Beta Xavier Costa.

Eleanor Amato - POV

“Why are you cooking?” Xavier mumbled into my ear as his hand went under my t-shirt.

“I felt like cooking,” I answered when I stopped what I was doing and turned around, and I wrapped my hands around his neck. “But what are you doing here? Is your meeting with Samuel over?” I asked him, and the smile on his face vanished. A concerned look crossed his face, and this confused me to a great extent.

“Marquez had caught the rogue who collided with my car.” he began, and this made a shiver run down my spine while I still felt the intensity of that impact even though it was still in subconscious mind.

“Is he dead?” I asked him, but Xavier shook his head.

“I wish, but we need him alive to catch the real culprit behind all this,” Xavier answered, and I nodded my head.

“I hope you catch him,” I said, and he nodded his head.

“I will not spare anyone who tried to harm you, Ellie,” Xavier promised. Our eyes locked in a passionate stare before he bent closer to me while my eyes closed in their own accord. His wet lips touched mine gently, igniting the burning fire within me while an electric current ran through my body.

The kiss started off slow, but it soon gained momentum, and my legs were already wrapped around Xavier’s waist while he had placed me on the countertop while standing in between my legs. I was losing oxygen at a rapid rate, but I didn't break the kiss. My hands roamed all over his face when it finally settled at the nape of his neck.

Xavier broke the kiss between us while he trailed wet open-mouthed kisses along my jawline and neck, making me arch my back. “…I bought the cheese…” Xavier took a huge step away from me as he heard his mother’s voice while my face turned a bright pink in embarrassment.

“Oops! I didn't know you two were busily christening the kitchen counter. You should have placed a board in the hallway.” Mom joked while I quickly got down from the counter and turned around to face her.

“We were not doing anything serious,” I said in a high-pitched voice, but from the smirk on her face, I knew she would not believe me anytime soon. “Did you get the cheese?” I asked her, and she nodded her head and showed me the cheese.

“I will meet you later,” Xavier said, and he quickly left the kitchen while Mom and I continued cooking. Once I was done with the lasagna, I served a slice on everyone’s plate and placed it on the table. “Could you be a dear and call everyone to eat, Ellie?” Mom asked me, and I nodded my head and walked out of the kitchen.

After everyone was seated, we began to eat. Lunch went by fairly smoothly, except for the bizarre tension that was between Xavier and Mom, and even Dad must have noticed it because he kept staring at them both in confusion.

Once all the dishes were washed and stacked, Xavier left the house since he had some work while Dad and Mom went out to meet a friend of theirs. “Shall we go and have a slice of apple pie?” Erica asked me, and the thought of Mrs. Tanner’s apple pie made my mouth water.

“I guess we should get some deserts,” I said and quickly got up from bed and changed my clothes before I left the house. When I arrived at the bakery, I saw Mrs.Tanner behind the cashier serving a customer, so I went and stood behind him.

“Hello, dear. Didn't see you here for a long time,” she said.

“Being a bit busy, Mrs. Tanner.”

“What would you like to eat, dear?”

“I will have a slice of your apple pie,” I told her, and a cheeky smile appeared on her face.

“Looks like someone is addicted to my apple pie.” Mrs. Tanner said in a sing-song voice as she went to get my order. When she came to the cashier, she handed me my food.

“It's just too hard not to resist. Anyway, how much is that?” I asked her.

“I am not taking money for that, Eleanor.”

“But…” one glare from her shut me up, so I silently took my box of apple pie. “Thank you, Mrs. Tanner,” I told her, and she nodded her head. I took my box and made my way to take a seat by the window.

I took one bite of the apple pie, and I was already in heaven. I think if someone gives this to me every day, I will gladly have it. I opened my eyes again when I saw Ivan standing outside. He was talking to someone over the phone, and he looked stressed. After a few minutes, he hung up and made his way to the car.

Where is he going?

“I think we should follow him,” Erica said, and that is what I did. I took my apple pie and left the bakery. I looked up and down the street when I saw his car moving towards the exit. I quickly made my way to Xavier’s car and got in.

I put the car to drive and sped out of there. I drove out of the pack and merged into the highway, keeping a safe distance from his car. We were on the highway for about thirty minutes when he took a turn to exit it, and I did the same.

The road was narrow, and there were only trees on either side. What is this place?

After a few miles, I began to see a few buildings when we finally entered a small town. I parked the car on the side, got down, and began following his car on foot. He didn't drive for very long and parked his car in front of an old diner.

I stood behind a flower shop and watched him as he walked inside. I slowly walked closer when I saw that he was meeting someone there.