If you only knew...

66.My kind of love

Xavier's POV

As I wrestle with the panic rising inside me, anxiously glancing at the clock, my heart skips a beat when I catch a glimpse of our targets bursting through the casino's main entrance. My breath hitches in my throat as I witness The Tiger, dragging Ana by her hair, his other hand waving frantically to his guards to fling open the door of a sleek black SUV.
No!! This damn bastard!! This can't be happening—something went wrong!

My anger is overwhelming. Ana's screams push me to my breaking point and cloud my ability to think clearly. There's a powerful urge within me to take aim and shoot a bullet in his head with an unwavering precision. Yet, I remind myself that this isn't a wise decision. It would likely lead to both of us being killed right away.

Before I can fully process the chaos unfolding in front of me, I see them forcing Ana into the car. Panic sets in as I quickly twist the key in the ignition of my motorcycle. With a swift acceleration, I take off, trailing them as they speed toward the unknown.

I pull down my visor, concealing my face beneath the helmet, and focus on maintaining a careful distance. I can't afford to give them any reason to suspect I'm on their track.

They glide the car to a halt just at a forest's edge, and my heart races as I swiftly park further down the road, shrouding myself from their view. I dart over to their vehicle and puncture the tires — a deliberate act to ensure they won't be able to pursue us, or at least one of us, once this chaos ends.

Adrenaline surges through me as I sprint into the woods, weaving between the towering trees. I fight to maintain my composure, using the foliage to conceal my presence. Each rustle of leaves makes my pulse quicken, heightening my senses. Yet, I push forward, driven by an unwavering resolve to reach them as fast as possible.

I duck behind a massive trunk as I watch the scene unfold before me. There are two armed men and The Tiger, whose sinister grin reveals his deadly intentions. It's clear he's set on silencing Ana for good, and I know I need to act fast.

"You see, little bird, you had your opportunity for a bright future with us, yet you chose to betray my trust," he says, "I think we should have a little fun with you before I kill you." He signals to his guards to step forward and grasp Ana's arms with firm holds. She screams as he starts touching her, before attempting to tug her jacket off.

I can't hold back any longer. With his men distracted— their guns put away and their hands busy keeping Ana restrained— I see an option. If I act quickly, I can reach The Tiger before they have a chance to pull their triggers. I believe that by doing this, I can negotiate Ana's freedom. However, this means I will have to trade my own in return...

My heart sinks as I struggle with this heart-wrenching choice: it is either me or her who will face the end here. When I weigh my existence against hers, I painfully realize how alone I truly am. Outside of Nate and possibly my sister—whose sorrow would be minimal, if it exists at all—there aren't any others who would grieve my absence. But Ana? She has a whole world waiting for her—a family, a devoted fiancé, and a circle of friends who would be shattered by her loss. Yet, amid them all, there would always be me. The mere thought of losing her because of my reckless, foolish plan is simply unbearable. The weight of that regret is something I know I could never carry.

What hurts me the most is how close we were, yet I find myself with so much left unsaid. I will never have the chance to express what truly lies in my heart, and how much she means to me. The hardest part is not knowing what could have blossomed between us—the love I longed to share and the connection I wished we could explore together.

Ana, I am so deeply sorry. I'm sorry that we will never become the "us" that I dreamed of, and I'm sorry that I won't have the chance to fully reveal my kind of love for you. But perhaps, just maybe, you can sense a piece of it now.