10

Ashley’s POV
“Denver Drive us to the Amir’s Club. I am going to return this bitch and get back my money. !”. Xander instructed his driver and my heart stopped beating. What does he mean he wants to return to me. That can’t be good. I am very sure that it will end up badly on my own part.
I don’t know why I was foolish enough to run to the policeman. Now look at the result. The poor man got killed because of me. I have a guess that Xander belongs to a mafia organization or something related to that. But I didn’t think that he would have the balls to shoot a police officer in the open.
“Please! I am sorry, don’t take me back there!.” I pleaded with Xander who refused to even acknowledge my presence. I kept on crying until we arrived at the familiar building.
“Get out!”. Xander yelled at me but I shook my head.
“Don’t try me! Get out or I will pull you out myself!.”
“No please! I am sorry, I will do anything but don’t take me back there!.” I cried as I pleaded with him. I have a feeling that I will die once I walk into that building.
“You would have thought of that before deciding to run away from me!”. Xander spat at me.
“I am sorry. I promise it won’t happen again!.” I kept begging him.
Xander sighed, “ Denver change of plans. Take us to the dragon's place!.” The driver drove away from the building. I don’t even know if I should be relieved or not. Who is the dragon? And why are you going to his place? My head is already aching so I placed my head on the side of the car.
After driving for almost an hour through the busy streets of New York, we arrived in front of a building that screams “gangster club”. The entire building is covered with different scary street art. There are paintings of weapons, men killing and holding each other. How come the authorities allow this?
“Get out!.” Xander ordered as he got out of the car himself. I am afraid of the unknown and so I refused to leave the car.
Xander hit his hand over the side of my window but I still refused to go out.
“For God sake get out of the car! You won’t like the consequences of disobeying his orders.”. Xander’s driver shouted at me.
I open the door and look at the pissed Xander. He did not say anything but started to walk to the building. I took it as a clue to follow him. We entered the building and everyone started to greet him calling him “boss”. The place looks like a barber shop for thugs. They were people barbering. While some were watching a sport on the television. All of them look like thugs which I can bet there are. They all have thick muscles and tattoos. Some even have tattoos on their faces. Very crazy I know!
“Where is the dragon?”. Xander asked
“He is the upstairs boss!”. We head up the stairs. The upper part of the building is a tattoo salon. A man walked to us with a smile on his face. He was big with broad shoulders and thick muscles. He had a dragon’s tattoo on his right arm. No one need to tell me that he is the Dragon.
“Boss! Is nice to have you at my humble abode!”. The man said and he and Xander did some kind of bro handshake.
“How can I help you boss?.” Dragon asked as he signaled for everyone in the room to leave. They all left what they were doing and walked out of the room leaving just Dragon, Xander and I.
“I want you to mark her!.” Xander said and I looked at him with my eyes wide open! What the hell does he mean to have me marked?.”
“Damn she is part of the family now? She doesn’t look like the type that can survive the Mafia life!.” Dragon laughed as he looked at me.
That is because I can’t survive the Mafia life! I screamed inside of my head.
“Do you want the tattoo done today or while you come back later on?.” Dragon asked
“Now!.” Xander said.
“Okay princess, come and sit here!”. Dragon beacon on me. I wanted to protest because I am scared of needles but once I saw the look on Xander’s face, I swallowed my words. I slowly made my way and sat on the seat.
“Where should I draw the tattoo, on your back or neck?. Dragon asked me
“On my back!.” I answered. I don’t want to see it and be reminded that I have a tattoo.
“You need to take off your shirt for that!.” Dragon instructed.
“What?” Xander and I shouted together.
I heard Dragon murmur something like; “ couple goals!.”
“Well there is no way I can draw a tattoo on her back with her clothes still on her body!”. Dragon innocently stated.
Xander did not reply but took a cutter from the table. He came and placed his hands on my shoulder. The next thing I felt is the upper part of my shirt being cut in the back.
“Here is a perfect solution!.” Xander said and took his seat.
Dragon shook his head at Xander before he started the draw. It was actually painful but not as painful as I expected it to be. In less than an hour, Dragon was done. He covered the tattoo with a bandage and instructed not to open it until tomorrow. He also gave me a pain reliever because according to him, the real pain will hit me later on.
We walked out of the building silently. Neither Xander nor I talked until we reached the house. It was a very long and boring ride.
This time around, I saw a lot of guys over in the house. Everything about them screams danger. I ran upstairs without even talking to any of them. To my surprise, inside the rooms are the shopping bags. Jo must have brought it here. The door opened and Xander stepped in.
“Listen very carefully, if today ever repeats itself, don’t hold me responsible for anything that happened. Secondly, you are banned from leaving this house except together with me. Understood?.” Xander instructed.
The anger I have been feeling since yesterday bubbled inside me and I shouted; “ I hate you!!.”
Xander looked at me for a minute before he started taking steps toward me. I kept moving back until my back touched the wall.
“O darling you are not the first to hate me and you won’t be the last!.” Xander whispered looking directly into my eyes. I could not reply to him because my brain seems to freeze. I am affected by his hard body that is almost pressed to mine. I bit my lips as I drank. His hair is neatly gelled. I have the urge to run my hands over it. The top three bottom of his shirt is open so I got a glimpse of his hard.
The air between us seems to change and become tense. He seems to be affected because he kept staring at me too. Or should I say he kept staring at my lips.
“Stop biting your lips!.” Xander whispered in a voice darker than before. I absentmindedly bit on my lower lips again and he sucked in a breath. He started to bend his head lower and I know that he wants to kiss me! I panicked. Without any thoughts, I slapped him.
The time froze between us as Xander’s eyes turned darker and dangerous.
“I…I am ..” I started to stammer before Xander cut me off.
“You Nate lucky that my mom raised me not to hit girls or else.” He didn’t finish his sentence and punched the wall beside me before he left the room.
I don’t know if I should be happy or afraid that he walked out. I didn’t mean to slap him, it just happened . I sat on the floor and started to cry. I don’t know what I did to deserve this. I am so tired the last thirty hours have been hell for me. I don’t know how many hours I sat on the floor crying until the pain from my tattoo started to pain me and I got up to take the pain reliever drug.