THE MAFIA’S MISTAKEN BRIDE

Xavier’s POV

What I wanted to do immediately after the helicopter landed at the heliport at home was to have a drink all night.

I didn’t know I was going to face Jasmine tonight. I thought that I would wait till tomorrow.

All I wanted to do was to check her in the room to be sure she was fine because I thought she would be asleep already.

I was met with her absence instead and no guard was in sight.

I was frightened that something bad had just happened. None of the guards had seen her leaving the room.

The only thing that came to my head was that she had been kidnapped. It made my blood boil and my head in turmoil.

Everywhere was searched but she wasn’t in sight. It made me angry not until I noticed the door to the painting room was open. My first instinct was to check there, not because I expect her to be there but to satisfy my curiosity of who could be in there by that time of the night.

This room is always locked.

It has been locked for years.

How did she get in?

The moment my eyes land on the painting on the board behind her, I curse out loudly. “What the hell is this?!”

Impression isn’t the word for what I feel as I stare at my own image on the board. She isn’t done yet but I can see how far she has gone in giving me that extremely cold look.

Everything about me in here is dark, including my eyes and shirt. My sleek hair runs down looking extremely dark as well. Then I notice something else.

A small tattoo on my hand.

It is also dark but I don’t have that kind of tattoo on my hand.

Before I can say a word, someone else runs in and I whirl round to see Harry with my phone, reminding me that I have to tell them that she has been found.

He bows down slightly when he sees her then approaches me to whisper in my ears. “Ethan is on the phone, boss.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Quickly, I grab the phone from him and begin to stride outside when I remember Jasmine is still standing in the room. I halt with the phone glued to my ears then slightly turn. “Go back to your room now!”

I don’t bother to wait for her reply before shouting into the phone. “Ethan!”

I really hope this is good news.

“Boss, I found her”, he announce immediately, making me nod my head in satisfaction and pride.

“Good. Where is she?” I demand instantly as I approach the bar. Harry walks past me sensing I may want to sit as he pulls out a stool and I settle on it.

“London”, he answers, then pauses. I almost ask what the hell Andre is doing in London again but I am not surprised. She is definitely full of surprises and practically unpredictable. “I’m still monitoring her.”

“Don’t let her out of sight”, I warn sternly. I know her. The moment she gets wind of someone spying on her, she would vanish again into thin air just like she has been doing.

“Do you know where she stays?” I ask him.

“Yes, boss.”

“Has she been out of the apartment since you found her?” I know Ethan wouldn’t call if he wasn’t certain she was the one. I gave him this job because he was the one who found Jasmine. He was the one who mistook Jasmine for Andre but that wasn’t partially his fault. Almost every one believed she was Andre, including me.

“Just for a little while.”

“Have you seen her with anyone?”

“No, boss. She ate alone in a nearby restaurant but I have a feeling she might go out tonight.”

I raise a brow and my eyes lands on my wrist watch. This is 2 pm. Where the hell will she go by this time?

Before I can ask him that, he states. “The light in her room is still ok so I guess she is still awake. Probably doing something or about to step out.”

Because her room light is still on doesn’t mean she is going out.

“Send me a picture the moment she comes out again and try to get into her room. I want you to find a way to track her phone. I need to know the people she has been contacting of late, especially if her parents are included.”

I don’t bother to say her mother instead. I have a feeling someone around here is in contact with her. If that wasn’t it, it would be very hard for her to keep getting away for almost a year.

She might be a really determined lady but I have my ways. How she manages to slip away from the tip of our fingers in a mystery I haven’t been able to figure out.

“Sure, boss.”

Once it is confirmed, he will bring her home to me. I might not know what to do with her yet but she will surely pay for her sins; for fleeing on our wedding day, humiliating me and for making poor Jasmine suffer for her sins.

“Do not let her slip away like the last time. If she escapes this time, then you will be in for a lot of trouble”, I throw the words at him. I know he is capable but I don’t want this to go on and on forever.

Jasmine can’t leave if Andre isn’t found. I can’t keep going after her too if she keeps slipping away like a thief in the dead of the night.

We need to get this done with.

“Sure, boss.”

“Good.” I mutter firmly before dropping the phone. I stare at Harry and tell him. “Tell the others she has been found. I want everyone back in their position.”

“Ok, boss.” Instead of bowing to leave like I am thinking he will do, his eyes darts past me as though there is someone behind.

His eyes shifts back to me and he quickly bows, then leaves.

Just as I am about to grab a bottle of wine, I hear a soft voice behind him which makes me turn around instantly.

Our eyes lock and I find her teary.

“Have you found her?” the voice comes again, making me scrunch my face in confusion.

“What?!”

“Have you found Andre Moore?” she asks again and I curse inwardly.

What the hell!