Chapter 34 Ezrah
Chapter thirty-four
Ezrah
Fuck. I wish I could travel back in time and go to that moment when Sebastian was hurt. I wish I could protect him from what happened.
He was just a kid.
How could someone do something like this? How?
And how could Aziel and their mother protect that monster? How could they choose that monster over Sebastian?
I remember how small he was the first time I met him. He was twelve. Just a year earlier, he'd gone through something horrendous.
My heart physically hurts imagining his small body broken by that monster.
I'm glad Sebastian's dad killed him, because if he hadn't, I would have. I would've hunted him down, found him, and killed him very slowly.
Up until now, I didn't think I had such a dark side in me. But anyone who dares hurt my boy will pay for it.
Part of me wants to plummet Aziel's face, too. To make him bleed just like his brother bled in that basement. All alone, terrified, and broken.
I'm still reeling from what Aziel did. I still remember how excited he was when we were nineteen and his father was back in town.
He should pray we never meet again.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, my boy?"
"I can't breathe."
I let go of Seb, realizing I've been holding him too tightly.
"You're still shaking with anger," my boy says.
"I'm sorry. I- I just…" I trail off, not knowing how to finish the sentence.
"Hey, look at me." My boy takes my face in his hands and lifts my gaze to him. He smiles at me, and I'm relieved to see that smile. "I'm okay. I'm here, safe in your arms."
"Yes, you are. And I'm never letting you go."
"Never," he vows too.
We stay like that for a while, just holding each other. We both need it.
"Daddy, can we have another cup of coffee? Then I'll continue my story. It gets brighter."
I'm not sure I believe him, but I nod and hurry to make us coffee. Once we each have a cup and settle on the couch, Sebastian continues.
"Because my injuries were so severe, the hospital contacted the police. And when they opened a case, they dug through my records and found my father's name on my birth certificate, one that my mom kept hidden from me. That's how he learned he had a son. He came to the hospital the same day."
"You didn't know about his existence?"
"No. He was furious that he didn't know I existed, but he was even more furious that I'd been hurt and demanded I tell him the truth. I didn't want to. He was yet another stranger to me."
"He didn't threaten you, right?"
"No. He said he's my father, promised me he'd make whoever hurt me pay, and he'd teach me how to protect myself if that's what I wanted. I almost burst into tears when he said he was my real father, and that he'd protect me."
"I told him everything, and from then on, everything changed. Once I was healed, every day after school, and during weekends when I was supposed to be in the library, I went to his house."
"He started teaching you how to kill people?"
Who in their right mind would teach that to an eleven-year-old kid?
Sebastian laughs like I just told the funniest joke.
"No, silly Daddy. He taught me how to fight, how to protect myself. When I was sixteen, he started teaching me more things: knives, guns, things like that."
It still sounds terrible. Psychotic, even.
"I looked up to him. He knew so much, and he always cared for me. When I was seventeen, I found out he was an assassin, and I said I wanted to be one too."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that. There are always people who get away with the law. Always. If I can get rid of some of the trash, why wouldn't I?"
I'm not sure if I should be fascinated by the way my boy thinks or terrified. Even when I saw him kill, I still wasn't terrified of him.
"Are you disgusted by me now that you know?"
"What? No! No."
"Are you sure?"
"I am. Thank you for telling me everything. It doesn't change anything between us. If anything, it makes our connection stronger. I want to see every part of you, little one."
"Even the dark, twisted one?"
"Especially that part." I kiss him hard, trying to pour all the emotions inside me into that kiss. "Especially the dark, twisted part, because it's the one you've hidden and been alone in."
"I've had my dad, my best friend, and some other people in the assassin club, but I admit that I felt lonely."
"Assassin club?" I shake my head. "No. We'll come back to that later. You won't feel lonely ever again, because I'll be beside you."
"What? You'll accompany me on my kills?" he jokes.
I just stare.
His jaw drops. The shock is cute.
"No way. I'm not killing someone in front of you."
"And I'm not letting you kill someone alone. Besides, you already killed someone in front of me."
"That's because I didn't know you were there!" he argues, then shakes his head and adds, "No."
"Yes, boy." I use my Daddy voice and watch him shiver. "I'm coming with you, and you won't argue about it."
"Why? Why do you want to come with me?"
"Because I want to make sure you're safe." It's as simple as that.
I don't think I said anything wrong, but Seb's lips start trembling, and he throws himself at me.
"I love you," he mumbles.
"I love you, boy."
"Always. You'll always be mine." It sounds like a threat, but I don't mind.
"Always."