The Act

Freedom

Xan's POV

"Was the camera footage wiped?" I ask feeling my patience disappear with each passing minute.

"Appears so. Don't worry my guys will pull it." Dorian replies in his usual cool tone. "How's your woman?" He questions watching me intensely.

"Shaken up. Bruise the size of a damn baseball is wrapped around her arm." I grumble feeling a rush of rage flow through me at the memory.

"And the whereabouts of Damon?" He questions sounding a bit more peculiar.

"Dante is trailing him trying to get a bit more intel before capturing him." I explain. At first, I was pissed with that idea wanting him dead as soon as possible. But Nicole reminded me that Damon isn't the big boss behind all this; We need to reveal all their cards.

"I see. Are you going to kill him?" He asks knowingly. "If so I can get a location set up for you and cover your tracks. We'd hate for you to ruin that pretty reputation of yours." 

"That would be ideal." I reply. 

"Then it's done." He pauses for a moment. "What are Ms. Polyester's views on this?" I blink once.

I wonder when the guy became a fucking relationship consultant.

"Not supportive, but understanding." I grunt out.

He hums a reply.

"Alright. I'll have all this looked into and a location will be sent to you and Dante. The Ashley situation is contained for now as well as the Travis situation. You have my number if things change." He says.

"Alright." I reply inching towards the red button.

"And Xan?"

"Yes?" I question.

"Try not to get lost in your emotions. You have a woman to come home to that loves you." His words are assured. Yet void of anything, as they usually are.

"Goodbye Dorian." I reply offering no response to his little words of wisdom before hanging up the phone.

Tsk.

I'm more than aware of the amazing woman I have to come home to. In fact, I don't forget it for a second. If it weren't for her i'd be out hunting Damon down my goddamn self. But she needs me. and she comes first. Always.

On the other hand, we've been getting things in order for Mrs. Loretta to head home with us. Her house should be ready for her to move into by next week, so until then she'll be staying in Sage's penthouse, since Sage has basically moved into mines.

The private jet will be ready at 2pm. Sage is in the other room on the phone with the doctor making sure that there aren't other things Mrs. Loretta needs. Her mom is annoyed about it, but can you blame her? I don't think my baby has really wrapped her head around the fact that everything is going to be okay.

"Updates?" Nicole questions walking into my hotel room like she owns the fucking place. Something else was there though. She seemed more subdued than usual.

"It's as okay as it can be." I offer back giving her a once over. Damn did she look like our mother.

"Peachy then." She quips.

"What do you want?" I snap impatiently knowing my sister.

She half tenses. "What gave me away?" Her question is nonchalant as she throws herself onto the couch in front of me. I sigh.

"I've known you for a while." I say pulling and chuckle out of her. A while is a bit of an understatement and we both know that.

"I wanted to talk to you about yesterday." Nicole begins looking at me with cool eyes. I can tell she's gauging my reactions.