THE DEVIL'S PREY
CHAPTER TWELVE
Xavier's hand tightened around the grip of his gun, his finger shaking slightly over the trigger. He focused on how happy the family was. He was still contemplating, his mind racing with a lot of questions.
But before he could make a decision, the sound of shattering glass echoed through the room. Five armed men in masks poured in through the back door, and they immediately drew their guns out.
The family's beautiful moment was interrupted, and they all turned back to see six strangers in their peaceful abode. The man tried to shield his wife and daughter away from the horrifying scene.
Xavier's eyes widened slightly as one of the men aimed at the father who was still panicking yet trying to protect his family. Xavier tried to react, but it was too late. The sound of a gunshot filled the air, and the father slumped forward, a look of shock frozen on his face.
Damian burst through the front door, his eyes scanning the room wildly.
" What the hell!" he yelled, his voice hoarse as he saw the masked men in the room.
Xavier gestured for the mother and daughter to run into the kitchen. The mother grabbed her daughter's hand, and they sprinted towards the kitchen, bullets whizzing past their heads.
Xavier and Damian took cover behind the couch, returning fire at the armed men. The sound of gunfire was deafening, the smell of smoke filling the air
Xavier's eyes locked onto one of the armed men, and he aimed. He squeezed the trigger, and the man crumpled to the ground. The other four immediately got ready to lunge at them.
Damian tapped him on the shoulder, pointing to the kitchen. "We need to get them out of here!" he yelled.
Xavier nodded, his mind racing with a plan. They needed to get the mother and daughter to safety, and fast. But with the armed men closing in, it seemed like an impossible task.
They had to clear these men.
And with that, Xavier kept doing the bullets coming his way and he perfectly shot two of the men.
Just as Xavier and Damian were about to take on the two remaining armed men. The mother, frantic with worry, rushed out of the kitchen, her eyes scanning the room wildly.
"Emily's inhaler!" she cried, spotting it on the coffee table. She rushed towards it, her hands shaking as she grabbed the inhaler.
But in the chaos of the moment, one of the men spotted her. He swung his gun towards her, his finger tightening on the trigger.
Xavier's eyes widened in horror as he saw the gun pointed at the mother. He reacted instinctively, launching himself at the armed man.
But it was too late. The gun went off, the sound echoing through the room. The mother cried out in pain, clutching her arm as she stumbled backwards.
Xavier's anger boiled over, and he tackled the man who shot the gun to the ground. Damian joined in, taking down the second man.
Xavier's opponent was a burly man. He charged at Xavier, fists flying.
Xavier dodged the blows with ease, his eyes locked onto the man's face.
"Who sent you?" he growled, his fist connecting with the man's jaw.
The man spat blood but refused to answer. Xavier's eyes narrowed, his grip on the man's throat tightening. "Tell me," he snarled. But he remained quiet.
Xavier clenched his teeth tightly, and he slammed the man to the ground. He pinned him down and brought a sharp knife beneath his suit.
The man's eyes widened as Xavier plunged the knife into his chest. He struggled, but Xavier held him firm, twisting the knife into his chest, brought it out and stabbed him for the second time until he fell limp.
Xavier stood up, his chest heaving with exertion. He looked over to see Damian standing over his opponent, the man's lifeless body on the ground.
Damian met Xavier's gaze, a nod passing between them. The job was done, but Xavier's expression was still angry. This wasn't over yet.
Was this a set-up? He wandered silently
The room fell silent; the only sound was the mother's laboured breathing. Xavier rushed to her side, his eyes scanning her wound.
"It's okay," he said, trying to reassure her. " Damian, come get her to the car."
But the mother's eyes were fixed on her daughter through the opened kitchen door, who was crying silently in the kitchen.
"Emily..." she whispered, her voice trembling with fear.
The mother's eyes, sunken and weak, locked onto Xavier's. "Please..take her," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Xavier's expression hardened, and he didn't say anything; he only nodded.
The mother's eyes filled with tears, and she nodded weakly. "Thank you..." she whispered, and her breathing stopped.
Xavier's gaze stayed on the mother's face; his expression remained the same as he slowly placed her body on the floor.
He looked up to see Damian watching him, a questioning expression on his face. Xavier nodded curtly, and Damian nodded back, understanding.
Without another word, Xavier walked into the kitchen and scooped up Emily, cradling her in his arms. The little girl was crying, her blue eyes very watery, as she continued licking her lips.
"We have the same eyes, baby", Emily's small voice came up. Damian chuckled. Xavier glanced at her in his arms. Wasn't she just crying?
Baby?
