Chapter 10

**Xavier Black**

I stare at Skyler from my spot in the kitchen as she throws her head back with laugher at something Candice is telling her. I knew it wasn't going to be easy getting her to except her place but I didn't think she would still be so against me. She barely talks to me and she seems to enjoy ignoring me in all her training sessions, talking to Samantha like I'm not in the room with them. The only thing that's making me stand back is her fierce will to argue with me at every turn and my mother's constant slew of threats about not harming a hair on her soon to be daughters head. I don't even know if she's started planning a wedding yet but I don't think so since she hasn't said anything about it since she agreed to marry me. She's not even wearing the damn engagement ring I got her.

"You're staring." Gabe says as he comes to lean against the counter next to me. "I don't like her." He says as he watches her and I grin. They've only talked to each other twice now and they rub each other the wrong way. Mostly because neither of them seem to know when to back down and Gabe doesn't know how to pick his fucken battles when it comes to Skyler.

"You don't have to like her, you just have to obey every command she gives you." I tell him causing him to grunt. I know Gabe's dislike for her will never come in the way of keeping her safe but I have to keep him in line. It's my job.

"I doubt she'll even talk to me. She seems quite content in ignoring my existence." He says and I shrug. He'll have to take a ticket and get in line because she's not talking to any of my men. I'm hoping she'll take to Ura when he shows up because the man is like a fucken lighthouse drawing everyone in with his smile and charm. The house is buzzing with people, both her family and mine along with selected friends that were invited to this little meet and greet my mother insisted on having, in my fucken house.

"Xavier," My mother says as she enters the kitchen and I know I'm in trouble. "why haven't you been taking Skyler around and introducing her to the family. You can't just hand your job off to Candice, she's your fiancé." She says and I give her a blank look.
"She didn't even greet me when she came in here, how am I supposed to introduce her to people?" I ask her and she sighs.

"You smile and make things easier for her. Treat her like a human being and she'll treat you like one." She says before walking away and leaving me to complete her orders.

"Good luck." Gabe says before he walks out into the backyard and straight towards Skyler and Candice where he sweeps the twelve year old into the air and carry her away from a very peeved looking Skyler. So much for making my job easier.

"What do you want?" Skyler asks as I approach her causing me to raise an eyebrow at her.

"I was told to show you off so lets go." I say grabbing her hand and dragging her to the nearest group of people so she doesn't have a chance to put up a fuss. She's nice to everyone she meets and I more often than not I'm just staring at her while she holds a conversation with a group of people. We catch my mother's eye a few times and she gives me approving looks each time causing me to roll my eyes because I know as nice as Skyler is to these people she'll be that cold towards me as soon as she gets the chance.

"Xavier! Didn't think I'd ever see the day you settled down." The blond haired man says as he walks over to me. I glare at him while pulling Skyler closer to me and putting my arm firmly around her waist.

"Demetri." I greet, staring him down as he comes closer to us. He gives me a sideways smile but his pale blue eyes tells a different story and by the way Skyler is pushing herself against my body I can tell she doesn't like the look of this blue eyed bastard either.

"Now, now Xavier, we're among friends. No need to hog the lady like that." He says before looking down at Skyler who has a blank look on her face.

"Skyler Johnson in the flesh, never thought I would have the honour." He says holding out his hand to her and she shakes it, not because she wants to but because she understands she's among important people and respect is key around here.

"Can't say the same." She says with the fakest smile I have ever seen on her face, she doesn't even smile at me that away.

"Demetri Kyle." He says and she gives him a stiff nod. "So, when did this happen?" He asks and I cock my head to the side.

"At one of Candice's spelling bees. Xavier was bored out of his mind, I kept him entertained." Skyler says and I have to hide my amusement at her ability to lie to someone’s face like that.

"I can't imagine that it would be very hard for someone as pretty as you." He says and I narrow my eyes at him.

"Sky, honey why don't you go find my mother now, she was looking for you earlier." I tell her and kiss her cheek. She gives me a smile before walking of and as soon as she's out of the room I turn my attention back to the blue eyed man in front of me. "Okay, cut the crap, what the hell are you doing here?" I ask the man in front of me that's glaring at me but I couldn't care less.

"My father was invited, apparently my invite got lost in the mail." He says and I scowl at him.

"I wouldn't invite you to your own death." I sneer at him causing him to smirk at me.

"Now, now, Xavier we wouldn't want to cause another spectacle, do we?" I asks and my scowl deepens.

"I will put a bullet in your head, how's that for a spectacle?" I asks him before walking away to go find Skyler. She might get on my last nerve but I have to make sure she's okay after having to deal with the likes of that asshole. I find her in the kitchen standing at the sink and looking of into space.

"Who was that?" She asks as I come to a stop behind her and put my hands on her waist. I almost expect her to push me away but she doesn't and I don't question that for now.

"Someone you should stay away from." I tell her not wanting to scare her but I'm sure that asshole did it all by himself.

"You know what I realized just now?" She asks and I don't answer her because I know she's going to tell me. "You're one of the worst kind of people out there and I never want to see you with blood on your hands, Xavier." She says and I know exactly what she means but I also know I might not be able to protect her from that.

"I can do much worse than a bullet" I tell her and I don't miss the shiver that runs down her back.

"I don't want to know." She says while turning around and the look in her eyes holds me honesty than I've ever seen. "I don't want to know what you are capable of and I don't want to see you with blood on your hands. I don't think I'll ever recover if I do." She says and just like that she looks more tired than she's ever looked and I find myself regretting not catching the fly with honey.