CHAPTER 5

LUNA

It's been two days since Jax told me that Xavier knew where I was. I knew I would have to go home soon , I just didn't think it would be because I was fearing for my life. At first I didn't believe what Jax said , mainly because it doesn't sound like something Xavier would say. However , I have been told that everything I knew about him , was either a lie of half truth.

I spoke to Jax for a while after he dropped the bombshell. He told me about his "business" and how he knew the name Xavier Renault , not only because Xav told him, but because it was a big and famous name in his "business" . To say I was shocked would be an understatement . Our relationship always seemed calm and ordinary. Our whole live together actually. As I sit here I can't wrap my head around the fact that the man I have loved for 4 years , is a stranger to me. I don't know him at all. I was going to marry the Devil himself and I didn't even know. I wonder if papa knew....

*****

I got out of the shower and wrapped the white towel around my body and wrapped my hair in my t-shirt. As I walked out of the bathroom to head to Jax room to get dressed , I bumped into a seemingly soft wall. I looked up and my eyes met Jax' . I was so mesmerized by his gaze that I didn't realize the towel was slipping. Before I could do anything it fell on the floor , leaving me utterly exposed. It wouldn't be the first time he saw me naked , but I was still embarrassed. His gaze fell to the floor , where the towel laid in a heap. His eyes then slowly moved up my body and I could feel my cheeks heat up. His eyes lingered on my lips a little , his tongue darted out and he let it dragged over his lower lip, wetting it. My eyes moved up from his lips to his eyes and down to his lips again. He leaned in closer , our lips only a few inches apart. He let out heavy breath and leaned in further. But before he could do anything a loud ringing noise erupted in the air.

Letting out a frustrated sigh , Jax reached into his pocket to retrieve the source of the ringing. He looked at his phone in confusion and then answered. " Speak !" ,he said in an authoritative tone. Got to say it's pretty freaking hot. The person on the other end of the line immediately started talking. I couldn't make out what he was saying , partly because he was speaking to fast but mainly because he was speaking in Russian . Jax walked away , still on the phone and left me standing there naked, with just my shirt over my hair. I stood there bewilder for a minute thinking of what has just occurred. I shook my head to rid my mind of the memory and bent down to pick up the towel. I strode into the room and got dressed. Walking over to the mirro, I grabbed the hairdryer and started drying my hair and put it in a French braid.

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As I came out of the room, I called for Jax but there was no answer. I walked to the door and headed downstairs to the store. It's a lot quieter than usual today . Since I came across this little book store , library every Friday was the busiest day of the week. But not today, it was eerily quiet and my gut told me that something was wrong. I just ignored it , put my air pods in and wheeled the book cart towards the shelves. I started packing the books on the shelves. I spent an hour just packing the books on lower shelves until I could get the step later. I finished with the lower shelves and went to get the ladder. I started packing books on the higher shelves. Stretching to put a book in place my foot slipped and I almost fell. But I was caught by something or someone.

When I opened my eyes I met those piercing blue-grey eyes of his. I could feel my heartbeat picking up pace.. With a smirk crossing his lips he put me down. His hand reached to my face and his thumb caressed my cheek bone . I removed the air pods just in time to hear him mumble something in Italian . His eyes moved from my lips to my eyes where he held my gaze for a moment.

Standing here in silence was terrible. It felt like eternity , where in reality it has only been a few minutes. He broke the silence first by saying, "Ciao amore mio. Mi sei mancato." (Hello my love. I have missed you.) Hearing him say that sent a sudden chill up my spine . Before I would've swooned over those words and fall into his embrace immediately. But I had fallen out of love with him. Not because of the things I have heard of him from Jax. but because of how he lied and took me for a fool. Before I could open my mouth to speak he asked "Non ti sei perso?" (Did you not miss me ?) Looking at him now only made me angry but for my safety I just said "Si" (Yes) and walked into his arms.

I laid my head on his chest and his familiar scent enter my nose. It was not the scent I was used to, no. It smelled like smoke and citrus. Scrunching my nose , stepped out of his embrace and looked at him once again. His eyes fell over my hand where my engagement ring sat and he sighed in relieve.

"I knew you were here my love, I could sense you the other day. Even though your lover lied to me." The anger that radiated from him spoke volume. I scrunched my nose at his accusation of calling Jax my lover. That was far from true. He was a friend , a shoulder and nothing more. I started opening my mouth to tell him off but he spoke before I could, " Luna , don't try to the deny it , I know it's true. Why else would you from our wedding and come here?"

What was I supposed to say to that? I had no idea what to say but I opened my mouth and words just came out , " You are far from right Xavier. I ran to this place because it was the only place I where I had a friend  you didn't know of. I needed time away from you and I knew that hiding here was the best option. And don't start me with the topic on lies. Because you have been lying to me this whole time."

He stood there and looked at me dumbfounded. Probably surprised that I opened my mouth and told him off. Even though I loved him and he said he loved me I could never shake the fear I had for him. So I let him talk to me how he wanted and I didn't say anything in return. But I was upset right now. I never knew where that fear came from but he just scared me sometimes. It was just his demeanor. Or maybe it's because he hit me once out of anger.

He took a dangerously large step toward me and grabbed my arm "You have some nerve Luna." he seethe trough clenched teeth. "You ran from our wedding. Had me wait like a fool at the altar just for you to not show. You humiliated me before my friends, family and business associates."

His grip on my arm tightened and it hurt like a bitch. His eyes were full of anger and he wasn't letting go anything soon. The pain in my arm was so bad I could barely speak, "Your hurt--- hurting me, Xavier." His strong gaze became softer at my words and he let go of my arm immediately. My hand shot to where he held my arm and I started rubbing to ease the pain.  He backed away from me with a look of regret on his face. "I'm sorry Luna"

I looked at the man with disgust in my eyes and lift my hand to tell him to stop. "Stop, you raised your hands for me and you hurt me. You promised you would never do that again but you did." He took a step forward but I stopped him by pushing my hand against his chest. "Leave Xavier, Now!".

"Don't do this Luna." His tone changed from sincere to angry in a moment. I knew raising my voice and telling him to leave would make him angry. "You will regret this. Come with me now and you will be okay."

I scoffed "Come with you and what run your shady business with you?" His eyes grew bigger with surprise.

"You know?"

"Yes. I know. Now leave!"

"You will regret this. If you don't come back to me, every one you love will suffer" With that he turned around and left.