Chapter 6

Six

XAVIER

Normally, I would be upset. Now I’m only slightly irritated that Marissa hasn’t figured it out. Why is she so upset about losing that guy? He’s never understood her and is not the kind of man she needs. My girl’s complex and in her head too much. She needs space to figure things out so she can bloom like the beautiful jasmine she is.

Too bad I won’t give her any.

At least she broke it off as I instructed. One less issue to worry about in my plan. Build her up, get her to fall in love, then show her the evidence to destroy her. She’ll have no one left to turn to but me.

Right where I want her.

Punching a few buttons on my car’s console, I call the man of the hour. He’ll be so happy.

“Hey, Xavier. What’s up?”

“Jackson. Your man is now a free agent. Solo and waiting for the right guy to show him what love can be like.”

Flipping off the camera feed on my phone, I slide down in my seat. I’m parked behind some bushes across from Marissa’s parking lot so I can make sure James leaves before I have to force him. When I see him hurrying to get in his Mustang, I follow a few car lengths behind. The phone’s gone silent.

“Jack?”

“Xavier, he left last night to go to her. I’m not sure he’s really into me⁠—”

“Nonsense. He wants it. Trust me. Call him now to get him over there. He needs a shoulder to cry on.”

Hanging up, I pull behind James at a red light. Fortunately, I see his hand raise to his ear as he answers his phone. At the change of the light, he switches lanes and turns left toward the manor.

Guess I won’t be bloodying his nose tonight. A minor inconvenience.

Punching the gas, I dart to the country road outside of the city limits. I’ve memorized every twist and sharp curve until the tires hug the concrete without much effort. Once I arrive at my destination, I slow only for the gravel. Griffin Motors does pretty good body work I can count on if I get a ding.

My nose captures the warm cedar scent and fresh pines from outside as I enter the house. Some pots banging in the kitchen have me heading that way, and when I enter, Millie is organizing some cookware in the cabinet drawers.

As my loafers hit the hardwood, her body jolts at the noise. “Oh! You made it! You scared me.” Her blonde hair waves while she holds out an arm like a game show host. “What do you think? Like it? Well, more importantly, will Marissa like it?”

A wide grin forms on my lips as my head swivels around the generous living room. “I think so. At least, I hope. When is the Eames coming?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

Clutching my chin with one hand, I rub the stubble there. “Hmm, yeah. Right on schedule.” In a few steps, I bend to place my lips on her warm cheek as she giggles. “Thanks, Millie. Couldn’t have done this without you.”

“Oh, I loved doing it! I can’t wait to hear about her reaction! When are you bringing her over?”

Spinning on a heel, I head out to my favorite place, the upper deck. Sliding open the doors, I toss my voice over my shoulder. “Soon.”

Soon, kitten.

“I’m gonna take off, Xavi. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

“Bye, Millie.”

Stretching my arms along the metal rail, my eyes behold the wonders of the surrounding nature at night. One owl hoots ominously while the lake in front of me waves on the shore in a rhythmic pattern. The moon is full and cuts a path across the black water, crawling toward the stone trail leading up to the cabin.

Charley

Associate 1 info go?

Me

Send it

Charley

Julian Brook. Deceased. Never ratted. Tried to shank him but didn’t succeed. In on burglary.

Charley

Doesn’t look like he’s the one…

Me

Ty

Oh, Marissa…it’s not looking good for you.

A tug of sympathy interrupts my want for destruction. I wish Charley had told me some good news. All I want to hear is the truth, but it feels like it slips from my grasp as soon as I reach for it. It’s probably why I’m so drawn to this little kitten. Innocent, playful, scared… But most importantly, I can tell she’ll be obedient. With the proper training.

Jetting back to Theta Rho Zeta manor, I park in the spot next to my other cars in the long garage, then jump out just as Tommy McDermott heads my way. The wiry guy shoves his tortoise shell frames up his nose. Attempting to conceal my sigh of frustration at his mere sight, I skirt past him to the front door.

“Xavier, Brad flooded the third-floor bathroom again because he takes such big shits⁠—”

“And you called maintenance?” I ask with a pointed eyebrow raise.

“Well…”

“So, what would you have me do, McDermott? Plunge a toilet?” Stopping my forward momentum, I swiftly turn to face him and cross my arms.

“Um…” He’s so nervous he can’t even look me in the eye. Maybe I can ward off his annoying complaints for another week, so he learns to grow up.

“Sorry, your butler doesn’t live here. You’ll just have to pick up the phone and call maintenance yourself.” Leaving him, I sprint up the stairs two at a time and bump into Levi, looking befuddled, dragging a hand through his curly brown hair.

“Oh, hey,” he says in a daze.

He follows me almost to the turnoff for my room. “How’d it go last night?”

“Huh?” he asks, looking at his phone.

“With Elle?” When he doesn’t respond, I pause my steps and glance at him. He’s not meeting my eyes. “Lev?”

“It went fine. Good. Fun times.”

Gripping his shoulder, I shake him slightly to get him to look at me. He barely raises his face to mine. “But how is she?”

“I think she’s busy. I gotta go. I’ll see ya.” His neck tenses as he spins out of my hold and heads toward his own room.

Hmm. Just another issue for me to solve… That will have to wait.

First, I have to make sure my girl gets a good night’s rest while I finish up my own coursework.