The Mafia's Secret

Chapter 21 ✔️

SCARLETT

        "Scar? Can I come in?" Zayn asked as he knocked on the door after ten minutes had passed.
        "Leave me alone, Zayn. I don't want to talk about it."
        I was hoping he would take the hint and leave me alone but instead, he came into the room, closing the door behind him. He said nothing as he sat down next to me. The silence was deafening but neither one of  us wanted to say the first word. He wanted to ask what happened but he knew I wouldn't want to share.
        It felt like ages before before he finally sighed, nudging me with his elbow. "So, are you going to tell me what happened?"
        "It doesn't matter."  I replied simply.
        "Scar. I'm not asking because I'm curious. I'm asking because I care. You're my sister and I wasn't there when you needed me most. But now that I am, I want to help. So tell me what happened. Please?"
        I sighed, leaning my head back against the bed. "I betrayed you, Zayn. I thought I never could, but I did."
        "How so?"
        "Because I never thought I would be as involved in the gangs as I am now. I vowed to never be a part of it for your sake and yet here we are. I'm stuck right in the middle of a damn Love Triangle." I let out an exasperated sigh.
        Zayn chuckled. "Let me guess. Caleb?"
        I nodded.
        "Could be worse. And who's the other?"
        "You don't want to know."
        "You mean you don't want to tell me?" Zayn sighed after I refused to say anything. He knew and he clearly wasn't happy about it. "Listen to me, Scar. Xavier is dangerous and he always will be. I won't force you to choose but be careful. I trusted Nina and look where that got me. If you trust Xavier, he will break you emotionally and physically. Don't say I didn't warn you." He was angry now. But instead of yelling at me or reprimanding me, he would let me live by my own mistakes. He sighed, patting my leg. "Come on. Let's go get some food before it gets cold." Without another word, he got up and left the room. All I could do was follow behind, still contemplating what I should do.

*   *   *   *

        A few hours had passed now. It was getting dark so Zayn had brought Mindy back to her room, leaving me with Caleb and Xavier despite what he knew. The silence was deafening as I sat on the recliner, not wanting to be next to either of the boys. It felt childish to avoid them now like I was in high school, avoiding a senior crush. Even glancing at Caleb, he seemed like he wanted to say a lot to me but wouldn't. I had a feeling it had to do with Xavier being in the room.
        Xavier Finally stood up, walking towards the fridge, most likely to grab  another beer. He brought over four, placing them on the table before grabbing one and opening it. The cap went flying off onto the floor where Xavier decided to leave it, offering me the now open beer. Taking it without hesitation, I took a long drink. It was refreshing to have a nice and cool drink, especially with everything that had happened. I was still under age but no one really cared these days.
        As Xavier sat back down, Zayn came back in. The first thing he noticed was the beer in my hands. I half expected him to rip it out of my hands but instead he just grabbed an unopened one from the coffee table. He sat down next to me, opening his beer.
        "So what's the plan?" I asked, taking another sip of the beer.
        "The plan? You think you'll be a part of that?" Xavier raised a brow, taking a sip of his beer.
        "And why wouldn't I be?" I challenged him.
        "May I remind you what happened the last time you tried to face your father?" Caleb butted in, causing me to shoot him a warning glare which he easily shook off.
       "Xavier's right, Scar. I won't risk our father taking you again. You're clearly still in pain from what he did to you. So you're staying here with Mindy. Where you both will be safe." Zayn's tone was serious. He meant it. He didn't want me near my father.
        "I'm not a little girl anymore, Zayn."
        "I know. But you're the only one we trust to watch over Mindy. We can't leave her here on her own. You know that."
        I didn't want to admit it but he was right. Mindy couldn't be left on her own and we really did have no one else who could watch her. Especially someone we could trust. So after sighing in frustration, I took another sip of beer, gesturing for them to continue.

*   *   *   *

        Once they had their plan all made up and when they would follow through with it, Caleb and Zayn left, leaving me alone with Xavier. Anger was still boiling my blood even after the two left. It was infuriating to know the plan and to know that someone would end up getting killed because of it.
        "So," Xavier started, snapping me from my thoughts while he took a sip of his beer. "You're clearly not impressed with the plan."
        "Like you care what I have to say about it."
        "Your brother is right, Scar. You're the only one I trust to watch over Mindy."
        "Since when do you care what he thinks?"
        "Since the day I thought your father killed you. Part of our deal was to keep you out of this and I plan to keep that deal."
       "Why?"
        "Come with me and I'll show you."
       He stood, putting down his beer before walking over to me with an extended hand. Raising a brow,  I took one last sip of my beer before putting it down onto the coffee table. Glancing at his hand, I rolled my eyes as I smacked it away. He seemed almost impressed as he raised his hands, backing away once I  stood. I hardly had a few minutes of standing before he grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the stairs. Butterflies swirled in my stomach as he led me into his bedroom. He wasted no time closing the door behind us as if someone else was in the house.
        There was no time to process what he was doing when he grabbed my hands, pushing me into the wall. A small grunt left my lips but it was quickly silenced as he put a finger to my lips. The second he moved a hand to my hip, the memories started flooding in. The way Nathaniel touched and assaulted me. It all came crashing back. Looking away from Xavier, he only grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up at him. He leaned forward, pressing his lips into mine. The kiss only lasted a few seconds before he pulled away, noticing the tears that were streaming down my cheeks. Xavier caressed my cheeks with his palms.
        "I won't let what that monster did, destroy you. The second I pulled the trigger on that monster, was the day I knew I loved you. I have never felt that way about anyone before."
        "Why should I believe that?" I whispered, hardly able to get the words out without stuttering.
        "Let me take you and just maybe you will."
        Without another word, he took a step back. I half expected him to walk away as I stayed silent, but he didn't. He seemed to take my silence as permission because he grabbed my hands, gently pulling me towards the bed. He was going at a slow enough pace as if he expected me to demand him to stop at any moment. I wanted to as he gently pushed me to sit on the edge of the bed but no words would leave my mouth.
        He took off his clothes, leaving him only in his boxer briefs. He grabbed the hem of my shirt, slowly raising it above my head. I felt like a robot, instinctively pulling off my jeans. I knew it was because of  Nathaniel. He always got off whenever he wanted with me even if I didn't want it, so I had gotten used to just taking my clothes off instead of him ripping them off like a wild animal.
        Xavier seemed to notice this once I finally got my bra off since the angle was incredibly difficult with my hand and wrists throbbing in pain, because he suddenly grabbed my arm, stopping me as I was just reaching for my underwear.
        "Is this what you want, Scar?" He asked. His voice was low and soft. He was really asking and not just about to take me without my verbal permission.
        Something clicked in my head, changing the way I saw this man. He wasn't a monster. He was just a man who actually had a gentleness to him and not a manipulator. He wasn't another cruel version of Nathaniel. He was his own person who had a dark side but also a gentle side.
        I wanted this. I needed this. I decided as I nodded, looking up into his concern-filled eyes. "Yes." I finally said.
        I knew he liked my answer because he smiled. The man actually smiled.  It wasn't a full smile or a half-ass smile. It was more like a soft smile as if he was happy to hear such a word come from me.
        After what felt like an eternity, he slowly pulled off my underwear. He dropped his boxer briefs to the floor. His whole world was huge and completely erect. I could feel my cheeks heat up so I looked away, causing him to chuckle as he loomed over me.
        He put himself into position, leaning in close so that his face was inches from mine. "If you need me to stop, tell me." His voice was soft but there was a hint of seriousness behind it.
        I nodded, allowing him to take me.