Chapter 37 Sebastian
Chapter thirty-seven
Sebastian
I'm so happy Daddy gets along with Malakai and Ryker. And I'm grateful to my cousins for welcoming him in our club. Both of them know the lengths I went to get my Daddy.
In fact, one of the first things I did when I met them was declare that Daddy Ezrah was mine.
In my defense, I didn't know back then that they were Daddies themselves, and that they'd never be interested in my Daddy.
"I think I need to get back to work," Daddy says.
I wave my hand dismissively while my cousins chuckle. "No, tonight's ours."
"I don't think Ethan would appreciate that. I'd like to keep my job, boy."
My nostrils flare, and I grind my teeth.
"A piece of advice," Ryker says lightly. "Be careful what you say to your boy. Lives can end… just like that."
Daddy frowns, and I plaster on my most innocent smile.
"Boy?"
"Yes, Daddy?"
"What is he talking about?"
"I have no idea."
Daddy gives me that stern look, and I start fidgeting. Fuck. I didn't realize my cousins might cause trouble for me.
Luckily, he lets it go when he sees how tense I am.
"I really think we need to get back to work."
"It's fine. Ethan knows we're up here and knows not to disturb us. He wouldn't dare fire us."
"How are you so sure?"
"Because this is where people come to order a hit. Ethan manages it and then gives us the information."
Daddy's jaw drops. Malakai mutters something snarky, and I elbow him in the ribs.
"Ethan's in on this?"
"Yep."
"And this VIP I wasn't allowed to see before… is where people order hits?"
"Yep."
I wait for Daddy to freak out, but he doesn't. He just looks around, cataloging everything with new eyes, new understanding.
"And Ethan won't dare fire us," I add proudly, "because I'd kill him if he did."
"You can't go around killing everyone who pisses you off, boy."
No, I can't.
But I can kill anyone who threatens or upsets my Daddy.
"Even if you have power here, I don't. And it doesn't seem-"
I cut him off. "Of course you do. Everything I have is yours, physical or not."
"Still, it doesn't feel right to just drop work and have fun in the VIP."
I pout, but eventually agree. There's only one hour left of our shift, and then I'll have Daddy all to myself.
I promise Malakai and Ryker we'll have dinner soon, and then we head back downstairs.
To my surprise, the shift ends quickly. Daddy comes to watch me while I finish cleaning, but when he watches me like that, I can't function properly. So I run up to him and jump into his arms.
"Daddyyy."
He laughs, catching me easily and spinning me around.
"You just can't keep your hands off me?" Daddy teases.
"Nope."
"Good. Because I can't either."
I kiss him thoroughly, melting against him.
"What. The. Fuck?" The anger in that familiar voice makes me freeze.
I swallow hard and slowly turn toward it.
Aziel stands there, shaking with rage. His hands are balled into fists, a muscle ticks in his jaw, and even from here, I can see how tight his body is coiled.
I slip out of Daddy's arms and stand beside him, but I don't touch him.
My heart hammers against my ribs.
This is the moment I've been terrified of. Because I can see it – the puzzle rearranging in Aziel's mind, the exact second it all clicks into place.
"It was you!" he shouts, charging toward me.
I'm just frozen in place.
Daddy steps in front of me, his voice low and dangerous. "Back off."
Aziel stops a few feet away, trembling with the effort to hold himself back. I can see the urge, the need to get to me. To hurt me.
"It was you," he spits. "You made it seem like I cheated on Ezrah!"
And just like that, the ground disappears beneath me.
My knees buckle, and Daddy catches me by the waist before I fall.
Would this be the last time he touches me?
Would he finally look at me with disgust?
Would I lose him?
It feels like my whole life is collapsing in on itself.
"Enough of your bullshit, Aziel," Daddy growls. "I won't stand here and listen to you attack my boyfriend."
My boyfriend.
My Daddy claims me so easily, so proudly.
"Your boyfriend!?" Aziel's voice is pure disgust. "Ezrah, do you even hear yourself? Have you completely lost your mind?"
"No," Daddy says sharply. "Sebastian is my boyfriend, and luckily, we don't need your approval or your presence here."
Aziel's gaze snaps to me.
I've faced many monsters before. I still remember his father's eyes, filled with hate as he beat me again and again in that basement.
But not even that monster's eyes compare to the hate in Aziel's right now.
It's overwhelming. But I don't look away.
I'm not sorry.
Not when everything I did led me to him.
"You're a monster," Aziel spits. "My own little brother destroyed my marriage."
"Aziel," Daddy warns, voice low. "Enough."
"Enough?" Aziel sneers. "You think this is enough? You finally learn the truth, and you still don't see it? You never listened to me back then, and you're still not listening now. But even if you don't believe me, how can you be with him? With my brother?"
He says it like being with me is unthinkable. Like I'm filth.
And maybe I am.
But it still hurts.
"I don't have to explain myself to you," Daddy says coldly. "You and I ended a long time ago. Leave."
Aziel takes a step closer, and that's when I realize we're not alone. Malakai and Ryker have appeared behind us. They're the only reason Aziel hasn't lunged at me. His whole body shakes with rage, his fists trembling like he's barely restraining himself.
"You're choosing this manipulative little fucker?" Aziel screams. "This monster? He's the one who orchestrated everything! He's the one who made it look like I cheated on you!"
I flinch. Not because I'm afraid of him, but because I'm terrified I'll lose my Daddy for good.
Daddy's gaze shifts from Aziel to me. He looks composed, but I see it… the pain, the confusion, the war behind his eyes.
My chest tightens with guilt, shame, and love so strong it physically hurts.
Forget every time I've stared death in the face. This – this right here – is the scariest moment in my life. Waiting to hear my Daddy's decision.
"You should go," Daddy says finally, eyes locked on Aziel. "You're not welcome here."
"It's your own funeral," Aziel says with a cold voice. "You're the pathetic fool in all of this. A puppet Sebastian plays in whatever way he wants. I know one day you'll realize your mistake, but don't come begging for me to take you back."
I don't look at Aziel as he leaves. Even though Daddy sent him away, it doesn't mean he'll still choose me after this.
When Daddy takes a single step back, away from me, my heart shatters. I don't think it will ever be whole again.
And I don't think I'll survive this.