Chapter 45

ZAVIER (Zero)

I will kill them. Whoever they are. Whoever might have sent them would die by my hands.

I counted three men, already. Three and then, the sniper at the top of the skyscraper.

I maneuvered the car to a secluded street and turned off the ignition. "Stay down, Lani. No matter what you hear. I'll be back."

Was almost out of the car when Lani grabbed my hand. "B-be careful."

I kissed her hand and allowed her touch to linger. "I'll be back". Then, I took off.

LEILANI

I don't know how long I waited. I panicked as I waited. Zavier was gone for long and I don't know what's happening out there.

My legs feel so numb but I stayed still where he told me to. I must have fell asleep again because I came to awareness with the sound of the door opening.

" Zavier!" I gasped, worried. He was bloody and his clothe was torn.

"Blood's not mine, Darling." He groaned and I let out a deep sign of relief at that.

"Sit down now, there's no danger anymore. I took care of it." He groaned, starting the ignition again.

I sat down again,giving him a once over to make sure that the blood doesn't belong to him. I calmed when I finally concluded that they aren't his.

We got home that day and Morris was waiting for us at the door. "Hey, man. You look like you had a personal encounter with the goddamn devil himself." Morris said to Zavier.

Zavier glared at him and ushered me to the house. "I ain't got time for your stupidity, bastard."

"Hi, sweet Lani." He greeted me with a broad smile and I returned the smile.

"Hi, Morris. I hope you didn't wait long?"

"Heavens, no. I just got here now. But I'm very hungry, hope you've got some food for your favorite man here?" He drawled behind me as we entered the house.

Zavier hit him at the back of the head and said nothing.

"Ouch, that hurt!"

"Sorry, Morris. There's no food but I'll quickly make something for all of us to---"

"You ain't making nothing." Zavier cut in, glaring at his friend."Morris and I will take care of everything."

Morris looked horrified. "We!? Hell no, I ain't eating my own poison, hell no. You fvcking enemy of progress, you don't want us to eat good food? It's a goddamn miracle that I survived this long, eating my own damn meals."

"We're making lunch and dinner. Lani is tired, she needs to rest." Zavier stated firmly to him, before he turned and gave me his attention.

He ignored all my protests and dragged me to the bedroom. He was there watching over me while I bathed, he refused to move an inch from the door, ignoring my red face.

Afterwards, he helped me into a loose gown and forced me to lie down and get some sleep.

No matter how I suggested he allow me to help in the kitchen, and no matter how I tried to tell him that I'm not handicapped, he treated my words like I was speaking foreign languages. He didn't budge an inch.

When he left the room and closed the door, I was throwing glares at the door, a little angry that he's treating me like a child and wouldn't let me do what I want.

In the end, I noticed that I'm really tired after all. I laid my head on the bed and slept off like a baby.

ZAVIER [Zero]

Hours Later

"So, the assassin is dead?" Morris asked after we finished eating.

"Yes. He came with his crew. Goddamn bastard. I killed all of them." I stated firmly, but a frown was on my face.

"Then, you should be happy. It's finally over, man." He took the plates to the kitchen.

"I should be. But, I'm just....so damn confused." I guess that must be the very right word for it.

Morris came back to the living room."Why? What's so damn confusing?"

I raised my hands, palm out and stared at them. "I killed those men but I didn't enjoy it. Not the usual fvcking way I enjoy it, just.....nothing. I didn't take pleasure from it. Did it because it was goddamn necessary."

"Wow. That's....so unlike you."

"Yeah..." I trailed off, still staring at my hands. "Lani doesn't like killing. Watching it happen. Seeing me do it. Any part of it, she never likes it. Could that be the reason?"

Morris dropped the broom he came out with and stared at me very carefully. None of his usual smiles were available and the damned bastard was serious for the first time in so fvcking long.

He came and sat beside me. "How long has it been? Since you went on a mission? Since you killed?"

I tried to remember. "It's been a month. A whole fvcking first."

"Yeah. A first." He seemed like he was thinking, "Now that everything is over and she's safe again. Does it mean that you're letting her go? I do remember you saying something like that some months ago."

I cocked my head to the side and wonder why the hell he's acting something like that. "I'm never letting her go." I stated vehemently.

He nodded once like he expected the answer. "Then, hold onto her, Zero. Marry her. Take her so far away. Start a new life together with her. You and Lani look so good together, that woman is the next best thing that happened to you in your whole goddamn life, right after having a damn good c0ck."

He was teasing again so I smacked him on the head and grumbled. "Get serious, you asshole."

I was thinking. That word marriage again.

I remember Slaughter and his wife. "Explain marriage more to me..." I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

His eyebrows shot up. "Damn! So you asshole ain't know shit about that one too? Like fvcking seriously?"

"I grew up knowing only killing. Pops knew only killing. Got no mother. Ain't go to no school. Fvcking some whores. Always waited for Pops on our big house." I shrugged to him, "I don't know much."

He was so longer smiling again and he got that gentle look I always see on Lani's face. "Hell....! That ain't no way to grow up."

I shrugged. "It's the only way I did. Never knew little humans were supposed to have mothers. Don't know shit about any life outside the missions. Then, I saw her one day....." I trailed off, remembering the day I saw Lani.

"You saw her and knew you had to have her?" The bastard was amused.

I nodded anyway. "I have this strong urge for her. Knew I had to get inside her and fuck her over and over and over again. Dirty her up. Draw her to the darkness I am. And move on."

"And now?" Morris asked softly.

I stared at my fvcking hands again. All I see is blood and so much more blood.

.

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