Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 705

Chapter 705

The jerk was messing with me.

Refusing to let him win, I kept chewing, swallowing with dramatic flair.

Then, smirking, I raised a hand and used one finger to tip his chin up. Leaning in close, I murmured, "I've already done that with you-does it really matter?"

Xander's eyes darkened, but before he could react, I pulled back, spun around, and dodged toward the bathroom to wash my hands.

He'd ruined a perfectly good meal with that jab

Even so, it wasn't the same kind of sour feeling got when dealing with Wayne. Thinking of Wayne brought back the memory of his behavior last night, and I felt a wave of disgust creep over me. Things between us

were o

to be painfully awkward now. I couldn't keep using him for information either; the risk of him flipping the game on me was too high. If I kept pushing, I'd lose control before I could get what I needed.

And then there was Xander. Wayne wouldn't just let him off the hook-not after last night. Xander had disrupted his plans and bruised his ego. Confrontation wasn't Wayne's style, but retaliation? That was inevitable.

By the time I finished washing up, Xander had already set the table. The cream soup was poured, steaming gently beside an array of dishes. "Where are you going after this?" I asked casually, taking a sip of the soup.

"Why? Do you need something?" Xander replied, eating his breakfast.

was so composed, so unbothered. Even when I'd been poking at him earlier

spoon down. "I'm just worried Wayne won't let you off the hook after what you pulled last

Or are you just waiting for him to

last night hadn't happened, he still wouldn't have let me off the

he meant right away. Wayne would've come for him eventually. Last night

like getting his hands dirty," I muttered, recalling all

+25 BONUS

Chapter 205

others do the work." Xander didn't respond immediately, but he gave me a look that

you staring at?" I

his gaze, he said, "I'll take care of

I could answer, his phone buzzed. He glanced

Cole or

hesitated, just for a beat,

here,"

to say. Xander might not have admitted he was Hayden yet, but I knew. And if he was going to keep risking himself, I wasn't about to let him make another mistake that could put him in danger. Xander held my gaze for a long moment before sighing. Finally, he sat back down and answered the call on

came through, casual but laced

Kay's place. Having breakfast," Xander replied, no

bad! You're

as I expected, his tone turned cold fast. "Xander, do you have any idea whose

all, Xander's involvement with me-his entire presence in my life was all