Chapter Seven

Tallulah

X avier wants me pregnant. I want it, too. But why isn't it happening?

Every time my period comes, it feels like a stab in the heart. And when the doctor confirms what I already know, that it hasn't taken, I want to scream and cry.

I hate feeling like a failure.

"What's wrong?" Xavier asks, and I realize he's watching me from across the room.

"Nothing," I answer, turning away from him.

"Tell me, Tallulah," he demands, his voice soft but insistent.

"I'm just upset, that's all," I say.

"About what?" he questions.

"I don't want to talk about it," I insist.

"Tallulah, if there's something bothering you, I want to know about it," he says.

"I just..." I hesitate. "I want a baby. So badly. And every time it doesn't work, it breaks my heart."

"Tallulah," Xavier says, his voice soothing. "It's only been a while. It takes time. I'm much older than you."

"I know, but..."

"It's going to be okay," he assures me. "We have time. It's not a race."

"I know, but it hurts," I admit.

"I'm sorry, angel," he says.

"I wish there was a way to speed things up," I say, a desperate edge to my voice.

"We'll keep trying," he says.

"But what if it never happens?" I ask, a lump forming in my throat.

"Don't worry, Tallulah. We'll make it happen. If you want it, it will happen," he says.

"But how?" I ask, feeling hopeless.

"I have an idea," he says, his voice confident. "Something that might help."

"What is it?" I ask, curiosity mingling with my anxiety.

He smirks, saying, "I'll show you."

Then, he gets up and leads me to the bedroom, where he instructs me to lay on the bed.

"Take your clothes off," he orders.

I strip, then lay down, waiting. He sits on the bed beside me, and I'm struck by the look in his eyes. It's a look of pure desire.

"Spread your legs for me," he commands.

I do as he says, and his fingers gently touch my pussy.

"You're so wet," he murmurs.

I nod, unable to speak.

"Do you like it when I touch you?" he asks.

"Yes," I breathe.

"Do you want more?"

"Yes," I moan.

"Good," he says, sliding his finger into my entrance.

I gasp, arching my back. He's so gentle today. Gentler than ever before, even my first time. He strokes my inner walls, slowly building up a rhythm. My body responds, and I feel my climax building.

"Xavier," I moan.

"That's it," he encourages. "Let go, angel."

I come, moaning his name. He doesn't stop. He keeps stroking my inner walls, prolonging the orgasm. When it finally fades, he removes his finger.

"Now, you're ripe for me."

"What are you going to do?" I ask.

"I'm going to breed you," he says.

"Breed me?" I repeat.

"Yes," he confirms.

He pulls his pants down, and I see his cock. It's thick and hard, ready to take me.

"You want to give me a baby?" I ask.

"Yes, angel," he answers.

"I want it," I admit.

"Good," he says. "Not that it fucking matters to me."

My hearts beats faster as he pulls back and reaches into the nightstand. He pulls out a tube of cream and applies it all over his cock, coating it until it shines.

"What's that?" I whisper, not sure I really want to know.

"A special lubricant," he answers. "It's supposed to increase fertility."

"Oh," I say, my breath catching in my throat.

"You have to be very relaxed," he instructs. "Do you think you can do that?"

"Yes," I breathe.

"Good," he says.

Then, he lines up his cock with my pussy, and I feel it begin to slide inside me. He goes slow, letting me adjust.

"Does that feel good, angel?" he grunts, and I can tell he's holding back.

"Yes," I moan, unable to stop myself.

"You're going to take my cock like a good girl," he commands.

"Yes, Master," I whimper, my body surrendering.

"You're going to take my seed, and you're going to get pregnant," he groans.

"Yes," I breathe, wanting him more than anything.

He continues thrusting, and I can feel him swelling inside me. He's going to come. I know it. I'm going to milk his cock, even though this is our most gentle session yet. I always thought my godfather got off on pain... now I realize it's me.

He may be sadistic, but I'm his willing masochist.

I love the way he takes control of my body, manipulating it for his pleasure. The way he makes me scream and beg and come.

Suddenly, he releases inside me without warning. Warmth floods me from the inside and my eyes roll back deliriously as another orgasm grips my body.

"That's it, angel," he growls. "Take it all. Take my cum deep."

He fills me with his seed, and I feel my pussy contracting around his shaft, milking him.

"You're such a good girl," he moans, his body shuddering. "And now-"

We're interrupted by a scream.

Hades starts barking just before the first explosion goes off.

"Down, Hades," I tell the dog. "Xavier, what's happening?"

"Get dressed," he orders, his tone urgent.

I obey, slipping on a dress. Then, I follow him to the study, where he locks us into the room. The house is a cacophony of screams and blood-curdling weeping.

