But Xavier didn’t give up. He didn’t care if Xander died or if he didn’t. All he cared about was Anastasia and their unborn child. He wanted to see her, hold her in her arms as he cuddled her to sleep.


    Xavier couldn’t even remember thest time he had slept in his mansion since Anastasia’s kidnapping. His every waking moment had been consumed with thoughts of her, and now, seeing the man responsible running down the empty street,ughing maniacally, it was as if his very blood turned to fire.


    Xander’s crazedughter echoed in Xavier’s ears, fueling the uncontroble rage coursing through him. His vision blurred with fury, thoughts of blood and revenge clouding his mind.


    Xavier steadied his aim, hands shaking slightly from the intensity of his rage. His finger hovered over the trigger, his breathing out in visible puffs of steam against the frigid night air. Every fiber of his being screamed for him to pull it, to end this nightmare once and for all.


    Meanwhile, Xander wondered why Xavier had suddenly stopped chasing him.


    Just when he turned, he suddenly felt a sharp and excruciating pain on his nape.


    His heart sank.


    Just when he crossed a little line he’d ced to help him familiarize himself with the abandoned street, his men jumped out and started firing at Xavier, who immediately looked for shelter behind a house that wasn’t in good condition.


    Something shed in Xander’s eyes as he searched for Xavier, but he couldn’t find him.


    His men stopped firing when they realized the person they were firing at had suddenly disappeared.


    Then they suddenly heard the sound of an engine that could only possiblye from a car. Before they could blink two times, two cars had already stopped in front of them, immediately aiming at them.


    "Xander!! Just tell me where the fuck you kept my wife. That’s all I ask of you," Xavier pleaded.


    The men were ready to shoot, but they waited for themand from their bosses.


    Xander’sugh echoed in the empty dark street, his hand on his nape that had been bruised by the bullet Xavier had fired at him.


    "I know I was wrong for what I did in the past, and I’m truly sorry for it," Xavier continued, his fist clenched on the gun.


    He’d never nned to apologize, but he was desperate now. If Xander was to escape, only God knew what he’d do to Anastasia once he reached where he kept her.


    He was desperate to see his family again.


    "I’m begging you."


    Xander’s chuckle suddenly stopped, and Xavier had to leave his hiding spot to see Xander.


    "I’m also sorry Xavier, because no matter what you do or say, Anastasia is nevering back. I’m d you’ve finally realized this is all your fault and I’m notpletely a bad person. I’m only giving you a taste of your own medicine, but it seems to me you don’t like it."


    Xavier gnashed his teeth together in rage as he red at Xander.


    Before Xavier could say anything, the opponents started firing bullets at them, so he quickly dodged and went back to his hiding spot.


    From there, he saw Xander entering a car. With the little hole there, Xavier positioned his arm on the wooden tform and fired two bullets, hitting Xander right in the legs as blood spluttered while thetter hissed in pain.


    They both shared eye contact, spitting fire against each other.


    Once the opponents saw their boss was gone, they decided to make a run for it too. Catching them off guard, they threw a bunch of tear gas on them, which made it hard to see.


    However, Xavier’s men didn’t stop, they continued to shoot which ended up killing at least two men before they could all escape.


    But Xavier could only care less about their death. The one he wanted was Xander so he could give him back his wife.


    As the car zoomed off in the streets, surpassing the speed limit, Xander tried to endure the pain that shot through his leg till it touched his brain.


    "That bastard brother of mine must love my legs, that’s why he keeps shooting them. The fuck!" He cursed, biting his teeth as he tried to sitfortably. But that was a difficult task especially since his blood had coated the seats with its color.


    "Boss, you don’t have to worry. We’re almost at the hospital," the driver said.


    "Why would you take me to the hospital?" Xander barked, his anger palpable. "Take me back to the hideout."


    "B-but boss...Xattlewood is almost a day’s travel from Radiantia."


    "Take me back up Xattlewood," Xander repeated, deadpan.