Thank you Sweet_Lovexx so much for editing this. You're a lifesaver. xo

"I need you to come to Miami with me, I'll be staying there for a week and I don't think I can leave you here for that long AnnaLynne." Xavier stated awkwardly.

"Of course, I'd love to." I replied immediately, happy that I'd be with him.

"Yeah but it's..." He sighed looking more tense than usual. "It's just that they're not good people and I can't let you out of my site. I can't sleep knowing something would happen to you and I won't be there to protect you." He confessed leaning forward capturing my gaze.

"You can lock me up in your room then." I wasn't being sarcastic.

"No, I don't want to do that." He turned his back to me running a frustrated hand through his dishevelled hair. "I don't want you to live like that." He turned back before continuing. "I want you to be free and go where you want and do whatever you want. I want you to be happy."

"But if I do try to live like that, your enemies would get me?" I asked in a controlled voice.

He watched me for a while with an unfathomed gaze. "Damn it." With a curse, he kicked the leg of his bed before flopping himself down on it with his face buried in his hands. I sighed understanding why he was acting like this.

"Xavier..." I sat down sext him allowing our legs to touch. "I understand why you're doing this." I reassured him making him look at me.

He looked overly exquisite today. He looked young, his age to be precise. He left his brown messy hair in spikes instead of combing it back perfectly with jell. Black leather jacket hugged his white vest t-shirt complementing it well with light blue ripped jeans.

"I'm sorry for doing this to you." He breathed out rubbing his face with both hands.

"You saved me." I grabbed his face with hands and turned him to look at me. His icy blue eyes were blazing with fire. My heart suddenly sped up at the intensity of his gaze, sparks ignited in my stomach and fireworks exploded in my heart. "If you didn't... they-"

"Don't." He put his fingers to my lips sending waves of electricity through my body making my blood sizzled and simmered under his touch. "I'd kill anyone who tries to come near you." 

Although the thought of him being a murder scared me to my core but he had to do so to protect his mother, even though she didn't pull through at the end. It raised a different type of emotion buried deep within me; compassion and sympathy for a killer.

"I know." I moved my lips against his finger. He closed his eyes while a frown stretched across his forehead. He sighed heavily, moving his hand to cup my face urging me to leaned into his touch.

"Take me with you Xavier. I know I'll never be able to see my parents again and I've accepted that I've lost them a month ago. I don't want to lose you too." I begged as my vision blurred.

"Shhh... I promise I won't leave you princess." He cooed resting his forehead against mine.

***

The view from our hotel suite was breathtaking. The nightlife in Miami was brighter than day. Half-naked beach parties with neon lights, uncountable legal and illegal casinos situated in every alleyway while a drug deal per minute, took place. 

We booked into one of Xavier's father's hotel situated on the east coast. Our room was surrounded with tinted glass which allowed us with a perfect view of the outside unlike the outsiders who could only see their reflection on it.

"I didn't know you had a private plane." I uttered unpacking my clothes from my suitcase.

"Five, princess." He corrected me. My eyes nearly pop out of my eyes. "All courtesy of my father."

"Do you miss him?" I immediately pursed my lips together, regretting my question.

"Yes and no." He replied vaguely. I thought he was going to stop there but surprisingly he continued. "I hated his life style. My mom tried to protect me from his underworld business but when I turned 17 I saw him in bed with another woman." 

I froze at his confession, my head snap to his rigid frame that stood still opposite me, staring at his open suitcase. I slowly made my way towards him taking one of his hand in mine interlacing our fingers together.

"I was so angry AnnaLynne ... so fucking angry." He gritted through his teeth. "Then I told my mother about it straight away and told her to get a divorce. Do you know what she did when I told her that?" He asked looking at me with liquid eyes.

"What?"

"She smiled and said 'I knew he was doing that for a long time, I just prayed you never had to find out.'" He closed his eyes trying to keep his emotions at bay.

"Your mother was a strong person." I told him getting closer to bury my face in his chest. His arms instantly snaked around my small frame.

"She would have loved you, you know." I smiled against his chest while he stroked my hair. "She always told me to bring home a small brunette girl."

We both chuckled at his mother's authority.

"What's wrong with blonds? My mom and my sister are both blonds. Me and my brother got my dad's hair and eyes." I told him ignoring the pang of hurt that laced across my chest at the mention of my family.

"Because most of my dad's escorts were blond while my mother was a brunette." He confessed making me smile.

"What if I was blond?" I challenged him resting my chin on his chest to look up at him.

"Then I would have had buy you a hair dye before taking you home." He joked tapping my nose lightly with the tip of his finger, which earned him a playful slap on his chest. He laughed at my reaction. Untangling myself from him with a goofy smile, I made my way back around the bed to continue unpacking.

"AnnaLynne..." He sobered up quickly and grabbed my wrist, halting me in position. "I need you to know something..." He started making my heart accelerate. "Just because I saved you I don't want you to think you owe me anything... I..." He paused before shutting his eyes, he looked like he was in physical pain. 

"When you find a guy who's worthy enough for you, I need you to tell me okay?" My heart ached at his words. "I'd always protect you till the day I die but I don't want you to give your happiness up. Promise me you'll tell me?" He begged taking both of my hands in his.

"I-" Just as I was about to confess to him the truth, Leo knocked and called out from the other side.

"We'll be down in half an hour." Xavier shouted back.

"We?" I questioned.

