XVIII

Cassidy slept over, only to wake Bella up with breakfast, with the order that Bella would do nothing but sit still and be pretty seeing that she had had no problem mauling her hands to death. Bella found that the young woman was a better cook and she felt a twinge of jealousy about it only to brush it aside.

"I don't need a babysitter Cassidy" she said as she placed her dirty plate into the dishwasher. Turning around to look at the woman that sat on the other side of the island counter

[Neither do I] added Sin

"Yea, see, I'm not so sure about that, especially when you go ahead and do things like this." Motioning for both her hair change and hands. Letting out a sigh Bella defended

"My roots were already showing so decided to return back to my natural hair colour"

"Which I like more by the way" complimented the young woman.

"Thanks. As for these, well, I can't really explain" Bella informed and the young woman sighed before her

"You know you can come to me with anything and everything right?"

"I know Cass" she said. Her short answer was loud and clear to Cassidy, that she wouldn't explain her actions any further, therefore, she settled for a nod and a change of the subject.

"Oh, you might want to change, Xavier will be here soon" she informed wiggling her brows and suggestively so. Which caused Bella to scoff with a smile shaking her head

"Chill out, there's nothing going on between us"

"Because heavens forbid you decide to finally date someone" Cassidy couldn't help but state with an eye roll.

"Clearly, I'm not fit for relationships" Bella stated only to add,

"Why is he coming over anyways?" Cassidy all but shrugged

"To check up on you maybe, he just said he'll see you today"

It wasn't long after Bella had changed into a white sundress that reached her ankles that Xavier finally showed up. A cup of chocolate ice cream with wafer bits in one hand and a sunflower in another. Cassidy all but shot the young man a curious look and Bella could only simply wonder why he chose a sunflower.

"Your apartment is filled with them" he stated as if having read her mind.

"How about we hit the beach?" Cassidy suggested with one look through the glass at how sunny it was.

"Perfect weather" she added. Bella shrugged then reaching for the ice cream in Xavier's hand,  a spoon in her other, she took a big scoop

"I guess I don't mind" before shoving the spoon of her icy delight into her mouth.  Only for her eyes to fall on her hands and she excused herself,

"After I change these" she said getting up from her seated position, leaving the cup on the counter, she headed for her bathroom.

It was when she had placed the ointment and clean bandages on the counter and untied the bandage on one hand, that Xavier showed up. 

"Need any help?" Xavier questioned as he leaned against the doorframe of the bathroom watching her unroll the bandages from her hands. Bella thought about it for but a minute before she nodded.

"Okay" she said and the young man took strides in her direction. She squealed when she felt his hands on her waist only to haul her up and onto the counter. Chuckling he questioned

"Squeamish are we?" before he took hold of her hand and unrolled the bandages himself

"Your touch was unexpected" she informed.

"I like the new look by the way" he complimented and she couldn't help the souring of her mood, alas she muttered a

"Thanks"

[See, I make good choices. Sin spoke up. You can ignore me all you want Bellaboo, but we both know I'm not going anywhere.] She added. Hearing her sigh, Xavier offered

"Wanna talk about it?" to which she shook her head.

She knew her skin would take time to heal, having always been a slow healer. Her former scars had been testament to just how easily scarred she could be too, however, she was thankful for the dermatologist that had helped get rid of all of them, even though it had taken years for her skin to be scar free. About the only reason Sin had finally sided with her and hated the man just as she had, for his betrayal against her.

Their time at the beach was momentary bliss, although she laughed on the side-lines as she watched Cassidy keep plummeting into the water because she couldn't stand on the board long enough. Only to let a free fall of laughter out as she ran away from Josh who was intent on catching her only to throw her into the water. It intensified when Xavier joined in and the two young men ganged up on her.

They were toying with her she knew, their speed wasn't full speed, and their almost catches only tickled her skin with the fleeting grabs only for her to escape. But she loved it, even though she was neither running at her own full speed she was certain could surpass both boys', she found fun in finally being playful as a child would.

They played chase till she tired out and sprawled over the sandy beach, her pants a tad bit rapid, she shot a mere smile at the two figures on either side of her that looked down on her. She lifted her hands and said

"I can't get these wet" hoping that would stop their intent to get her wet. At the notion of that, her plan seemed to work when one said

"You're lucky this time" and Xavier made to get her to stand up. Cassidy, Kendrick and Charlie joined them on their spot where the young women sat beneath the big beach umbrella.