Xavier was a little baffled by Emily's boldness, but he nodded, giving her the little fake smile he could muster.
"Why is mommy not standing up?" She asked.
"Emily", Xavier called "Mummy is sleeping now. She's travelling for a while, and you will be staying with me," Xavier explained, and she nodded, now smiling.
"Let's go" He said to Damian, leaving the dead bodies in the once peaceful house.
As they made their way out of the house, Xavier couldn't shake off the feeling that this was a terrible trap.
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~SIN-NATION EMPIRE~
~DINING HALL~
At the same time, in Sin Nation Empire, The hall was already full when Luke, the life of the party, came in; he scanned the room, looking for Jericho as he stood by the door.
Luke rubbed his tattoo, adjusting his cap at the same time as he continued his search.
"Looking for Jericho? He's on the terrace smoking as usual." Gigi said beside him. Her flashy blue hair compliments her beautiful round face.
He turned around to see her walking in with Valerie and Betsy. Gigi and Betsy love being with Valerie even if Valerie doesn't want them around.
Valerie has a cold look on. Her face is a study in composition, but her eyes portray annoyance. "Pretty Dragon" is the nickname given to her by the mobsters.
Luke sighed "Must he always be alone?."
"Are you still interested in eating?" Valerie asked Gigi, getting bored.
"Of course, let's get a table" Gigi pulled her away from the crowd of brutes. Betsy glanced at Luke but quickly shifted her gaze to her phone as she walked behind Valerie and Gigi.
"Why is she always cold?" Luke wondered, looking at Valerie before shrugging. He got his phone and dialled Jericho's line.
"Get your ass to the dining hall right now!" He said immediately he picked.
"I'm not interested in dinner," Jericho declined, hanging up.
"F*ck you, Jericho," He said, pocketing his phone as he entered the hall proper.
The most powerful members of the empire eat together at a table; it's the largest table in the hall, secluded from the others.
Joe, Rose, Valerie, Betsy and Gigi were already seated when Luke arrived without Jericho.
"Heard the boss brought in a new girl" he said, taking his seat beside Gigi
"Yes, yesterday was hell for her" Rose replied.
"It's none of our business " Valerie muttered, her eyes focused on her phone.
"Hi everyone!" Rain rushed in with Felix. There are also members of the clan.
"Food Mongers", Gigi Yelled as they both sat at the table.
"What's for dinner? Rain asked, looking at Valerie
"You can't possibly be asking me that" Valerie rolled her eyes.
Rain snuck up into her seat with a pout on her pink lips. You can call her dramatic!
Eva, Monica and Sophie came in at a time earning admiring glances from the low-rank mobsters. To them, Eva is the Queen of Sin Nation. As usual, Eva was overdressed; she was in a bum short, which showed her ass cheeks and a short white crop top matching it with white sneakers. The fact that Monica and Sophie are bitches makes them close to Eva, too; they move together.
They sat down and Sarah and Francesca pushed the food table into the hall. For Sarah, a new life as a maid has started; she tries to drag her uniform down as it shows much of her skin. Even if Francesca had convinced her that the uniform looked sexy on her. Just that Sarah isn't comfortable with the word sexy.
The men in the dining hall secretly took a glance at her, she looked beautiful even in the blue skirt and white top uniform.
Eva smirked immediately when she noticed Sarah.
They bowed and started serving the Senior mobsters table
"This is too salty" Eva said as soon as she tasted the chicken Sarah served her.
Sarah nervously glanced at her Francesca
"It's not salty," Rose said after tasting it.
"Same here, it's f*cking ok" Savage added.
"Shut the f*ck up you two!" Eva yelled, throwing the chicken at Sarah's face
It hit her face so hard and she fell hard on the floor.
Eva stood.
"She's the f**king daughter of a betrayal" Eva screamed, and all the mobsters gasped. Valerie remained quiet, observing the scene.
Sarah's eyes got watery, and she didn't know where she got the courage from, but she screamed, "My father was not a betrayal!"
Her father can't just be a betrayal. He was a man of integrity.
Eva laughed out. Monica and Eva are right by her sides. "You want to know why you are here?" She asked.
Eva bent to her level and whispered into her ears. Sarah's eyes widened in shock.
Sarah's eyes snapped wide, her pupils shaking as if the words had punched the air out of her. Her face drained of colour, leaving her skin pale. She moved backwards, her hands flying to her ears as if to block out the words
"no..n.no..no. that's not true" Sarah gasped and covered her two ears tightly with her hands. "No!!!" She screamed, hot tears streaming down her eyes.
Eva laughed and picked another chicken and made to throw it at her again but someone suddenly held her hand.