"You and me both. I'm not leaving you here." My hands slid from his face. "There's a dress in the closet, go try it on." He pointed at its direction.

The dress was pure black and made of silk and it was absolutely beautiful. It had a swirly rose pattern on the top half of the dress that ended near my waist. Golden floral jewelled belt encircled around its mid-section and the simple skirt cascaded down elegantly reaching to the floor.

I decided to pin my dark brown hair up in a messy yet elegant bun followed by gold tinted shadow that complemented my light hazel eyes perfectly. I wasn't used to wearing heels but I did pack a pair of four inch black heels which I guess would have to do for tonight.

Carefully I lifted the long skirt with my fingers as I walked out of the huge closet, to come face to face with the man that stole my heart the night he saved me. He was fixing his shirt's cuffs when he heard me walk in. His eyes sparkled drinking in every inch of me. I returned the favour.

He wore a full black tuxedo with a bow tie clinging onto his collar. His hair was perfectly combed back with a tilt. But that's not what made my knees buckle. It was the thick hinges on the thin rectangle reading glasses he had on. He looked edible.

"Wow" He broke the spell bounding trance.

I smiled to hide my blush making my way over to him.

"You wear glasses." I stated the obvious making a fool out of myself.

"Well,my contacts expired and I forgot to bring my new ones... so..." He rubbed the back of his neck looking embarrassment.

"You do realise every girl in the casino would get on their knees for you if you walk out like that." I stated with a smile, trying to hide the pang of jealousy and hurt that crossed my heart at the thought of him being with another woman.

"You like it?" He asked laughing at me.

"Hell yeah, but I'm not getting my knees." I frowned jokingly making him laugh again.

"You're my princess. I'd be the one getting on my knees." He winked at me through the lenses. My eyes widened in astonishment.

"You look beautiful AnnaLynne, I got you these." He moved away revealing a bouquet of black roses. "I remember you telling you didn't like flowers but you'd want to see some black roses someday."

My eyes prickled with tears as I brushed my fingertips over their soft delicate petals. "They're beautiful." I whispered.

"Not as much as you." Xavier whispered in a low voice making me turn around suddenly.

"What did you say?" I asked baffled by his compliment due to the fact he's never said anything like that to me before.

"Nothing... erm..." He fumbled with his words looking from left to right. "We should get going." He proceeded to walk towards the door without turning back.

***

"So this is your 10 million dollar girl huh De La Cruz." A bald man roamed his eyes over my body. I cowered away behind Xavier.

"Yeah and if you even breathe the air around her, I'd put a bullet through your sick skull." He blocked his view stepping in front of me while Leo stood behind shielding me away from every gaze in the casino.

Apparently news had gotten out about Xavier De la Cruz buying girl for a ten million dollar, at monthly auction as they celebrate. People knew we would be making an appearance here today and everyone decided to drop in for a glimpse. I couldn't hold back the tears anymore as they toppled down my cheeks slowly.

"Leo take her to the room, I need finish some business." Xavier proclaimed shooting daggers at the bald man. Everyone else's in the room scurried away. The only sound that rang through the elite casino was the electronic slot machines, twinging and pinging every now and then.

Leo and Jamie –one of Xavier's loyal men- escorted me back to elevator with couple of security guards following behind and in front of me.

"Lock the door; guards will be outside okay, if you need anything just give us a shout." Leo explained before heading back down to help Xavier with whatever their business was.

His protectiveness scared me a little yet it was somewhat flattering to an extent. After taking a long shower I decided to change into Xavier's grey boxers and one of his white shirt with sleeves rolled up to my elbows. When I got out, something didn't feel right. It was too quiet for my liking.

Standing in front of the glass wall, I decided to stay up till he came back so that I could ask him what exactly happened. 

I didn't like the fact he'd kill someone for just looking at me, I mean he didn't even come near me, Xavier should've given him a chance. Although knowing Capone was after both of us, Xavier would double the security.

Suddenly a silhouette appeared on the glass wall that lunged at me but not fast enough. I dodged his frame and ran towards the door screaming at the top of my lungs. 

Before I could reach the door, that was still locked from the inside, the man in the mask grabbed me from behind, lifting me off the ground and throwing across the room.

My back and head collided with wall, tremendous amount of pain to shot through my bones. With a loud thump I crashed on the floor nearly snapping my wrist in the process. An ear-piercing scream escaped my lips as pain shot up my arms and knees.

"XAVIER." I screamed his name out, trying to get away from the beast that looked about twice the size of me. "XAVIER... HELP ME." I begged as crawled away from him behind the couch.

Suddenly a rough hand grabbed my ankles and yanked my petite frame out of the right place. I quickly grabbed the table lamp with my uninjured hand and whacked it across his face. He released my ankle, giving me a window to escape.

"XAVIER." I screamed again with a sore throat with my gaze locked onto the closed door, waiting for it to burst open but it didn't. He promised me he'd never let anyone hurt me and he was a man of his words, man of honours. He'd never let me down.

"XAVI-" Just as I was about to reach the door, the man grabbed the back of my neck and shoved my face into the door frame making the hinges wobble vigorously. My vision blurred instantly and something wet and sticky seep through my temples. He picked me up from behind and threw me on the bed. My body started to feel light and numb as I tried to fight back.

"XAVIER" I screamed again. "X-A-V-I-E-R" by the end of the scorching sound my lungs gave out. He kicked me hard in my chest sending my flying back, my body collide with the coffee table knocking all the wind out of my lungs turning everything black.