Xander chuckled, his tone dripping with mockery. "So after Yvonne Quinn took you away for training a month, this is all you''ve got to show for it?"
He handed his ss of red wine to the doctor who had just finished bandaging him up. With anguid ease, he buttoned up his ck shirt, his perfectly styled hair giving him the look of a charming boy-next-door. But Ste knew better. Beneath that polished exterior, he was rotten to the core.
He settled next to her. "Or do you think you''re so important to Ronald that he''ll always be there to protect you?"
Seething, Ste shot him a re, wishing she could do more than just roll her eyes.
He was her curse.
Years ago, his sister had forced her away from Ronald, and now here he was, whisking her away again.
Xander watched her reaction, amusement dancing on his lips. "After all this time, it seems little Star hasn''t grown up."
"Don''t you dare use that vile mouth to say my name," Ste snapped, her voice dripping with disdain.
Originally, the Schultz family and the Quinn family shared a deep bond. But after her father''s death, the Schultzes turned on them, kicking them while they were down. Ste hadn''t always disliked Xander, but now her loathing for him knew no bounds. Xander rose and crouched beside her. Suddenly, the ne jolted, and he nearly fell against her. Ste quickly moved out of the way, but the motion made him wince, his injured hand hitting the floor with a painful thud. "What the hell''s going on?" he demanded.
The pilot, one of his bodyguards, called back, "Mr. Quinn has caught up with us."
A smile tugged at Xander''s lips as he nced at Ste. "What''s his deal? Chasing after a girl he practically raised?"
The bodyguard had stopped restraining Ste, which gave her the perfect opportunity. Furious, she stood up and pped Xander across the face.
"What business is it of yours? Worry about your own damn self."
Xander''s expression darkened. He grabbed her slender wrist, "You know, with a wrist this delicate, it wouldn''t take much to break it."
Years on the run had only stoked
family''s meddling, she had been
Ste''s anger. Thanks to the Schultz
separated from Ronald for too long. Seeing Xander only brought all of that pent-up fury to the surface.
vel
Instead of fear, she felt defiance. Without hesitation, she sank her teeth into Xander''s hand, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth within seconds.
"Ah..." Xander grunted, pain etched across his face.
He mped his other hand around her jaw, his grip harsh and unyielding.
The pain made Ste release her bite. In the moment their eyes met, her eyes glistened with tears, watery and resembling an angry little kitten. Xander sneered, "You bite me till I''m bleeding, and you''re the one crying?"
In response, Ste spat the blood onto his face. "Disgusting. You can have it back."
Xander''s teeth ground together in frustration. Before he could retort, the pilot''s voice cut in again, "Mr. Schultz, they''re closing in on us."
"Shake them off," Xander ordered, flinging Ste aside. "Tell Ronald if he keeps up this chase, I''ll take Ste with me and jump from this helicopter." Ste was stunned into silence.
The bodyguards exchanged uneasy nces. Was Mr. Schultz truly insane, threatening such a reckless move?
Xander turned to Ste, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Tell me, Star, fancy going down in history with me?"
She was livid, "I''d rather haunt your ancestors."
Xander tutted. "Such a dirty mouth. I preferred you back in Ferrond. What kind of trash talk have you picked up these past years?"
He leaned in close, his thumb grazing her pale lips. But before he could continue his taunt, Ste mped her teeth down on his thumb.
The bodyguards watched in stunned
silence. This wasn''t just any hostage, this was a firebrand ready to strike back at any moment. And yet, despite her defiance, Mr. Schultz hadn''t snapped her neck in O retaliation.
Xander gently tousled her hair. "Star, let go. Be a good girl."
His calm tone only fueled her stubbornness, and she bit down even harder.