The Guilty Innocent (37 page)

Before I knew it, I had lunged for her and John had to hold me tight to keep me from committing a crime against man. I heard angry guttural sounds come out of me and I knew that I was livid beyond all reasoning.

“Take her out of the room.” Xavier told John, who followed orders. He dragged me out of the mansion with ease as I struggled wildly. The cold biting air helped me to calm down, and I ceased my struggles. It was useless anyway, John's grip was like a titanium vice. I looked at Elise and her Pride, they had dressed, all except Sergio and Devin. They were headed towards the mansion. Each of them silently glanced at John and me as they walked inside. Elise stopped to ask me what was wrong.

“I'll be fine in a minute, just go inside, you'll see for yourself why I'm upset,” I told her. She nodded and without another word, she followed the others inside. I looked up at John, he was collected as his blue eyes peered at me behind the veil of blonde bangs.

“Why is he going to let her go!?” I asked angrily.

“Because, we need her to testify in court, without influence. We need her to tell the court everything so Darian can be set free. We can not do that if we use mind tricks on her, or if she is dead.” John was sounding very level-headed at this point. “Which is why Xavier will not hypnotize her or read her mind. He wants it all to come from her free of will.”

What he was saying was making sense to one half of my brain, but the other half wanted revenge. I have never felt this way before and I did not like feeling this way. I did not like hating someone so much that I wanted to see them dead. I gazed up at John and I felt myself grow weaker, both mentally and physically and my knees buckled. John caught me in his arms and held me close to him.

“I just want this all to end,” I sobbed into his chest. I could feel his hands stroking my hair softly.

“Natasha, Xavier knows exactly how you feel about all of this and I promise you, she will not be getting away with this. But I do not want to tell you any more.”

He raised my face to his and looked into my eyes, I looked up at him, his pretty blue eyes locked onto mine, in a movement too swift for me to react to, his lips were sealed to mine in a passionate kiss. Then he pulled away. He moved away from me, his face reddening, his breath quickened.

“Natasha, I am sorry, I had no right!” he said apologetically, he appeared to be ashamed of himself. “Please, forgive me, I-” he started, but I had walked up to him and placed my fingertips to his lips. His eyes settled on mine and he remained silent.

“I am not upset that you did that, I know that you care for me. We will just keep this to ourselves.” I gave him my sweetest smile. He seemed to relax and he smiled. “At least I'm not as upset as I was five seconds ago,” I said lightly.

He chuckled. “Glad I could put you at ease.”

The others began leaving the mansion. I watched Lidiya being held closely by Adrian while Tony led the way. Xavier stopped between John and myself and his gaze shifted towards John. John lowered his head, a fearful expression in his eyes, he bowed before Xavier. Could Xavier had known about what John just did?

“I am sorry! Please forgive my indiscretions!” John begged. I suppose Xavier did know, so therefore, I was not going to stand by and watch John be punished for a minuscule act of weakness, John kissed me because he cared for me, there was nothing else to be derived from it.

“Xavier, please do not do anything to him, please!” I pleaded. Xavier turned to me and he took my hands into his and kissed them.

“I would never do anything that would displease you...if I could avoid it. Please understand Natasha, that this situation with Lidiya must be done. But trust me, she will be dealt with for the what she has done.” He paused and looked at John's kneeling form then turned to face me, a smiled played on his lips. “How can I blame him for stealing a kiss from the most passionate, courageous and exquisitely beautiful woman in the world,” he whispered seductively.

I wouldn't go that far, hut it was damn nice to hear!

Then he turned to face John. “Stand up, you are not in trouble.” Xavier said. John rose, a look of relief swept across his face. The others were walking towards the trucks, John, Xavier and I followed them.

When we reached the truck, Lidiya climbed into the back of the truck I was going to ride in. I didn't want to ride in the same truck with her, but I had no choice. Xavier must have sensed my discomfort, because when the other truck pulled up beside ours, he suggested that Adrian drive and he asked Carmen and Miko to switch with us. Miko exited the truck and walked towards ours. Carmen looked towards Elise for her word, Elise nodded her head, and Carmen opened the door, then climbed out of the SUV. Xavier and I sat in their vacant seats as Nagesa drove. He followed the first truck that was now being driven by Adrian. Those two shape-shifters definitely proved why they were the enforcers of their Pack. I have never met Warren's Pack master and foster father, but I would like to thank him personally for sending help when all this is over.

We drove through the unpopulated streets, there were a few cars parked along the way, but there were no people about. After about twenty minutes, we reached what looked to be a mini-mart. Adrian and Nagesa killed the engines and Xavier, Daniel, Adrian and Miko climbed out of the trucks with a speed that seemed faster than the blink of an eye. They vanished into the building, two taking the back while Adrian and Xavier entered through the front. I suppose they did not need Lidiya to get in after all. They broke through the front door and windows. Soon after that, I began to hear the sounds of gunfire and I panicked. John took my hand and held it lightly inside his.

“Don't worry, they will be safe,” he said reassuringly.

I forced myself to sit back against the leather seat and waited. Five minutes passed before they emerged from the building. Xavier was carrying an unconscious man, he opened the cargo door of the truck and threw the man inside, then climbed in after him. Everyone else climbed into the trucks and we drove back to the cabin. When we arrived at the cabins, Xavier carried the still unconscious man into the living room and dumped his body on the floor. The man began to stir, he opened his eyes and looked around. After he surveyed everyone in the room, he appeared to recognize the immediate danger of his predicament and began to speak.

“What do you want from me?” he asked; his English was barely understandable because of his thick Russian accent.

