I am going to kill Xavier…

I chanted the promise in my head as I followed Liz out to the hallway. My fingers were still tingling where they had brushed Liz’s earlier. I tucked them in my pocket. My head felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to it. 

I am going to kill Xavier…

Whatever he had given us to drink last night was lethal. Lethal enough that I woke up on my couch with zero recollection of how I got there. 

Damn it. 

This was not part of the plan. It was all going sideways. 

God f**king damn it. 

My gaze fixed on the girl standing in my doorway. My heart missed a beat. She was beautiful. Even with bed head and smeared makeup. 

Had something happened last night?

I was pretty sure we hadn’t slept together. 

But maybe other things….

Under normal circumstances, I would ask for her number at least. But the circumstances were not normal and I would probably never see her again. 

As I reached her side, ready to escort her out, maybe I’d even offer to drop her off, she turned towards me, wide-eyed.

I was immediately on alert, my muscles tense and ready.  I looked down the hallway, right then left, but there was no one there. 

I looked down at her for an explanation.

God, she was short. And breathtaking.

“Oh my God!”, she whispered.

Still looking at me with wide eyes.

“Are you alright?”, I asked haltingly.

She let out a strangled laugh, pushing hair out of her face with her free hand. 

“We are neighbors. That’s my apartment”, she choked out and I stared at her. 

Neighbors. 

In a daze, my gaze followed her pointing fingers and halted at her door. 

Apartment 309. 

My head jerked back towards her. 

That can’t be….

Right?

I was probably freaking her out by my staring but I couldn't look away. My eyes traced her features, looking for any sign. Any resemblance. 

Fingers snapped in front of my face, bringing me back. I startled. 

“Sorry”, she said sheepishly, “Are you okay? You look pale”, her eyes were worried.

She couldn’t have worried eyes. 

Probably faking it.

“I am fine”, my voice sounded cold, even to my own ears. She frowned, looking hurt for a second but then her features evened out. 

“Okay then, I’ll get out of your hair”, giving me a brisk nod, she turned on her heel and walked towards her door. My eyes followed. 

Just as her door was closing, she looked at me. Her face was blank. Then her door snapped shut.

A long breath whooshed out of me. I rubbed my head with my palm and stepped back into my apartment, patting my pant pockets for my phone.  They were empty. 

I found my phone on the kitchen counter. 

“What’s the name of that girl?”, I snapped through the line as soon as Alexander picked up.

“Huh?”, came his sleepy reply. My jaw was clenched tight and I was grinding my back teeth to dust. This had to be a mistake.

“Girl? What girl?”, a mumble came through and I stared angrily at my phone, debating if I should throw it against the wall. 

“Do you want to get fired?”, I uttered through clenched teeth.

“Oooh….oooh…that girl!!”, There were a few clattering noises on his side and I didn't care enough to investigate if he was alright.

“Liana Harrington, Boss”, clicking of keys follows that statement. I took a deep breath.

“Are you sure?”, I rubbed my eyes. My head was splitting even more than when I had woken up.

“Positive”, came his reply.

“Does anyone live with her?”, I asked. It had to be someone else. It had to be a mistake.

“Yes, she lives in Apartment no. 309. Alone”, He read from the file, “I am 100% sure about this info, Boss”, he let me know. 

I hung up and sat down heavily on my couch.

It was her.

It was really her.

Andrew’s daughter.

Andrew f**king Mancini’s daughter.

A ragged laugh left me.

Meeting her like this was not the plan. 

Her spending a night in my house was not the plan either.

Me, finding her beautiful was also not part of the plan. 

Shut up!!

She was not beautiful. 

She was a monster's daughter. 

My resolve increased. 

I stood up and headed towards the shower. I had a new plan to come up with. 

There was no time to waste.