"Wait here," he instructs.

"Where are you going?" I ask.

"Stay calm, Tallulah. You're safe here," he says. "Just one last thing."

He walks to one of the portraits in the room and takes it off the wall. Behind, I see a long crawl space. "

"What is that?"

"A tunnel," he says. "It leads outside the mansion."

"Why are you showing me this?" I ask, my voice shaking.

"In case we get separated," he replies.

"Separated?"

"Just get in, and crawl," he commands. "Someone will be waiting on the other side."

He helps me up. The space is cramped and dusty, and shivers rock my body with fear.

"Xavier," I manage. "Don't forget the dogs."

"Of course, angel," he says.

I'm barely a foot into the tunnel before I hear the second explosion. This one is much closer. The floor beneath my hands and knees shakes, and the ceiling overhead groans and rattles.

"Come on," I mutter to myself. "Keep going."

The third explosion is the loudest of them all. My ears are ringing and the world is spinning, and suddenly everything is black.

I wake up when I feel someone scoop me up into their arms. I never made it out of that crawl space, and my ears are still hearing the explosion, like irreversible tinnitus.

"Tallulah," I hear a muffled voice, as if through a tunnel.

"Xavier?" I whisper, and everything comes rushing back to me.

"It's alright, Tallulah," Xavier murmurs, his lips brushing against my ear. "You're safe. We're almost there."

"The dogs...?"

"They're safe."

"What about the rest of the household?"

"No one will ever hurt you again," Xavier states.

"But..."

"Trust me, angel," he whispers, pressing his forehead against mine.

"I love you, Xavier," I tell him, not knowing what else to say.

"I love you too, Tallulah," he says.

I close my eyes and relax in his arms. My entire body hurts, but I don't care. As long as we're together.

Xavier helps me crawl back. Once we're in the study, I stare at the once luxurious room with wide eyes. There's a large hole in the roof, and I can see the early morning sun through the clouds. The entire room is charred and burned, and everything is destroyed.

"What happened?" I gasp.

"Come on, we have to hurry," Xavier says, grabbing my hand.

"Where are we going?" I ask, following him.

"Somewhere no one will ever find us," he promises.

We walk out of the study, and the mansion is a disaster. Everything is destroyed, and bodies are littered everywhere. I swallow thickly at the sight of blood pooling on the hardwood.

"What happened here, Xavier?" I demand.

"They were going to take you from me, Tallulah," he replies.

"Who? Who's they?"

"No one you have to worry about anymore," he says, pulling me along.

"Xavier, this isn't right," I say, tears filling my eyes.

"Angel, you were meant to be mine. No one can take you from me," he insists.

"No, that's not what I mean," I stammer. "Was... was this my father?"

Xavier's grip on my hand tightens, his gaze troubled. "No."

"Then who..." He looks away and the truth hits me. "Your brother?"

"Most likely," he gets out through gritted teeth. "Come on, we have to keep moving. There's a helicopter waiting for us, but we need to be fast."

I can't believe Xavier's brother did this. I shake my head and let Xavier lead me out the door. We have to hurry if we want to escape, and that's exactly what I intend to do. Then, I'll make Xander pay.

We make our way to the front hall, but what I see there brings me to my knees.

Phoenix is lying on the ground, eyes open, a bullet wound in his forehead.

"Oh, God!" I scream, crawling over to him.

"He's gone, angel," Xavier says.

"He can't be!" I cry, tears running down my face. "Oh, no. What have you done?"

"I told you, angel. No one can take you from me."

I look up at Xavier, his face impassive.

"Did you do this?"

"No," he hisses.

Do I believe him? I'm not sure.

"I didn't even get to say goodbye," I sob as I let my fingers linger over Phoenix's bloody face.

"Tallulah, we have to go. We can't stay here any longer. It's not safe," he insists.

"I don't care," I quip back, and my husband steps away to give me some privacy. At least he's not trying to argue this time. "Phoenix..."

I stare at the man who was my ally for years. Phoenix worked with my father, knew him since they were both kids. Phoenix was my only link to my family in this place. Except Xavier can never know that. I lean down and kiss him on the forehead, and then turn to leave.

Xavier holds out his hand and helps me up. "I'm sorry, Tallulah."

"Don't be. We both knew it would end this way once your brother got closer."

He tightens his lips and doesn't say a word.

We run for the door and Xavier opens it for me. There's a black SUV waiting outside and we hurry towards it. Saul is waiting in the driver's seat, and I let out a breath. At least he's still here.

"Get in," Saul orders.

"Go," Xavier urges.

Saul steps on the gas and the tires squeal. Nobody speaks, and I glance in the rearview mirror. I see people pouring out of the mansion, armed and ready. They fire at the SUV and it jerks wildly.

