Chapter 17 - The Enemy of My Enemy…

ALEXEI —Follow me, and I'll explain everything you need to know — Angelo guides, his voice low and cautious, turns around, and goes back down the corridor.

I'm about to lose my temper, to send everything to hell, pull out my gun and give Angelo a ticket straight to hell, but then I feel a hand on my cheek and Xander sweetly moves my face toward him. His eyes are still crystalline and a little red from crying, but he still looks beautiful.

He shakes his head slightly and leans up to leave such a delicate kiss on my lips that I barely feel. He must have realized that I was seconds away from exploding through the sudden tension in my body.

My breath is shaky by the time he separates from me.

—All right — I whisper and kiss his forehead, taking care not to press any visible wounds —. I will control myself — he smiles at me, but the expression does not reach his eyes. He holds my hand, interlaces our fingers, and begins to walk towards the door where Angelo was before.

His steps are a little hesitant and slow, yet he continues to move forward decisively. By the time we reach the living room, Angelo is sitting on one of the chairs, and Yaakov is standing by the fireplace, with a somber expression on the face, until he realizes who is accompanying me. His eyes open so wide with surprise, that if I wasn't still stunned by the situation myself, I'd find it funny.

—Fucking hell! — he exclaims in shock, his jaw almost hit the floor —. Xander!

He rushes up to us and holds Xander in a tight embrace. I'm capable enough to hold back a grunt that threatened to leave my mouth, but I still have to admit that the scene is touching. That is, until I hear a groan of pain.

Yaakov quickly breaks away, Xander bends over, resting the hands on the knees and breathing heavily.

—Shit, I'm sorry! — My cousin tries to help him, but Xander's reaction leaves me completely unsettled.

He knocks my cousin's help away and rushes back, curling up with hands-on his head on the floor, shaking violently and crying again, whimpering and wrapping my heart in a fist that threatens to squeeze and pulverize it until there is nothing left. Yaakov and I looked at each other not knowing what to do. When I manage to force my body to move, I slowly kneel beside him.

—Xander? — I ask unsure, not knowing what I'm supposed to do or say —. Kitty, can you hear me? —

He nods but doesn't look up or stop sobbing. But what the hell does this mean? —. Can I touch you?

— I ask him in a whisper.

Finally he raises the eyes and what I can decipher in them, feels like a direct kick in the guts. Fear... A deep, heart-rending terror is transmitted to me by his gaze and my protective side rises to the surface with overwhelming speed.

—Come here, kitty — I extend my arms and to my relief, he answers my call.

His shaky body slips into my embrace and then sinks his head in my neck, sniffing my scent in the area below my ear. The moisture from his cheeks leaves a trace on my suit and wrinkles begin to form from his strong grip on the fabric.

—Shh... Breathe, Xander— I whisper, stroking his hair with one hand and his back with the other —.

I'm here, I'm not going anywhere. Come on, kitty... Breathe for me.

Gradually his chest begins to work more slowly, his hurtful panting and moaning stops. His body falls laxly in my arms and I realize that he has fallen asleep. I hold and gently carry him, in princess style.

Rocking him, I sit on the leather couch.

—Magnus, I swear to God I didn't even squeeze him that hard— Yaakov rushes to clear up, with a tone of amazement and nerves mixed in —. I don't know... But what the fuck?— the phrase stays floating in the air as he tries, as I do, to decipher Xander's violent reaction.

—Everything has an explanation— Angelo says, apparently calmly, crossing one leg over the other —.

Don't worry, his reaction has nothing to do with anything you've done — he addresses Yaakov.

—What are you talking about? If he backed away from me as if I were on fire and had killed his cat in the process — my cousin looks a little hysterical, his eyes wide open and his breath high.

—Calm down — Angelo raises a hand in his direction and points to the other chair —. Sit down, I'll explain what's going on.

«You better», I think, though I reserve the comment. I'm trying to control myself as best I can and I sure as hell won't be able to moderate my words if I open my mouth now.

—Xander's been under my care for a few days now — he nods to his assistant, she comes and hands him a briefcase —. These are the medical reports of his condition. I assure you that the doctor who took care of him is one of the best in Russia — he starts taking out a bunch of papers and puts them on the table, although I only watch him.

—How did you know where he was? — My cousin's demanding, approaching, and taking a look at the pages full of medical reports.

—I actually found him by accident.

—By accident? — I feel the words scrape my throat from how low my voice comes out —. Did you go for tea at Dimitri Zhukovski's house and "by accident"... — I make the gesture of the quotes with my fingers, trying not to move too much so as not to disturb Xander —.My partner was chained to the living room table? — his expression is of complete amazement once he hears my statement.

—So you know it was Dimitri who kidnapped him?

—Of course we know — Yaakov answers in my place, but without looking away from the documents —. The bastard managed to get one of our employees to pass on information about our activities, that's how he was able to find Xander. One of our men died trying to stop it.

—I'm really sorry — Angelo says, his voice fading.

—Why? You didn't have anything to do with it, did you?

—No, I didn't. Certainly not— he hurries to answer —. It's just that... Dimitri Zhukovski and I share blood ties... We're cousins — If I was angry before, now I'm completely furious. Yaakov quickly jumps out of the seat, scattering the papers on the floor and walks over with a threatening attitude towards Angelo.

