Page 96 of Xander

This time, I had no more tears left to spare, staring numbly at the man before me. Gone was the gentle soul I had seen glimpses of in the last few days, and back was the monster I didn’t understand.

Xander pressed a soft kiss to my trembling lips with some faux concerns for my health.

Before he left, he locked the balcony door and closed the blinds—perhaps he thought I wanted to sleep—and in doing so, he cast me into the darkest corners of the world, where once again, the sun could no longer reach me.

Xander

There had been a change in Jordan over the last few days. I had sensed a gradual softening toward me on Jordan’s part, and she was finally demonstrating her true emotions. I should give her grace and accept her feelings as the gift it was. I should trust her, but I couldn’t force myself to take the risk. The last thing I had wanted to do was rock that fragile boat, but if there was even the smallest chance that she’d run, I couldn’t take it.

There were still too many threats outside of this house, outside this bedroom, even. Men. They were always taunting me, always looking at her, always salivating after her. I let go of all my male employees, not caring if they brought a lawsuit against me. If I wasn’t around, I couldn’t risk her meeting another man and possibly entertaining a different choice. Hell, I never wanted her to be presented with another option other than me.

While I knew Jordan wouldn’t call the authorities—she’d rather be locked in a room than return to an institution—I wouldn’t put it past her to steal a knife and threaten one of the housekeepers into letting her out. I didn’t know every crevice of this place. Letting her out of the bedroom while I wasn’t here was simply too big of a risk at this point.

I’d set up a camera inside our bedroom so I could monitor her from my phone until the moment I was back. And then I’d let her out of the house.

She’d understand, right? This was temporary—I was nothing like Henry. Even if I could understand his desire to keep her away from other men, she was too good for him. Her radiating face proved how much she had changed after only a few days with me because she belonged with me.

I was only locking her away out of necessity while I took measures to ensure our life together. She may be angry now, but it would pass once she saw the bigger picture.

We’ll have an entire lifetime to fix this, I thought grimly. After we’re free of Henry, we’ll rebuild trust and whatever else she wants.

I walked over to her and cupped her cheek, lifting her face so it was tilted upward toward mine.

And then I kissed her again, fisting my hand in her silky hair.

“Get some rest.” I pulled back just enough to look into her defeated eyes. “I’ll let the staff know that they’re to make you whatever you want when you get hungry. I can tell you’re running on empty.”

I slid my hand out of her hair reluctantly, stepping back as I watched her recline onto the bed that I wanted to join her in. I wanted to comfort her badly, but I had people to see—and a plane to catch.

Chapter

Thirty-One

XANDER

What do you want to talk to us about in Lunenberg?

Caden’s message blinked up at me as I got off the plane, my reception now restored. I typed out a quick response to my cousin.

Me: I have some information about Henry and his business that you, Damon, and Uncle Joe are going to want to see. Can you get up there tomorrow?

Damon: Fuck, man, it’s going to be a stretch for me. What are you up to?

Me: Just tying up some loose ends.

I was with the whole team, and it was a quick jaunt through customs for us, a flash of my passport. But I made the mistake of using the bathroom afterward.

“Xander Maxwell! Is that you?”

Fuck. I shook my head, pulling the brim of my baseball cap lower, ignoring the disappointment on the fan’s face as I strode out of the restroom.

Me: I’ll be back in Lunenberg tomorrow. Meet me at my house.

Caden: Sounds shady.

He wasn’t wrong, I thought.

It was late when the team arrived at the New Jersey hotel, and I vowed this would be the last night I spent away from Jordan. I could have brought her to New Jersey and sicced a full security team on her, however, there were too many risks to her being in the U.S.A. Henry’s conservatorship had jurisdiction on American soil, whereas he had to jump through several international hoops to get to her in Canada. Our bedroom in Lunenberg was still the safest place for her.