that haunted me. "And the night we first made love, what happened? You were a mess. X is never a mess."

He lowered his head like it was hard to relive that night. "I was on a mission in Iran. During the hit, a small child was killed."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" I spat, my breath hitching in my chest. "So, you do have a heart? Here, I thought it was made of coal."

His head raised, and something flickered in his eyes. "My love for you is real, Lyric."

But I couldn't believe him anymore. "You're a liar, a killer, and just as much of a piece of shit as the other men you thought you needed to protect me from." My voice trembled with anger and hurt. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. "And killing my best friend—what was the purpose of that?"

"I warned you, Reina," he said coldly. "I don't return my threats just because I am in love. If you disobey, people die. That was clear, was it not?"

The pain in my chest intensified as I stepped closer. "I will never love you, X. I loved Xander, and to me, he is already dead."

Filled with an intense surge of adrenaline, I impulsively charged towards him, colliding with such impact that we were both sent sprawling to the ground. My hand instinctively reached for the knife Xander had provided me. I deftly manipulated it between my fingers, mimicking X's unsettling habit whenever he attempted to evoke fear in me. With precision, I directed the knife toward his head, but he swiftly evaded it, causing the blade to embed itself into the wooden floor right beside his head.

Struggling to catch my breath, I fought to free the knife from the wooden surface. However, X swiftly seized me from behind, forcefully slamming me onto the floor. He then straddled me, his hand closing tightly around my throat. With each passing second, the air drained rapidly from my lungs, leaving me gasping for survival. In a desperate attempt to break free, I resisted his grip, but as his hold tightened, my vision slowly blurred and faded away.

With a surge of remaining energy, I mustered all my strength to free myself from his grip using my elbow. Then, swiftly and forcefully, I delivered a powerful blow to his abdomen with my other elbow. However, despite my attack, he quickly recovered and resumed his assault, successfully tackling me to the ground.

"I won't kill you," he declared, his breath hot against my face. "I just want you to settle down."

"Settle down?" I hissed, my rage boiling over. "Well, the feeling is not mutual. I wish you a long and painful death."

In response, I delivered a swift knee to his side, effectively knocking him off me and ripping the length of my dress with him. Seizing the opportunity, I leaped onto him and unleashed a barrage of punches, resulting in a busted lip. However, instead of exhibiting pain, he laughed as if relishing the experience. As I gasped for breath, my body pulsating with adrenaline, a profound realization settled within me: Xander was no longer there, and I found myself grappling for survival against the menacing figure that now loomed before me. Unless I defeated him, his presence would forever haunt my existence.

I clambered to my feet, disoriented from the hits I had taken from being thrown to the floor so many times, and glared at Xander, who had regained his composure and was smiling.

"What are you smiling about?" I raised his black butterfly knife, which he had stored in his right pocket, and grinned. "Goodbye, X," I swiftly thrust my arm forward, propelling the blade towards his chest with lethal precision. It struck him accurately, causing him to stumble backward and collapse onto the floor.

As tears streamed down my face, I looked around with a swirl of emotions. Relief and sorrow intertwined within me as I acknowledged that it was finally over and he was no longer in my life. He had once been my hero, but I couldn't continue to love someone who believed they had ownership over me and who could so easily kill those whom I cared for the most.

With a heavy heart, I approached his lifeless body and pressed my bare foot against his torso, carefully removing the knife from his chest. I twirled it shut and silently departed the building. In doing so, I left behind the shattered perception of the girl that so many believed me to be.