CHAPTER 3 - BORDERLINE OBSESSIVE
1686 Words
Xavier’s Pov
I can't feel my left arm. This wasn't my first time getting shot and it’s probably not gonna be my last. But this was my first time taking a bullet for a girl I barely knew and I don’t regret it for one second.
Warm blood runs down my wounded arm forming a wet patch on my black hoodie. I don't even feel the pain yet, just the rush. I turn to more corners before slipping into the alley near a run-down cafe. My bike’s waiting there. I swing my leg over and fire up the engine with my one good arm. keeping my head low. No cops in sight. Good.
I need stitches before I bleed to death and I know exactly where to get them.
————————————————————
Ten minutes later, I’m pounding on her door — the only door I trust.
It opens a crack before she steps into the light.
“Jesus, Xavier!” Naomi’s eyes widen in shock the moment she sees the blood on my arm. “What the hell happened to you this time?”
I push past her to get into the apartment. “Got shot…. Just a graze.”
“Just a graze?” She shuts the door behind us and grabs my arm. “Your blood is all over my floor.”
“I’ll buy you another one. ” I mutter weakly, dropping onto the sofa in her tiny apartment. “Got a kit?”
She shoots me a cold gaze. “Yeah, duh.”
I watch as she disappears into the bedroom. Her apartment is small and cluttered, nothing like the pristine palace I'm used to. I shouldn't even be here but I know if I had gone anywhere else and the wrong person spots me, tomorrow’s headlines would read. “BUSINESS TYCOON SPOTTED HALF-DEAD.”
I can't risk that. A minor slip-up like that would ruin everything.
She returns with a small black bag and kneels right beside me.
“Take your hoodie off.”
I arch my brow and smile seductively. “Woah, slow down tiger. Now’s not the exact time for that.” I joke.
“Take it off, so I could save your dumb ass.”
“Relax. I’m kidding.” I take it of slowly, biting back a curse as pain lances up my arm.“f**k!” I yell in agony.
She comes to my aid and helps with taking it off. It’s finally done and she begins to inspect my wound. “Woah, this is serious. You should've gone to the hospital.”
“And risk having the paparazzi snap pictures of me half-naked and bleeding? No, thanks. My PR’ team’s still cleaning out the last time I made front page news.”
She rolls her eyes lazily. “Hold still, this will sting.”
It does more than sting. It hurts like a b***h. I groan as she swabs the wounds with antiseptic.
“Sorry. Want me numb to it?” She asks.
I shake my head. “Nah, just stitch it up.”
After some excruciatingly painful minutes later, filled with blood, needles and stitches. She gently slaps the bandage on.
“There you go. You’re all fine. Just promise to keep it clean so it doesn't worsen.”
I put my hoodie back on. “I’ll survive. Thanks Naomi. I’ll be heading out now.”
Her eyes widen in shock. “ Wait, you're leaving. But you just got stitched up and…”
I cut her off. “I have places to be.”
“Places? Can’t you just…” She cuts herself off, because she knows she's overstepping.
“Can’t I just what?” I dare her.
She meets my gaze, her light brown eyes hold mine a little too long. “Stay. For once.”
Something flickers in her face — longing.
The atmosphere tightens and her eyes dart to my lips. Then slowly, she leans in. I don't move for a beat, I let her get close enough until her breath hits my skin.
Then just as her lips brush mine, I dodge and turn my head.
“Don’t,” I murmur.
“Why?”
“Because you want something I can't give.”
“You mean, won't.”
“Thanks Naomi. See you later.” I stand up and head toward her door.
“You know you can't keep showing up like this.”
“I know,” I zip my hoodie, adjusting the hood so it covers my face. “But you'll open the door every time I do.”
She looks away, clenching her jaw tightly.
Then I'm gone, Out the door and into the dark with only one thing on my mind — The girl.
Taking a bullet for her might seem grand but it's not enough, Freya Whitmore is someone I’d burn everything for.
I know her name because her ID slipped out of the bag earlier. It now sits in my wallet, right next to my gun license and I don't plan on giving it back.
—————————————————————-
4 Days later.
I’m stepping out of a bakery, a half eaten croissant in one hand when I caught sight of a familiar brunette hair.
She’s across the street walking with a careful pace that indicates that her ribs still hurt from earlier. She’s dressed in work clothes - black skirt, white shirt and her hair tied up in a loose ponytail.
“Hey.” I call out as she’s about to pass the corner of the bakery.
Her head lifts and I see her brown eyes widen immediately. She looks surprised and then - relieved.
“Oh my God, You!” She breathes, grinning. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”
I shoot her a warm smile. “Well. Small city.”
Her gaze sweeps over me then stops at my arm. “Are you — God, are you okay? You got shot the other night and I've been so worried ever since.”
I chuckle, rubbing the back of my neck. “Ah… it’s nothing. Just a scratch, I’ve had worse.”
“Worse?” She shakes her head, half-laughing. “That’s not something people just say casually.”
“What can I say? Occupational hazard.” I shrug.
Her brows knit together. “What exactly is your occupation?”
She has no idea. Good.
“You see, I used to be a cop. At the moment though, I’m a data analyst.” I lie
She nods slowly. “Makes sense, you look like you’d know your way around danger.”
I smirk. “That’s not the only thing I know my way around.”
She chuckles and for a moment, I could see her cheeks flush. Her voice softens now, “by the way I never got to thank you properly for saving my life.”
“You just did .”
“No, I mean…” she shifts the coffee cup in her hand, almost shy now. “If you hadn’t shown up I don’t think I'd be standing here. I can’t possibly pay you back for your kindness but let me at least buy you lunch while we chat about nothing.”
She nods toward the bakery.
“Nah. Don’t worry, it’s all good.” I bluff.
She grabs my arm tenderly, “I insist. I was going to get some snacks anyway. It’s my break at work.”
Her touch lingers and with the way she looks at me I can tell she feels it too.
I grin. “Sounds like a plan.”
Before we could walk in, a man in a cheap suit came up to us, holding a paper bag. He seems like he’s in his mid-thirties, with thinning hair and the kind of smirk that infuriates me.
“Freya,” he says, his voice dripping with fake charm. “Nice to see you taking your sweet time chatting with your good friend while the rest of us are busting our ass tryna figure out how to make amends before the CEO arrives.”
Her whole posture changes. Her shoulders tighten and her jaws tense. She offers a forced smile and replies. “It’s my lunch time Carl. I’ve been working non-stop for six hours.”
“Not my business. I need you back in the office to get those files done as soon as possible.”
He glances at me like I’m an unwanted guest. “And this is?” He asks her.
“Not your business.” I say before she can.
His eyes narrow and he smirks at her again. “Five minutes, Freya, five.” He walks off and my eyes follow him until he disappears into the crowd.
She exhales. “Sorry, that's my senior manager. He’s….”
“Breathing,” I smile lightly. “For now.”
She bursts out laughing thinking I'm joking — I'm not.
She glances at her watch. “Um…. I better get going now. See you some other time. Thanks again.”
I smile. “Yeah, take care.”
She walks away.
I wait until she’s out of sight before I turn and walk down the other street.
Seeing her today made my entire week, even if it was just for a few minutes. It’s not everyday you get the chance to meet someone you’re obsessed with by accident, except….In this case, it wasn’t an accident.
I knew exactly where she’d be, down to the minute because I couldn’t get my mind off her. I’d been tracking her movements since the night of the mugging. I've watched her laugh, eat and breathe and every time it gets harder to remember that I'm supposed to stay in the shadows.
And as for her good friend, Carl. One thing’s for sure.
He’ll be the next name on my list.
- Writer
