Xylia was surprised. “You’re back?”
:
45
55 vouchers
“I originally intended to surprise you,” Josie confessed, “but I’m terrible at keeping secrets. Consider this your advance notice. I’m in Jupiton wrapping something up, and I n to visit you in Norhill in a couple of days.”
“You have business in Jupiton?” Xylia asked.
Josie gave a sly chuckle.
“I’ll save that story for when I see you. Just get ready to wee me!”
“Of course,” Xylia replied, her mood lifting at the thought of her friend’s visit.
After a few more words, they ended the call.
The good news kept Xylia in cheerful spirits as she made her way to her meeting with Zayn.
Hudson had given her Zayn’s contact info, and she’d reached out for help designing her studio.
It just so happened that Zayn was avable today, so they’d arranged to meet at the cafe next to her rented storefront.
As she got out of the car, she spotted Zayn through the window, already seated and looking over some papers.
She smiled and started toward the entrance.
But before she took two steps, arge, gloved hand mped over her mouth and nose from behind.
A sickly–sweet chemical fragrance filled her senses, and her world went ck in less than a second.
*****
She woke to the brutal sound of a fist cracking against bone.
“Mr. Garcia, please… I was wrong! Spare me…” a weak, familiar voice begged.
Xylia struggled to open her eyes. She was lying across the back seat of a car, the window partially rolled down.
<b>55 </b>vouchers
Through the gap, she saw Joshua, his expression terrifyingly cold, grab a man by the cor and drive his fist into his face.
The man cried out, spitting blood and a tooth onto the
pavement.
Joshua threw the limp man to the ground like a ragdoll.
Around his feet, half a dozen other meny groaning, curled up and bloodied.
Xylia’s mind raced.
‘How did I get here?‘
“Joshua,” she called out, her voice a weak, hoarse whisper.
She tried to roll the window down further, but her body felt leaden, sapped of all strength.
He heard her.
His body went still for a fraction of a second.
He took off his jacket, turned, and strode to the car, his tall frame blocking her view of the
carnage.
“You’re awake,” he said, his voice rough with tension.
Xylia managed a slight nod, her face still pale.
“What’s going on?”
“I was on my way to your studio,” he exined, his gaze scanning her for injuries. “I arrived just as these men were forcing you into that van.”
He gestured behind him without moving, still shielding her from the sight.
The memory of the hand over her mouth surfaced.
Xylia tried to sit up, but a wave of weakness washed over her.
Joshua’s frown deepened. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“What about them?” she whispered, her words slurred. “You can’t just leave them here…”
“Don’t worry about them,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “They’ll be taken
care of.”
He opened the car door, carefully secured her seatbelt, and slid into the driver’s seat. As he
<b>9:38 </b>Wed<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>17 </b>
sped away from the scene, the world blurred again, and Xylia slipped back into
unconsciousness.
46
55 <b>vouchers </b>
She woke for the second time to the sterile scent of disinfectant.
Joshua was gone.
The first person she saw was her brother, Cyrus, adjusting her IV drip.
“Xylia! You’re awake!” he eximed, his face brightening with relief.
His words brought her other brothers rushing to her bedside.
Hudson gently grasped her hand, his usual boisterous energy reced by palpable concern.
“Xylia! Thank god. Are you hurt? Does anything feel wrong?”
Xylia struggled to sit up.
Hudson hurried to adjust the bed for her.
As her vision cleared, she looked around the room but saw no sign of Joshua.
“Joshua had to leave,” Kaden exined, noticing her searching gaze. “He said something urgent came up.”
Xylia nodded slowly, the fog in her head beginning to clear.
The most pressing question surfaced. “Did he find out who was behind this?” she asked.
Hudson’s face darkened, his hands clenching into fists. “It was that bastard Xavier,” he voice trembling with rage. “It was all him.”
Xavier?
Before Xylia could ask, Leon had smacked Hudson hard across the back of the head.
Leon must have juste from an event.
spat,
his
His face was adorned with exquisite stage makeup, and his hair was dyed a striking palevender. He wore a sleek ck overcoat, the cor open to reveal a perfectly tailored suit
underneath.
“You idiot! You thought you could humiliate Xavier in your way, and now he’s taking it out on our sister? If anything serious had happened to her today, I’d have dragged you to our parents‘
graves myself to apologize!”
55 vouchers
Hudson shot back, unconvinced. “That bastard Xavier used to bully Xylia and recently insulted her at the racing club! I was just teaching him a lesson!”
<b>“</b>Is that true?” Leon asked, his anger shifting to surprise.
“Why would I lie?” Hudson snapped, brushing Leon’s hand aside.
Leon’s own fists clenched. “Even if Joshua already beat him to a pulp, I still owe him a punch!” he dered, turning as if to march out right then.
Cyrus snagged his arm.
“This is a hospital. If you’re going to hit him, at least wait until his wounds have just scabbed over. It’ll hurt far more then,” he said.
“You have a medical degree, Cyrus,” Leon seethed, “You know how to cause unbearable pain without leaving a mark. You’re going to give me a demonstration.”
Xylia looked at them with a mixture of affection and exasperation.
If this were ever recorded, they could all be charged with conspiracy tomit assault. The thought made her blood run cold.
Her slight smile froze as she suddenly looked at Kaden, a new fear dawning on her.
“Kaden, is Joshua at the police station?”
Kaden remained silent. The other three brothers suddenly found something very interesting to look at on the walls.
Xylia threw back the nket and moved to get out of bed.
Kaden hurriedly stopped her.
“He’s fine. He won’te to any harm,” he assured her.
“No,” Xylia insisted, pushing his hand away. “Joshua fought those men to save me. I have to give a statement. I have <i>to </i>testify on his behalf.”
“You don’t need to worry,” Kaden said, his voice calm. “Xavier and his men only look seriously injured. It’s mostly superficial. The police aren’t likely to press charges against Joshua for a justified defense.”
Xylia was not reassured.
9:38 Wed, Sep 17
46
55 vouchers
“But what if Xavier insists on pressing charges? His family has resources. They could im excessive force or make a civil case out of it. Joshua could be in real trouble.”
Her knowledge of the legal system was vague, but she knew powerful people could manipte it.
Hearing her concern, the four brothers fell into an awkward silence.
The idea of Joshua Garcia, heir to a prominent business empire, being bullied by someone like Xavier was almostughable.
But seeing Xylia so genuinely anxious that her eyes were beginning to glisten with tears, Kaden immediately softened. “Don’t worry, Xylia. I won’t let anything happen to him.”
Xylia quickly grabbed his hand.
“Please, Kaden, help him. He’s only in this situation because of me.”
“I will. Now get some rest,” he said, patting her hand.
“Can you go see him now?” she pleaded, her eyes red–rimmed.
Kaden felt a flicker of frustration. Xylia and Joshua were supposedly “just friends,” yet her protectiveness over him was intense. If their rtionship developed further… He didn’t even want <i>to </i>consider it.
He gently patted her head. “Alright. I’ll go check on him now.”
Only after Kaden left did Xylia rx back against the pillows.
If Kaden was involved, Joshua would be safe.
The remaining three brothers stood by the bed, exchanging a loaded look before turning their thoughtful gazes on their sister.
Xylia finally noticed their intense scrutiny.
She frowned. “What?”
Leon sat on the edge of the bed, hisvendar hair stark against the clinical white room, his expression uncharacteristically serious.
“Sis,” he began, his tone leaving no room for evasion. “Level with us. Are you and Joshua really just friends?”
9:38 Wed, Sep 17