I recognize the voice from the night of Sergio's infiltration. I believed him to be Eremei Andrecv, he was dressed in a blood stained smoke-grey three piece suit, his straight black hair was combed back revealing his smoldering grey eyes. He looked to be in his late thirties. His eyes revealed his fear as he watched Xavier walk towards him. Xavier knelt down beside him, he glared at Eremei with a stare that was as cold as ice.

“You have two choices, the first choice is you testify against yourself in court tomorrow night. The second option open to you is this: If you refuse to cooperate with us, we will rip you limb from limb slowly, applying enough pain to allow you to change your mind...” he leaned closer to him. “...And you
will
change your mind. The decision is yours.” Xavier rose to his feet, he looked down at Eremei. “Remember the courts will be merciful, we will not.” He crossed his arms over his chest, he looked at Lidiya, then back at Eremei. “What is your decision?” he asked flatly. Eremei seemed to think about his choices, he looked around the room at all of the vampires and shape-shifters, he even threw a glance at me, then back at Xavier.

“You won't do it. You need me!” he hissed smugly.

“You have nothing to bargain with, Lidiya has agreed to testify, you only have two choices, what is it going to be?” Xavier said arrogantly.

I have never seen this side of Xavier. I was both impressed and spooked. I suspected he could be a dangerous adversary, he told me so once. But I had no idea just
how
dangerous. He was completely fearless and calculating, he was definitely not a man you should underestimate. Once again, Eremei appeared to be thinking about what Xavier said to him. I had to agree, they were two tough choices, death...or imprisonment, which might lead to death, but chances are it would be a more instant death than what Xavier was promising. “I will testify, I'll get off anyway, you will see.” Eremei announced smugly! He began to laugh before looking at Lidiya. “And as for you, you little slut! You will not get away with this!” he threatened. His Russian accent thickening with his anger.

Xavier looked down at him and smiled. “Then we have an understanding.”

He walked away from Eremei towards me and took me by the hand, leading me into the bedroom and closing the door behind us. I sat down on the bed and looked at his beautiful face. He came to stand over me, my eyes trailed down his chest to his stomach then further down to his crotch. I heard Xavier chuckle and I looked up at him.

“Are you still upset with me?” he asked seductively.

Oh geez, how can I be upset with a beautiful man that knows how to effectively use “smooth talk!”?

“No, not anymore, but I could have snatched you bald an hour ago.” I said, smiling. He smiled in return, then pressed his hands lightly on my shoulders, pushing me down on the bed. He climbed onto the bed, straddling me. I was caught in the vortex of his seductive gaze, making it hard for me not to snatch his clothes off.

“You know...I would hate for you to ever be upset with me.” He said softly as he leaned down and kissed my neck gently, tickling me, I giggled. He raised his head and peered into my eyes again. “You know I want only to please you,” he whispered. Xavier lowered his head and began to kiss my cheeks, chin and neck, his hands caressing my breast underneath the thin material of my shirt. I began to feel the heat rise from between my legs, I pressed my hands against his pecs, pushing him away. He felt my gentle pressure and stopped his enticement. I was beginning to find it extremely difficult to refuse Xavier. The sound of his voice, the touch of his hands damn near had me swooning!

“I'm sorry, I know how you feel about sex in compromising situations,” he chuckled as he rolled away from me to lay on his back.

I sat up and looked at him then I leaned over and rested my chin on his chest, staring up into his face. He looked down at me, his hands behind his head, giving him a few inches of elevation. “You treat me so wonderfully, how could I stay mad at you. I love you, Xavier.” I said as I caressed him, I felt his arms encircle me.

“I want you to know Natasha that I love you so very much and I know that we have only known each other for only four months, yet there is something about you that draws me to you. It would really make me happy beyond all measure if you would consider sharing your life with both Darian and myself.” Xavier said softly.

I was not surprised by his statement. I knew that he and Darian wanted me to become a part of their lives, but I just did not know how to respond. I decided to remain silent and Xavier didn't say another word. We laid in each others' arms for a while before someone knocked on the door.

We looked up. “Come in.” Xavier said and the door opened, it was John.

“We need to rest, the sun is coming up. The shape-shifters are watching over Eremei and Lidiya,” John informed us.

I nodded my head and climbed off of the bed. Xavier took my hand and pressed it to the side of his face. His skin had begun to cool and I knew it was a sure sign that the sun was rising. He kissed my palm, then released my hand. The other vampires passed by me as I exited the bedroom, closing the door behind myself. I looked at the other shape-shifters. Adrian was eating a huge sandwich piled high with several different lunch meats. He sat in one of the comfortable upholstered chairs. His gaze shifted to me when I entered and he smiled.

“You did good out there, surprised the fuck out of me. I'm going to have to tell Warren his little 'blossoming lotus' was in full bloom tonight!” Adrian chuckled, then he finished off his sandwich.

I blushed as I smiled at him. I looked around the room, several of the shape-shifters were sleeping on the floor and the others rested on the furniture. I carefully stepped over the sleeping shifters and sat down on the end of the sofa, I looked at Adrian.

“How did you learn how to do what you did tonight?” I asked genuinely curious. He reclined the chair, making himself more comfortable before he answered me.

“My father is an ex-soldier, he served in the military in England before he became our Pack Alpha. He has taught me almost everything I know. Nagesa has passed on some of his knowledge as well. Because my father is the leader of our Pack, it is his duty to make sure the Pack is always protected. Besides my father, Nagesa, Warren and I are the three highest skilled in physical combat as well as tactical espionage. I have been doing this for the past ten years,” he said proudly.