"Fuck!" Saul curses.

"Drive, drive!" Xavier yells.

Bullets hit the vehicle, and the window shatters, raining glass on us. I scream and cover my head with my hands. Xavier is shouting something, and the sound of gunfire fills the air. Saul makes a wild turn, and the car skids.

"Hold on!" he yells.

He drives faster, and the bullets stop. When I look back, the house is growing smaller and smaller, and no one is following.

"Are we okay?" I ask, breathing hard.

"Not yet," Saul says.

"They won't follow," Xavier assures me.

"Why not?"

"Because they have bigger problems now." I glance at Xavier, my eyes narrowing. He motions to the cars passing us, driving straight to the mansion. "Your father is here."

I see he's right as I notice a small serpent marker on one of the cars racing by us in the opposite direction. We ride in silence, and my thoughts are racing. Xander's attack seems to have finally brought my father and Xavier together. For how long, I'm not sure.

Xavier's grip on my leg is firm and reassuring, and I lean into his body.

"Tallulah, are you alright?"

"I think so," I murmur, closing my eyes. Even when I should only see calming darkness, Phoenix's lifeless face flashes before me, and I stifle a sob.

"Everything is going to be fine, angel," Xavier whispers.

"Promise?" I ask.

"I promise."

I don't know whether I should believe him, but I don't have much choice.

We drive for an hour, until we're far away from the mansion. Eventually, Saul pulls onto a dirt path. We haven't seen another car in at least forty minutes.

Saul screeches the brakes and rushes us out of the car. We're in a deserted wasteland - there's nothing but plains and dirt with some dry shrubbery for miles. Amidst it, a helicopter awaits, and I let out a relieved cry when I see one of Xavier's men barely holding back Zeus and Hades, who are scratching at the scorched earth, eager to be reunited with us.

"This way!" the man yells, pointing towards the aircraft.

We run, the wind whipping at our faces. Once we're all on the helicopter, it starts, the blades roaring to life. Saul lets the dogs go, and they bound towards us, barking with happiness.

"It's so good to see you, boys," I tell them.

They snuggle into my lap, and I wrap my arms around them.

"They wouldn't let anyone else near them," the pilot says, smiling.

Xavier rolls his eyes, but I ignore him. Hades whimpers in my lap, clearly terrified by the helicopter, and I gently stroke his head. Meanwhile, Zeus cheerfully stares out of the window.

"Good boy, Zeus," I coo.

"How's the flight?" Saul asks the man, buckling his belt.

"All clear," the man says.

"Where are we going?" Xavier asks the pilot.

"We don't have many options, padron. We can either hide or flee the country."

"I'm not hiding anymore," Xavier declares. "I want revenge. My brother killed dozens today, and he must pay. Is the Serpent cartel still on my property?"

"Yes," Saul replies. "Heath sent fifty men. His only demand was that you come to the Palacio to stay with them until this all blows over."

Xavier's fists tighten until his knuckles turn white. I know he's not terribly excited about staying with my father, but he also said he didn't want to hide.

"Alright," Xavier decides. "Tell the pilot to go there."

"You're not seriously considering this?" Saul hisses, lowering his voice so only Xavier and I can hear him.

Xavier sighs and leans back, rubbing his temple. "Do you have a better idea?"

"There's still a lot of money in offshore accounts, we can disappear and no one will ever find us," Saul reminds him.

"Except Xander clearly won't stop until we're all dead," I add. "And we got close tonight."

"Exactly," Xavier says. "I'm not taking my chances."

"So, what do you suggest?" Saul asks.

"First, we go to the Palacio. We'll talk to your father, Tallulah. Maybe he can help us get out of the country."

"He's going to ask a lot in return," Saul reminds him.

"Then, we'll give him whatever he wants. But first, we go there. You have a better idea, Saul?"

"No," Saul admits, looking out of the window. "I can't see what's waiting for us. That's the problem."

"Well, that's why I'm the boss, and you're the henchman," Xavier snaps.

The words hang between us, and Saul turns away.

"Saul," Xavier says.

"Let him be," I cut in, placing my hand on his arm.

"I didn't mean it," he mutters.

"I know."

The rest of the flight is spent in silence, and I hold Hades' paws as he sleeps. I don't know if I'm meant to be calming him down, but it helps me too.

I don't know what will happen when we land, but I can only hope my father will help us.

"Approaching the Palacio," the pilot says after a while, and my heart speeds up.

"Good," Xavier replies.

I hold onto Hades tightly, and the dog wakes up and licks my face, whimpering. "Hey, boy," I murmur, stroking him. "Welcome home."