—Did I hear right? — He protests in alarm —. Are you his fucking cousin? — I see how he puts a hand inside his vest, where he keeps the gun. Xander moves restlessly in my arms because of the noise and I rapidly start stroking his hair to calm him down. He lets out a deep sigh, settling closer to my chest.

—Listen, I know it sounds bad — Angelo raises the hands in the air, trying not to look like a menace to Yaakov —. But I swear to God, I had nothing to do with this. Besides, if I did, why would I put my life on the line to get Xander out of that place and bring him here? — shift his gaze between Yaakov and me, studying our reaction.

—Please, believe him!— his assistant intervenes, keeping a careful distance from all this commotion —. Mr. Dalaras had absolutely nothing to do with it. He only wanted to help your partner.

—It's okay, Rosé. Stay out of this. I'll handle it — Angelo looks at me again —. Magnus, if I were involved, do you think I'd call so you could meet with him?— The silence that falls in the room is suddenly overwhelming.

I try to study all possible situations in all this, but I must admit that he is right. No one would be stupid enough to do something like this without being prepared, and since we arrived, I've only seen two of Angelo's men on the property. And I haven't been able to detect any others. But if Dimitri really is his cousin and if it's true that he managed to rescue Xander from his kidnapper... What does Angelo get out of it?

—Back off, Yaakov— my cousin is watching me, but silently he moves away from Angelo and sits back in the chair where he was, picking up the mess of papers on the floor —. What do you want, Dalaras?

—What do you mean? — questions puzzled.

—For what you did, for rescuing Xander. What do you want?

—Shit, I don't want anything at all — pats strongly his knees, I never thought my question would bother him —. I was just trying to do the right thing.

—If that' s the case, why did you wait days before contacting us?

—Because by the time I got him here, he was half dead! — screams, pointing exasperatedly to the man in my arms. My body is tensed and my jaw is throbbing because of the strong pressure I am exerting.

It is not too difficult to deduce from Xander's weak state that he was indeed injured, and his reaction to Yaakov's embrace suggests that he is under a lot of stress and with a deep psychological trauma, but hearing Angelo say that he could have died was still devastating for me.

—I'm sorry, Magnus. I apologize I said it like that — his look is one of pure regret —. The thing is, I couldn't risk it. Not only was my life in danger, but Xander's as well. I don't think I have to tell you the degree of evil that Dimitri possesses.

—And what about Magnus not being able to communicate with Xander through the bond?— Yaakov demands.

—That was actually an accident — he sighs with fatigue, running a hand through his hair —. Among the medications the doctor prescribed for the treatment, he ordered hormone suppressors. I didn't know he kept in touch with you, Magnus. Otherwise, I would never have allowed it — I feel Xander moving and when I look down, I find him watching me.

I don't know when he regained consciousness, or how much of the conversation he heard, but I am relieved that he is now relaxed. He gives me a faint smile, points to his chest with the right hand, just at the level of his heart. I smile when I realize what he is doing. Then he points at mine, also at the level of my heart, and extends the palm to feel my heartbeat.

The memories of the wonderful moments we spent in our bedroom during the days of his heat run through my mind. A desire to be able to turn back time, to sense and prevent what happened, overcomes me as I watch my partner. I lean over and bring my face closer to his.

—I love you too, kitty— I whisper over his mouth before kissing him, trying to convey all the love I feel for him and the relief of having him in my arms at last. I slowly separate and he sighs, caressing my cheek with his little hand.

—You'd better stay here for today. It's not safe for Xander to leave yet — Angelo suggests, I look at him and nod —.Magnus... There's something else we need to discuss.

—What's that? — A scowl forming between my eyebrows.

—Well, I'd prefer Xander not to be present — his hesitant voice. I'm reluctant to let him go, but the glance that Angelo has makes me realize that what he has to say is truly important, so I finally give up.

I look down at Xander again and I can tell that he's become nervous.

—It's okay, kitty— I smile, trying to calm him down and place a kiss in his palm before continuing —.

Can you wait for me in the room? I'll go as soon as I'm done here, yes?

—Go with him, Rosé— Angelo indicates to his assistant.

—Come on, Xander. I made some more tea, we can drink it while we wait — she smiles at him, being patient. Xander stares at me uncertainly for a few moments, but still gets up and starts walking towards the corridor. Before he gets out of my sight, turns and watches me insecurely.

—Everything will be fine, kitty. I won't leave without you — I smile at him once more —. I promise —

nods slowly and starts walking again, being closely followed by Rosé —. Well?— I insist, directing my attention to Angelo.

—Magnus, what I have to say is very delicate. I'm begging you to please stay calm.

—Well, that's not a good start — Yaakov ironizes, settling down on the couch.

—Go on — I indicate to him, making a gesture with my hand.

—When Xander arrived, the doctor's analysis showed that he was put on drugs to keep him unconscious most of the time— Angelo starts and the concern in his voice is palpable.

—That explains why you couldn't connect through the bond— my cousin tells me.

—Other than that, he was incapacitated by the extremities. The wrists and ankles were being held in place by tight restraints, preventing him from changing— he sighs —. In addition to the various bruises around his body, there were a couple on his face, but...

—Where the fuck are you going with all this, Angelo? — I interrupt him abruptly, feeling the bile rushing to my throat. Fuck, now images of Xander being beaten, abused, and tortured won't leave my head.

The blood rushes through my veins and I'm starting to see red.

—Well, Magnus... — he gets quiet for a few seconds.

—Speak, damn it! — I demand when I feel my patience is about to hit the limit.

—He was raped.