Chapter Nine

Tallulah

" W hat the fuck was that, Mom?" I hiss, turning on her as the guards take Xavier down to the basement.

"He's dangerous," she hisses. "You're better off without him."

"No, I'm not. He's my husband."

"A marriage you should've never agreed to," she spits.

"Actually," I remind her. "You did. Before I was even born."

"We didn't know him. And your father's grandfather did."

"Right. So that automatically means he's the bad guy."

"He's a criminal," my mom hisses.

"Oh, and what exactly have you two done in the past?" I challenge her. "I've read the files. I've heard the stories. You're hardly angels."

"This isn't about us, honey. It's about him. He's a killer. He'll destroy you," Mom whispers. "And if he doesn't, his brother will."

"You can't keep me from my husband."

"Actually, we can. And we will," my dad says, and I turn to him, eyes wide.

"Are you seriously doing this?"

"We're trying to keep you safe," Mom tells me.

"He does that," I cry.

"Your mother's right, Tallulah. There are other ways."

"There are no other ways," I say firmly. "He's the only one who can keep me safe."

"He needs our help to do that," Dad says through gritted teeth. "And there will be a price to pay."

I walk up to him and stab my finger into his chest. "You've always hated me. Ever since Xavier made you swear you'd give me up. Well, I don't care. You will let him go, or so help me God, I will run away."

"With him," my dad says.

"If I have to," I tell him. "And then you'll never see me again. Or your future grandson."

"Your child belongs to us," my mom reminds me. "It's a debt owed."

I shake my head. "You spend so much time hating Xavier. Hatred runs through your veins instead of blood. It's time to let it go, Mom. You know why?"

I look her right in the eyes that look so much like mine.

"Because you're the same as him."

" P lease, Liberato." I wring my hands together. "Just once. Let me go see him. He's my husband, for fuck's sake."

"Your father's orders were very clear," Liberato sighs.

"But I'm not a prisoner," I point out. "So his orders don't apply to me."

"I beg to differ."

"Please, Lib," I repeat. "Let me just have a few minutes with him."

"He's a danger to us all, Tallulah. Especially to you. I can't risk that," he shakes his head.

I stand up from the sofa and motion for the dogs to join me. Zeus and Hades leap over to me, licking my hands. "I'll tell the dogs to attack."

"Those pups?" he laughs out loud. "You're not serious, are you, T?"

"Watch me."

I whistle, and they sit, alert, their bodies tense. I turn them toward Liberato.

"Deny me and die," I tell him. "Attack!"

The dogs jump up and start barking, their jaws snapping at his face.

"Okay, okay," Liberato says, backing away, his hands held high. "Stop."

"Come here, boys," I laugh and they return to me. "See? That's all it takes."

"Jesus Christ," he mutters, shaking his head. "Your husband's rubbed off on you, that's for sure."

"Just take me down there," I plead.

"Fine," he sighs. "But stay close."

"No," I tell him.

"No?" he frowns.

"You're not coming with. I want to talk to him alone."

"Tallulah, please," he sighs. "You have a death wish, don't you?"

"Just do it, Lib," I tell him, and he leads the way. We walk through the large compound and go down to the basement, where Xavier is being kept.

"You have fifteen minutes," he tells me, and I nod. He opens the door and lets me in. "Remember. Fifteen minutes. Don't be late."

"I won't."

He gives me one last look before passing me a keychain. "Down the hallway. Ignore the others."

I nod and pocket the keys, watching him walk away. The door locks as he leaves, and I take a deep breath to center myself before continuing down the damp, cold hallway. I shiver, goosebumps erupting all over my skin. Damn, it's freezing. I wish I'd brought a blanket for Xavier. It's almost like my parents keep it so cold on purpose, to torture their prisoners.

"Xavier?" I call out as I make my way down the hallway.

I hear noises up ahead, and soon enough, I start seeing the cells. There's a man inside one, banging on the bars and calling out, and then another, but it's not until I get closer that I realize he's watching me. Just as I'm about to walk by, the man darts to the bars, dirty palms gripping the iron as he reaches out for me.

"Come here," he growls. "Pretty little thing. Come here."