"Okay, now I'm hungry" Bella informed, and josh couldn't help but tease

"Sushi maybe?" only to get a glare from her even though her lips twitched into a smile

"Am I missing something here?" Xavier was the one to question and Cassidy chuckled

"She hates sushi" Josh nodded with his own light laugh at the memory of her spitting it out

"With a passion" he added. Xavier gave Bella an amused look and said

"You know Hawaii is all about sea food right?" she could only roll her eyes and question

"Are you lot gonna feed me or nah?" she questioned like a brat and Kendrick stood up only to pull her along

"Come on then, Mrs Grouch" he said with a smile

"Only because I'm hungry" she defended.

Sadly, their light mood didn't last long when minute their feet touched the asphalt, ready to cross the road toward the line of restaurants on the other side, three black SUV's parked before them, and a few men walked out, halting the group of friends

Their statures gave off serious vibes of that they meant business. Bella's guard went up and so did the other's as they looked at the men questioningly. She heard Xavier sigh next to her and she turned to look at him,  and by the look on his face,  she knew that he knew them.

"What are you doing here Kali?" Xavier asked the man he knew to be a worker for his father. The man simply looked at him, then at the rest of them.

"Your father demands your presence,  along with the little lady" he motioned for Bella in that moment and that made Xavier tense up,  wondering just what it was his father was playing at.

"Yes I don't think that's gonna happen man" it was Kendrick that spoke up stepping forward do that he was partially upfront of Bella in a defensive stance.

"Agreed" Xavier added,  giving Kali a meaningful look,  to which the bulky man all but smirked and said

"You know how I work Xav, the two of you are coming with us, whether you like it or not" at his words,  the other men took a few steps forward and Bella knew where it would lead, and she wasn't up for a tussle out in the open,  nor was she up for seeing any of her friends hurt. Therefore she side stepped Kendrick and said

"Okay" laying a hand on Kendrick's arm looking at Kali whose eyes shot to hers in interest.

"Delilah, No" Xavier protested looking at her as if she had all of a sudden grown two heads,  so did her other friends

"What did we say about not going off with strangers?" he added brows furrowed in annoyance

"Well, you'll be there this time,  so can we just get this over with so I can get my food. I'm really not up to see a fight between you lot right now" with a cocked eyebrow, she waited for his response. Xavier could only sigh in frustration with a shake of his head.

"You're gonna be the death of me " he stated before grabbing her wrist and walking toward the open door of the car.

[Quite literally]

"Well,  if you're going,  then count me in too" it was Cassidy to finally speak up,  except,  before she could even get close to the car,  a man stood before her to stop her, 

"No can do. Specific orders" informed the man,  before they all watched,  her mouth left agape,  they drove away leaving behind the group that looked at each other in both question and concern. Wondering what the hell just went down.

In the car, Bella noticed just how uneasy Xavier was with the whole situation and she asked.

"Why does your father want to see me? I mean,  I've never even met the man" Xavier simply kept his gaze out the window

"Beats me" he said and she knew he was also mad at her.  Sighing she said

"You don't have to worry so much about me. I can handle myself you know" she informed prompting Xavier too look at her as if she was crazy,  for he thought her to have no idea just what kind of person his father was, the kind of person He was. He simply looked at her without a word to the point she squirmed in her seat. Shaking his head,  he looked back out the window.

It took a while before they reached their destination, what seemed to be a grand hotel. She didn't mind it when Xavier made to hold her hand,  his grip tight as if to keep her from possibly being taken from him. She wondered then if she was truly crazy,  for it seemed she was forever drawn to dangerous situations. Perhaps it was a Sinclair curse she had no idea about,  that they were bound to ever be linked to the underworld. For as she surveyed the situation, it seemed she had fled from one situation, only to land within similar waters.

Having decided that she would no longer go on a foolish heroic quest,  she saw no need to even be close to the young man on her side, yet by his tight grip,  she could tell he'd be another person that would decide to stick with her regardless. Yeah, total curse,  it must be. She thought to herself.

The room they walked into seemed to be a bachelor pad of some sort,  not surprised that an established man as such actually owned a penthouse.

"Uhhh, and here I thought they would be dragging you in here kicking and screaming!" exclaimed a man seated on a single leather couch in the lounge, a cigar in hand. He gave a once over glance at the pair of them before he looked at one of his most trusted men

"Any problems at all,  Kali?" to which the man gave a slight shake of his head

"Surprisingly, none sir" he informed. The man hummed then.

"Interesting indeed" he said. Bella noticed that Xavier must have taken his mother's eyes, for his father's were a common brown colour, yet it seemed other than that, they resembled each other entirely in a like-father-like-son sense.