“Excellent,” he replies without missing a beat. He glances over to him. “I take it you still aren’t talking.”
“He’s being a prick.”
He shrugs. “Well… he is Sebastian Garcia. What do you expect?”
I roll my eyes. He has the reputation of being an asshole. Tonight, I see why.
Loud and clear.
Four hours later, I glance over at Sebastian sitting beside me in the back of the car. We are on our way home. Sebastian is staring out the window, a million miles away.
We haven’t spoken all night, and the ridiculous part is that we aren’t even fighting over the major issue at hand.
The baby.
I’m confused. I don’t know what’s happening, and I feel like things are unravelling between us at the speed of light.
Both of us are slipping into old habits. Him, silent and bitter. Me, expecting more,
itching to fight.
I hate this.
He drags his hand through his hair. He looks so sad, my heart bleeds. Unable to help it, I reach over and take his hand in his lap. He closes his fingers around it.
“You know that I love you,” I whisper.
He nods softly, remaining silent. His gaze stays out the window to the scenery passing by, and my heart constricts. That was my olive branch.
Nothing in return.
The car pulls up to a halt, and the door opens. Sebastian climbs out and takes my hand to help me out. We walk up the steps and open the front door.
He drops my hand and walks straight up to the bedroom. I hear the shower turn on.
I exhale heavily. God.
I make myself a cup of tea and try to figure out a plan of attack. I don’t want to get into a fight. We’re already at each other’s throat.
I hate this.
I hear the shower turn off. I wait ten minutes before I head into the bedroom, Sebastian is in bed and lying on his side with his back to me. I watch him for a moment before I head into the shower. I don’t know what’s going on in his head. I can only assume it’s not good.
Twenty minutes later, I climb in behind him. His anger has gone, replaced with sadness. Like a river, I can feel it oozing out of him. I slide over and cuddle his back. He stays motionless.
“Seb, darling, are you all right?” I whisper.
“I can’t do this.”
I frown. Do what?
“She can’t have my child, April.”
My eyes well with tears.
“I… I… I can’t hand my child over to her. I didn’t give her this baby. She took it.” His voice cracks, betraying his hurt.
I close my eyes.
Fuck.
What the hell is wrong with me, never once considering what this means for him if it is true? All I’ve been worried about is my selfish self.
I roll him over and take him into my arms to hold him, his head nestled into my neck.
He’s distraught, and rightfully so.
“It’s okay, baby,” I whisper as I hold him tight. “Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it together.” I kiss his temple, “I promise you. It will be okay.”
He stares straight ahead with a cold detachment, and I kiss his neck. I slide my hand lower. We haven’t made love for so long. Perhaps, if we did….
“Don’t,” he murmurs.
“Okay,” I whisper.
He’s too sad, even for sex.
I kiss his forehead as I hold him close. “Go to sleep, Seb. Tomorrow’s a new day. It’s going to be okay.”
I wake with a strange sensation. It’s dawn, and the other side of the bed is empty.
I sit up instantly, my senses on high alert.
I make my way downstairs, where I can hear a muffled voice coming from Sebastian’s study. I creep down the hall to listen.
“Yes,” he says. “That’s right, the arrest warrant has been withdrawn.”
Helena.
My heart begins to beat hard. Why did he have that removed?
Nobody is looking for her.
“You know what to do,” he says calmly.
My eyes widen.
I push the door open in a rush, and he steps back, shocked to see me. He’s fully dressed in his suit, ready for work.
“What are you doing?” he asks sharply.
I stare at him, confused. “What are you doing?”
He marches down the hall. His overnight bag is packed by the front door.
“W-where are you going?” I stammer as I run after him.
“I have to go away for work for a few days.”
Panic surrounds me. “Where to?”
“Winchester.”
Gone is the upset man of last night. This man is cold and calculating.
Determined.
This doesn’t feel right. Something’s going on here.
“I’ll come,” I tell him.
“No, I don’t have time to wait for you to get ready. I have a breakfast meeting. I’ll call you as soon as I get there.” He kisses me softly and brushes the hair back from my face. “I love you.”
I stare at him, fear infiltrating my system.
“Seb.” I hold his hands in front of me. “Promise me you won’t do anything stupid,” I plead.
“I’m going.” He tries to pull away from me.
I hold his hands tighter in mine. “Sebastian.” My eyes search his. “What are going to do?”
“What needs to be done.”
My heartbeat thumps hard in my chest.
Helena’s in danger.
34
April
“W-what does that mean?” I stammer.
“Nothing. I’m going to work. You should, too.” He turns and heads out of the door.
“Seb.”
He turns back.
I open my mouth to say something, but I stop myself. I don’t want this to come out nastily. “Promise me that you won’t do anything… I.” I search for the right words. “Illegal.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Are we going to fight again?”
“No.” I shrug. “I’m just worried about you making a bad decision out of anger.”
“Like what?”
I widen my eyes. I don’t want to say it out loud.
He rolls his eyes. “If I did kill her, she had it coming.” He turns and walks down the steps.
What does that mean?
“That means no, right?” I call.
He gives a subtle shake of his head, and I have no idea if he’s disgusted in me for assuming that’s the plan, or if he’s impressed that I can foresee it.
“Promise me!” I call. “Seb, I mean it.”
He exhales heavily and gets into the back of the waiting car. I watch it drive away, while my mind goes into overdrive.
Right, the gig is up, bitch.
Today, I am busting your lying ass if it’s the last thing I do.
That’s if Sebastian doesn’t have you killed beforehand. And I kind of have to agree with him. You really do have it coming.
I smile and wave as Sebastian’s car pulls out and drives off, and then I run inside and call Jeremy.
“Hey, babe.”
“Oh, my fucking God, Jez. Everything is turning to shit. Can you meet me for breakfast? I need a crisis meeting.”
“Okay, usual place in forty minutes?”