I shudder, and my dogs start growling. They pull me away from the cage and lead me further into the darkness.

"Good boys," I murmur, letting them guide me. "Find Xavier. Go on, boys."

The dogs sniff the air and lead me into a dead-end, a single cage sitting there in the dark.

"Xavier," I whisper, and suddenly, the light above the cage switches on, and I see him. His face is covered in bruises, his lip cut, and his eyes are angry.

"Get away from me," he snarls.

"No."

"Leave. Now."

"Not without you," I hiss. "I've been fighting to see you. Please, just talk to me. I love you, Master."

"Don't say that," he groans, looking away.

"Why not?" I frown.

"You'll regret it later."

"What's later? When you're out of here?"

"I'll never be out of here. You've lost your mind if you think they'll ever let me go."

"You're not their prisoner, though."

"Then what am I?"

"Mine," I say, kneeling on the dirty, damp concrete.

The dogs lie down in front of the cage while I fumble with the keys. I fit them in the lock one by one, but none of them work. I keep trying until one of the keys breaks off.

"Fuck!" I groan in frustration. "None of these goddamn keys fit."

"It's no use," Xavier mutters. "What's the point of letting me out for a few minutes? They'll just throw me back in here. I'll never get out now. Not unless I agree to your parents terms."

"What terms?" I whisper.

"An eye for an eye," he laughs bitterly.

"I don't understand."

"They want my child," he tells me, and the words hit me like a punch to the gut.

"Our child," I hiss.

"My son, because he'll be just like me. He'll never belong to us, Tallulah. This is the end of the road. The only way out is to agree to their terms."

"Then agree," I hiss. "Do it."

"But our future children..."

"We'll get them back," I assure him. "You don't have to worry. They'll never keep us from them."

"You've always had a lot more faith than I have."

"We can do it," I nod. "We'll raise him to hate them. And when he's old enough, we'll get revenge."

"I'm not agreeing to those terms, angel," he mutters. "Never. I'll talk to your father soon. I have another idea."

I want to ask him what it is, but he finally looks at me, and I'm rendered speechless. Xavier has always looked much younger, but it seems like he's aged five years in the past few hours. His hand reaches out through the bars, touching my hair softly.

"You've always been mine," he murmurs. "No matter how many times you ran. Or how far. I'll always find you."

"I'll never run again," I whisper.

"Yes, you will," he says, a sad smile forming on his lips. "Just like your mother. Always running."

"Master..." I manage, reaching through the bars, desperate to be closer to him.

"Don't call me that, please."

I've never hard Xavier beg before. He sounds so broken, like his spirit's been crushed.

"I love you," I whisper, and tears start flowing down my cheeks.

"I know," he says, leaning his forehead against the bars. "God help me, I know."

"We'll find a way out of this," I assure him, although we both know it's a lie.

"Of course, we will."

I kiss his palm and then his fingers, and he touches my hair, his other hand reaching through the bars and cupping my face. I'm so desperate for his touch I lean into his tentative hands before grabbing him by the shoulders and forcing him closer to the bars.

"Kiss me," I plead.

"Always," he says, leaning forward, his lips claiming mine. He tastes salty and bitter and sweet and sour, all at the same time. He tastes like my everything.

He tastes like love.

His lips are hungry and eager, his tongue probing and deep. I moan, and his hands grip my neck, and then they're pulling me closer and closer and closer, until there's nowhere else for me to go.

"Xavier," I moan into his mouth, and he kisses me harder.

The bars are still separating us, but there's just enough room to push the top half of my body through, and he does, his arms wrapping around my waist. His strong, powerful, possessive hold on me is exactly what I need.

"My wife," he growls. "Mine. Always. Forever. Mine."

I nod fervently, losing myself in his kiss. The bars are clenching me and I struggle to get more comfortable until my husband pulls back, gently wedging me free, his palms lingering on my skin.

"I love you," he whispers, and my heart shatters into a million pieces.

"Xavier, please..."

"I have to protect you."

"By sacrificing yourself?"

"Yes," he says simply.

"I'll never let that happen."

"You won't have a choice."

"Yes, I will. You'll be free," I tell him firmly.

"I'm going to get you back, angel. Even if it kills me."

