Chapter 8 – Sebastian #2
I hitch up a shoulder, dipping the end of my cigar in my brandy and popping it in my mouth, taking a few puffs and blowing out a long stream of smoke followed by one smoke ring.
“I don’t know where it will lead us either,” I admit. “Possibly nowhere. Desta was taken there twenty-one years ago, and she could be anywhere at this point if she’s even still alive. We knew that from the start.”
“Yes, first my mystery woman runs out on me, Bellamy’s father falls, and now all this madness with Desta.”
I smirk, catching on the first detail and happily running with it to get my mind off everything else. “Ah, so you’re still heartbroken your mystery one-night stand left you without a trace.”
He flips me off using the hand holding his cigar before he takes another puff. “I might be. I have no way to find her either and it’s driving me up a wall.”
“She was that good?”
I can hear the smile in his voice as he says, “Better. She was fucking fantastic, not to mention beautiful, witty, and smart. You once called your Bellamy a hot pain in your ass, and I fear this woman could be the same for me and I’ll never find her again.”
“Whoa,” I exclaim, sitting up. “I thought this was merely about your pride and how this was the first time a woman dared to leave you before you could leave her. I had no clue you’d fallen in love after one night.”
He makes a noise of disdain in the back of his throat.
“I didn’t say I was in love. No one can fall in love after just one night.
I’m simply…curious about her is all. I’d like a repeat or ten, and I’d also like to know why she felt the need to run off before that could happen without giving me so much as her last name or phone number.
And yeah, maybe my pride is fucking hurt too. ”
“I knew the second I saw Bellamy that I was fucked. Sometimes that’s all it takes. One look.”
“Well, I had a look and a taste, and I might be fucked, but I’ll never know since I’ll never see her again.”
“And you’re sure she snuck into the wedding?”
“No one by the name of Ella was on the guest list.”
I snuff out the end of my cigar in the ashtray. “And it isn’t possible she gave you a fake name?”
“She knew who I was.”
“All the more reason to lie if she didn’t want you to know who she was.”
“Perhaps, but I can’t think of any reason she wouldn’t want me to know who she was.” He takes another puff.
I chuckle. “She wanted your dick and nothing else. Maybe she’s married or engaged or trapped in the attic of her wicked stepmother’s estate and had to flee your bed to return there before her carriage turned into a pumpkin.”
“Har, har,” he bemoans. “You’re terribly funny with that.”
“Her name was Ella—or so she claimed—and she literally ran out on you in the middle of the night after sneaking into a royal ball. Oh, and she left an earring behind. Not quite a glass slipper, but ironic all the same.”
“You’re a twat. Have I told you that?”
I can’t stop my laughter, because it is terribly funny and the coincidence of it all is beyond humorous. “Not tonight you haven’t.”
“An oversight on my part that I’m glad I remedied.”
The sliding back door opens and both of us turn our heads over our shoulders to find Bellamy peering out, a blanket wrapped around her body and a sleepy expression on her face.
Rowan immediately puts out his cigar and I pat my lap for her to come join us.
She doesn’t hesitate, curling up on my thighs and snuggling against my chest to stave off the cold.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“Yes, you did, but why aren’t you sleeping?”
“Did you honestly think I’d be able to get any sleep tonight knowing where you were and what you were doing all day? Why didn’t you wake me when you returned?” She gives me a reproachful glare.
“I thought you’d be sleeping,” I remind her. “You haven’t been getting nearly as much as you should.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “You just missed me teasing Rowan about his lovely Ella.”
“Shame. I don’t know why you don’t watch the video of the chalet from that night.”
“Who says I haven’t?” He sits up, taking his drink with him, swirling the amber liquid around his snifter.
“She came in, saw me, we talked and danced. I brought her up to my room, gave her what I’m positive was a damn good time, but she snuck out early.
That was that. Night over. Ella gone. Javier told me he had no clue who she was and even after facial recognition, her face didn’t match up to anyone in any database we have. ”
“Did she have an accent?” Bellamy questions.
He shrugs. “I don’t know. Her French was flawless. I might have also been a bit drunk that night, so I wasn’t paying too close attention to any of that.”
“Then maybe it wasn’t as good for her as you think it was.”
He raises an unamused eyebrow at me. “It was better than good. I can assure you. She was very pleased with my performance. Several times over, in fact. So that’s that and I’m letting it go because there is no point searching for someone who doesn’t want to be found. As we’re learning.”
“This really isn’t your week,” Bellamy deadpans, and Rowan’s lips twitch.
“Clearly not your week either, gumdrop.”
“I’d drink to that if I could.”
“Here,” he says. “I’ll do it for you.” Rowan gulps down the last of his brandy and I do the same, staring out at the dark moonless night and brilliant array of stars.
“All I know is since your wedding, things have changed. I thought after Samil’s death, we were out of the woods, but I hate to say, I believe I’ve been proven wrong.
And for the first time, I fear there’s more to come our way. ”