chapter 44

Ailee yawned and stretched her arms only to feel them getting blocked by something. She tapped her palms over the surface and before she could realise what it was, a hand was wrapped around both her wrists and a wet kiss was placed on her palms.

Oh it was a face. Hehe.

She peeled open an eye and saw herself buried in Xavier's side while he sat and worked on his laptop. He was wearing the same clothes from before so she guessed he didn't wake up a lot earlier.

"Morning" he leaned down and kissed her cheek.

"Mmm morning" she mumbled and closed her eyes again. A deep chuckle left his mouth and he rubbed his nose on her cheek softly.

"Don't you want to go home?" He asked and picked her up on his lap after putting away his laptop.

"I do but I don't want to get up. It's so cold"

"Come on. Eat your breakfast and then I'll take you home" he carried her to the bathroom and sat her down on the counter.

He handed over a brush with toothpaste to her and did the same himself. He wanted to give her as much time as he could before leaving.

Today is going to be a long day for him and a last one for someone else.

Ailee lazily brushed her teeth and washed her face all with the help of her boyfriend.

"I hate mornings Zai" she said it for the hundredth time ever since they met.

"I know" he said and led her outside by hand to the private dining hall which had breakfast ready for them.

All of her family were already present there and were waiting for the both of them to show up.

"Papa" Ailee ran up to him who engulfed her in a tight hug.

"My little princess" he said, feeling relief wash over him when he saw her in a much better mood.

"Lily, baby, come and let's eat" her mother called out softly and placed a plate of pancakes with lots of chocolate syrup and fruits on the table for her.

Ailee nodded and sat next to Xavier who was sipping on his typical black coffee.

At first, everyone talked on several light topics but the unspoken tension kept rising every minute.

Their surroundings were a painful reminder of why they were here and what had happened the previous night.

Juliana sat on Emma's left side and kept a close eye on her to make sure she eats well and doesn't do anything stupid and their father sat on her right. Only yesterday night Emma was sobbing in her lap saying it was all her fault.

The parents felt helpless looking at their children in so much pain but they were also glad to see them have each other's back. They took care of Ailee and haven't left Emma alone even for a few minutes.

Ailee couldn't eat more than two pancakes and put away her plate to the side. Xavier furrowed his eyebrows and looked at her in disapproval.

"Eat more" he commanded, gaining the attention of everyone. He was just like that, no matter how quietly he speaks or moves, the attention will automatically be drawn towards him.

"I can't. I'm full, look?" She fisted her shirt from the back to show a tiny bump on her stomach.

Xavier shook his head and pushed the plate in front of her.

"One more" he said firmly, leaving no room for argument.

She groaned but slowly ate it and lifted the plate near her face.

"See, finish?" She spoke with a proud smile. He nodded, patting her hair and stood up.

He moved near the window to talk on his phone while Ailee drank her fruit juice.

"Ready?" He came a few minutes later and helped her out of her seat and turned to her family who were also standing up to go out.

"Uh, I guess Lils, you're going with.....ummm" Iris spoke awkwardly pointing at Xavier with her thumb.

"Yes, he said he'll drop me home. You can join us if you want. We don't mind, right Zai?" She looked up at him with shining eyes and he nodded.

"Oh it's alright I wouldn't want to be third wheeling" she said nervously and excused herself.

"Lily, call me if you need anything" Alex whispered in her ear and patted her head.

"I will, though I don't think Zai here will let me fall in that situation" she giggled and intertwined their arms and rested her head on his bicep.

" Uhm sure" he murmured and went to sit in his car.

All of them waved at Ailee and she reciprocated the gesture with same enthusiasm and sat down in the car with the help of Xavier.

"Would you leave immediately after dropping me at home?" She asked, turning to him.

" I'll be there with you very soon," he replied instead.

She nodded and started going through his compartment to look for her stash of sweets. At this point majority of his cars have her belongings, like her scrunchies on the gear, clutchers on seat belts, chocolates and candies in compartments, a hidden basket of chips under the backseat and finally some blankets and hoodies in the trunk because she gets cold easily.

And he fucking loves it. The moment he enters the car, he is reminded of the person closest to his heart.

He could see in his peripheral vision how drowsy she was. Her head kept lolling forward and she would suddenly sit back straight and look at him to check if he noticed or not.

He didn't say anything and waited for her to sleep completely. It would be a little easier that way- to leave her sleeping. Otherwise God knows if she looked at him with those puppy eyes and asked him once to stay he would immediately lock the door and lie down in the bed with her.

And he can't have that, not at the moment.

He parked his car in their long driveway and stepped out. He squinted his eyes at the bright sun shining down on him and moved towards her side.

Finally going inside with her, without having to worry about being seen by someone.

He carried her upstairs to her room and gently laid her down on the bed. He removed her shoes and covered her with a plain pink quilt and a matching duvet.

"I'll be back soon" he whispered, tugging back strands of hair and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

Making sure she was comfortable in her position he quietly left the room and the bits of gentleness he seemed to carry around her.

___

He was driving towards his warehouse where the bastard was when he got a call from Enzo.

"Sir, all he ever said was that he isn't working with anyone before passing out and it doesn't look like he will wake up anytime soon" he reported just as seriously as his boss.

"Hmm alright" he hung up the phone and something clicked in his mind.

How could he miss that?

He smoothly took a turn on the one way road because he doesn't give a flying fuck about the rules.

Parking his car hastily in the basement, he stormed inside the building and went up to the same room as before and it was just his luck that he found him there today as well.

No words were exchanged, no warnings were given, a hard punch was laid straight on his cheek faster than he could blink.

"How dare you?" Xavier said grimly.

Immediately spitting blood from his mouth, Igor stood up to his full height and looked at him in confusion.

"What the fuck are you going on about Romano?" He asked.

"Ailee gets attacked within a week of meeting you, it can't be a coincidence, can it?" He scoffed.

" Who... ... Oh!" He exclaimed when he realized it must be that fine young girl who bumped into him that day.

"Why would I do anything to her?" He asked, now genuinely concerned for the girl.

"I don't know, you tell me" Xavier said and took a threatening step towards him.

"Okay I'll tell you brother. Whatever we have going on is strictly between us only. I don't fancy hurting innocent people just like that" He looked him dead in the eye and spoke every word with confidence.

Xavier could see that there was no lie in his words and he was relieved a bit but the bigger question was, who?

Who could he have been working for?

Igor was his prime suspect even though he is practically harmless when it comes to physical damage but now he is back to square one.

"If I find you involved in it Igor, I will rip you to pieces with my bare hands." He seethed and left the place.

Igor stood there dumbfounded. He had no clue regarding whatever the fuck was going on yet he was dragged in it by his asshole brother somehow.

But oh he was here for the show.

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