The Billionaire's Accidental Bride

Chapter 9: Who Xavier really is

Carla P.O.V

I sat idly in the gardens, waiting for Xander to return with some water. After many refusals of wanting him to join me out on a walk, I finally caved. God knows how this man can be so annoying. I looked down at the tiny rose bushes that were still being nurtured to grow. I felt a pang of pain in my heart as it brought back memories of my mother and Kylio.

"Carla?" Xander's voice took me from my thoughts. I shook my head, focussing back on reality.

"Yeah? Sorry, my mind was somewhere else..." I said as I could feel the usual crimson blush creep up on my cheeks. I looked up and saw Xander holding out a bottle of water for me. I took it from him and muttered a small thanks before spinning off the cap and taking some sips.

"Anyway, as I was saying ... I know my brother could be a total asshole. But ... he wasn't always like this. The whole 'being Don Xavier Cortez' thing really changed him and I wish I could say that it changed him for the better, but it didn't completely. Ever since his initiation, he has pushed everyone who was close to him even further away. Even our dearest Mamma. Xavier always blamed our father for the lifestyle choices that he now had to make" Xander said, staring at the roses in front of him.

"I - I don't understand? What does your father have to do with all of this?" I asked, confused. I knew Xavier had changed. He was no longer the Xavier that I knew growing up, obviously. But I struggled to piece together what his father had to do with everything. I mean, Xavier always knew he was going to take over the role of boss of the Cortez family, so why would he blame his father for all of this?

"Well, let me put it like this, Xavier actually had more time, he should have had a lot more time. Unfortunately, my father, being the greedy bastard that he was, had to go and screw with the Salvatore family. He was assassinated merely only weeks after he was involved with the shooting and killing of the wives and children associated with the cappo's and the bosses of the family. After that, the family was left vulnerable and Xavier had to step in. Mamma wasn't very pleased with the situation. She said that Xavier needed a lot more time and that the advisor should step in for the interim, but as you know by now, women in our world don't actually have a lot to say when it comes to family matters" Xander explained, and I scoffed.

Yeah, because you men don't even want to give women the chance at proving you wrong! I thought to myself. I inwardly just wanted this mission to come to an end, then I can go back to where I belong, showing the world that women do have power, by taking over the role of being Cappo of the North.

"Oh, okay ... But it still doesn't give him the right to be a total asshole to me when I didn't even do anything to him!" I said with a sigh, looking down at the suddenly interesting bottle of water in my hands. I could feel his eyes on me. I looked up at him, but he still just looked at me with so much concentration.

"Sorry, it feels like I've met you before, but I can't place you," Xander said, and I could see the slightest smirk forming on his face.

"Well ... you obviously saw me at the club the other night. When your brother swiftly rescued me from that friend of yours" I answered with a laugh, hoping that Xander was a little too intoxicated that night to remember anything much.

"No ... it had to be before that, it's like there's a memory, but I can account for it or even remember. Never mind me, I'm sure I might have actually just been too sloshed that night to remember anything much." Xander said with a chuckle as he stood up, offering me a hand to get up as well.

"Anyway, I need to get going. Xavier is most probably biting off someone's head because he can't find me or something. Oh, and Carla? Just maybe try and be patient with him. I promise you that underneath all those fancy clothes, huge ass muscles, and tattoos is actually a nice guy and I think that you might just be the person to reach in and pull him back to where he belongs" Xander said, with a sincere smile.

I was actually just mind blown. I had actually thought Xander would be just like his brother, but he actually had a much calmer atmosphere around him than his brother.

As Xander left me, I decided to stay a little longer. The gardens actually brought me so much peace and quiet. I stared over to where I saw the sun starting to set and I felt the telltale cold wind fishing around me. I couldn't help but smile as I breathed in the cold fresh air.

I don't know for how long I was sitting on the bench, staring at the small pond and completely lost in thought as I heard my name being shouted by a hysterical voice I identified to be Xavier's. I rolled my eyes, not in the mood for another argument, and chose to rather ignore him. I laid my head against the small iron beams that stretched above the beams. I closed my eyes and allowed my mind to take me away, far away, to a place where I was with my mother and Kylio.

"There you are! I've been looking all over for you!" I heard the irritating voice of Xavier. I didn't even give him the satisfaction of responding. I just kept my eyes closed and allowed my mind to drift. I felt his cold hands on my shoulders.

"f**k, your skin is so cold! Carla?! Are you even here with me?!" Xavier said, pulling his jacket over my shoulders and gently shaking me. My eyes shot open and I just looked into his blue orbs, "Yeah, sorry I lost track of time" I muttered dryly before getting up, wanting to walk away.

I felt his hand, elope around my wrist as he pulled me back to him. Pulling my body flush against his.

"I was worried about you. When I saw it was dark and you were nowhere to be seen ... I hate to imagine what could have happened" Xavier said, his face merely inches away from mine as he leaned further in.