Fallen Actress' Comeback: Torn Between the Director and the Mafia Lord-Chapter 37: Discharged

Chapter 37

~Xena’s POV~

"You! Aish! FINE." Steel hissed. "Double. And I’ll take your advice on Xander Gang."

"Triple," Zevran said coldly. "Or I walk. And you lose everything, both cash and product."

Silence.

Zevran leaned over the phone. "Gone." He ended the call.

He popped a champagne bottle, poured himself a glass, and had just taken a sip when his phone rang again.

Checking the call, he saw Steel’s name flash on the screen.

Zevran tapped his earpiece.

"Speak. You get ten seconds."

"Zevran..." Steel groaned, trying to control his rage. "You..."

"Eight."

"Hey! Fine! I agree." Steel’s voice buzzed through his earpiece like an annoying mosquito. "Triple! Triple the price! Let’s do business," Steel groaned.

"Good." Zevran adjusted his cuff.

"Also, we need to meet differently next time. It’s obvious we’ve got spies in our midst. If not, how else would we have been ambushed? I don’t want Xander interrupting again."

Zevran leaned back, cigarette between his fingers, smoke curling lazily from the corner of his mouth. "As for that, you don’t need to worry."

"What do you mean?" Steel snapped.

"We have a restaurant in the city. The drop will happen there. Your sister and her friends can go shopping at the new boutique two streets away. No suspicion or trails. It would simply be a delivery service. The goods will be delivered without noise."

Steel let out a satisfied grunt. "Nice one. Deal."

"You have five minutes to transfer the balance of the money," Zevran continued calmly. "You’ll receive your shipment tomorrow before 5 p.m."

"Sure. And about Xavier himself? Won’t he pay for what he did?"

Zevran’s eyes darkened. "Leave him to me. I’ll handle the rest."

"Yeah, I trust you and—"

Beep.

Zevran tapped his earbud, ending the call mid-sentence.

"Noisy nuisance," he muttered, exhaling smoke through his nose.

Two guards near the door straightened immediately as he turned toward them.

"Report on Kyran," Zevran demanded.

One stepped forward, hands behind his back. "Boss, he’s recuperating. Also, your father wants to see you. He asked for you twice."

"Tomorrow," Zevran said flatly.

The second guard stepped closer. "Boss, the two girls you requested... they’re waiting in the third bedroom."

Zevran flicked ash into the tray, unfazed. "Move them to the bondage room."

"But boss, I do not think they know..." Zeveran shot him a cold glare, freezing him in place. "Yes, boss."

The guards bowed and left, the penthouse returning to silence except for the soft clink of Zevran’s lighter.

He smiled to himself. "Xavier Xander... let’s see how strong your world really is."

************

~Xena’s POV~

I had been going through my script for the movie since morning, after feeding Skai and taking our baths together.

The moment Zaylan’s scene—the male lead—faded from my thoughts, reality snapped back as my phone vibrated in my hand.

Skye’s name flashed across the screen.

I picked up immediately. "Babe?"

"Xee?" Skye’s voice was breathless, like she had been running. "I just landed. I’m on my way home. Slade is with me, moody and bossy as always. We’ll see Dad first, but... you okay?"

I pushed a stray hair behind my ear. "Mm. Yes. I got home from the grocery store, picked up a few things I forgot last time, then started reading my script. It’s been a long morning."

"Awwn, my baby is growing. You’d better fill me in on everything I’ve missed since." She huffed dramatically. "Anyway, once I told him everything, Slade said he would help you with the case. He even cursed under his breath at the mention of your father."

A weight lifted from my chest. "Thank you, Skye. Really."

"Of course. You’re family."

"I know," I smiled, "Slade called me yesterday, and I told him everything."

"Cool, he called you right after we spoke then. And listen... when things settle, you’re coming to stay with me. My house is too empty without you."

I smiled softly. "As much as I would have loved to, I can’t. I have to take care of Nancy now. I can’t dump everything on you."

Skye’s voice deflated instantly. "Ugh. I hate it, but I get it. And I know she wouldn’t like a caregiver to assist her while you work."

"She won’t, but soon I might get one because work will become busy. And I’ll have Skai with me too."

"True. But when that time comes, remember, my goddaughter will be with me."

I chuckled. "I’ll consider it."

There was a beat of silence. Then her tone shifted into pure mischief. "Sooo... are we going to talk about your romance with your boss?"

I choked on my own spit. "Skye... There is no romance there. Just an accidental kiss when we went..."

"You kissed him!" Her loud squeal interjected before I finished and honestly, with her excitement, there was no way in hell I was telling her the rest.

"That doesn’t mean..."

"Please, spare me." Skye giggled, interjecting. "Xee, I’m so happy for you. I want a handsome hunk too."

I snorted. "How do you even know he’s a hunk?"

She gasped dramatically. "Excuse you! Only handsome men come for my friend. Introduce me to some hunkies someday. Your bestie is starving."

I laughed. "What about your brother? Why hasn’t he introduced you to his friends?"

She hissed. "No way. I want the rough kind of love. Slade’s friends are gentlemen... or scared of what he’d do if they touched me."

I burst out laughing as she giggled proudly. "You’re crazy.".

"And you love me. See, he is already giving me his signature death glare." She giggled again, and I joined in. "Anyways, call me later. I’ll talk to Slade again once he settles."

"Don’t stress him, but thanks. Love you, babe."

"Love you too! And tell Skai her godmother is buying her all the toys she wants!"

"Sure thing. Thanks."

We ended the call.

Just as I lowered the phone, it rang again — this time with the hospital’s caller ID.

"Hello? Miss Xena?"

"Yes, speaking."

"This is Amber from St. Mitchelle’s Hospital. We wanted to inform you that Nanny Nancy can be discharged today. The test results came back stable."

Relief flooded my chest. "Thank you. I’ll come immediately."

"You’re welcome. We’ll prepare her documents."

The call ended. I turned toward the living room, where Skai was making her teddy bear "walk" across the couch.

"Sweetheart," I called gently. "Let’s go. We’re picking Nanny Nancy up."

Skai’s head snapped up instantly. "Nanny is coming home?"

I nodded. The smile that lit up her face eased all the tension in mine.

"Yay!" She jumped off the couch and ran to grab her shoes.

I gathered my bag, checked my wallet, helped her put on her shoes properly, and minutes later, we stepped outside into the cool, bright afternoon.

As I locked the door behind us, a warm feeling settled in my chest. Finally... we weren’t going to the hospital worried or scared. We were going to bring family home.

I tucked my phone in my bag when Skai’s voice rang out. "Mummy, look." She tugged my hand. "There’s an angry woman."

I lifted my head to see who she meant, when a hot slap landed across my cheek.