I shake my head and stare at him. His finger absent-mindedly stroke my cheek and he pulls me close again, the bars digging into my skin.

"We'll find a way out. Together," I promise him.

"I won't risk our future children," he murmurs.

"Enough of this, please," I manage brokenly. "I just want you back. Kiss me. Fuck me. Love me."

"You want me to make you cum right here?"

"Yes," I whisper. "That's all I want."

He smirks and then his lips are back on mine, his tongue probing into my mouth, and I moan into his kiss, my hands gripping his shoulders tightly. I need him to ground me. To keep me from floating away. To stop the pain.

"Take my cock out, angel," he growls, his teeth grazing my neck.

My shaky hands reach out through the bars of his prison. I feel his erection straining against his jeans and moan.

"Fuck," I mutter, desperate for more.

"You've been a bad little girl," he hisses, his eyes narrowing on mine. "Running away from me. Letting your parents treat me like shit."

"I'm sorry," I gasp. "Please forgive me."

"You will pay the price," he promises. "First, I'll fuck your pussy. Then your ass. Finally, I'll cum all over your pretty little face."

"Please," I whisper.

"Unzip my pants, Tallulah," he orders. "Now."

I unzip his jeans, freeing his thick, veiny cock. It's so hard, and pre-cum is dripping out the tip.

"Touch me," he hisses, and I wrap my hands around his cock.

I'm so needy I can't think straight. Can't even acknowledge we're in a nasty hallway. All I want is my husband, right here, right now. Not even the bars of his cage will keep us apart - not now, not ever.

"Tell me how much you love it," he orders.

"So much," I gasp, licking my lips.

"Tell me what a whore you are for my cock," he hisses, and the dogs start barking.

"Stop," I manage.

"No. Keep stroking it. Keep talking."

"I'm your whore, Xavier," I tell him.

"And?"

"I want you to cum on my face. Make me yours."

He grunts his approval, his hands pulling up my dress and ripping off my panties through the bars. He pushes two fingers inside my pussy, and I moan, feeling his thumb rubbing circles around my clit.

"I'm going to fuck you, Tallulah. Right now. Right here."

"Please," I moan, and the dogs pipe up again.

"Shut the fuck up, mutts," he growls, his eyes locked on mine. "Look at me, Tallulah. Look only at me."

"Yes, Xavier," I gasp, and he rubs my clit faster and faster, until I'm writhing against the bars.

"Tell me when you're about to cum," he orders, and I nod.

I'm so close to orgasm, but I can't quite get there, and just when I'm about to tell him, a man's voice booms behind me.

"Hey! What are you doing in here?"

"Oh my God!" I cry out, and the dogs start barking as we pull apart.

"Tallulah? Is that you?" My father comes rushing toward us, his face a mask of anger and fear. "For fuck's sake, kid!"

"Dad," I gasp, pushing myself away from Xavier and trying to hide behind the dogs. "I...I..."

"Go back to your room. Now."

"But Dad," I protest, and Xavier puts his hand on my arm, trying to stop me.

"Don't fight him, Tallulah," he murmurs. "Let us talk."

"I'll take care of this," I tell him, but my father's already hauling me away.

"Come with me," he snarls, his hand gripping my wrist so hard it hurts.

"I'll get you out of here," I yell, as my father drags me through the hallway.

"I'm not leaving without you!"

"Let him go, Tallulah," my father snarls.

"Never. You can't have him," I hiss back, forcing him off me as I glare at him. "I'll never stop fighting. I'll die before I give up."

"So will he," my father snorts, and then we're back in the house, and he's telling the staff to escort me upstairs.

"Stay away from him, Tallulah," Liberato hisses, but I ignore him, and run down the hall and up the stairs, slamming the door behind me as soon as I'm back in my bedroom.

"Fuck!" I groan, kicking the bed in frustration.

After a few minutes of pacing, I realize the dogs stayed behind with Xavier. Maybe it's better - they'll keep him safe, they love him. I'll convince Liberato to take their beds and toys there. I grip the keychain tightly. I couldn't unlock Xavier's cage, but I still have a way to enter the basement. I think.

I smile shakily. I've got this.

I've been through much worse.