Chapter 15 Marfil #2
“I got them today at work—from a rich dude who knows someone, who knows someone who’s in charge of the tour. It’s a private balcony, great view. What do you say? Are you in?”
“Of course!”
Sebastian shook his head, staring at me with a patient expression on his face. I looked at Liam, and then back at Sebastian.
“How many tickets do you have?” I asked, feeling my euphoria beginning to subside.
“Two,” Liam said, smiling. “One for me and one for you.”
“You can wait for me outside,” I said to Sebastian before he had time to object.
“No,” he replied without a moment of hesitation, then turned and went into the kitchen.
“Sebastian, it’s a private balcony—” I began, but he interrupted me.
“If I’m not with you, I can’t guarantee your safety.”
“Listen, man, I understand you have to do your job, but Marfil’s right. It’s a private balcony. You can wait outside. Nothing is going to happen to her. I won’t leave her side.”
Sebastian stopped in front of Liam. “Oh yeah?” he said, his tone suddenly angry. “And what are you going to do to protect her, huh? Do you have any fucking idea how to do my job? Do you think I’m just here following her around because I have nothing better to do?”
Liam gritted his teeth.
“Find another date. Marfil isn’t going out tonight; she’s still sick.”
“No, I’m not!” I cried, furious.
“Look, dude, I know her better than you do. If you try to keep her locked up like this, she’s going to—”
“Go crazy,” I said, finishing the sentence for him.
“Fortunately, I’ve been trained to face any type of danger. I think I’ll be able to handle a little girl who’s mad because she can’t go to a concert.”
I couldn’t believe it!
Liam looked at me, unsure of what to do. I realized I didn’t have many options. I couldn’t go anywhere without Sebastian, and he was completely unwilling to cooperate; he could easily wait for me outside of Madison Square Garden, just as Liam had said.
My friend finally left, disappointed that I couldn’t go with him and trying to think of who else he knew who liked Imagine Dragons.
As soon as the front door shut behind Liam, I glared at Sebastian.
“You did that on purpose,” I said, stepping toward him, fuming.
“I could’ve totally gone; the problem is that you’re so obsessed with the fucking danger I’m supposedly in that you won’t let me do the things I’d normally do without you there to ruin all my plans. ”
“I’m not here to ruin your plans. I’m here to keep you from getting killed.”
“No one’s going to kill me!” I shouted, totally losing my cool. “They had the chance to kill me and they didn’t. If they’d wanted to, I’d already be dead and buried.”
“You don’t understand a criminal’s mind, Marfil. You’d be shocked how twisted it is.” He set his glass of water on the counter with a sigh.
I moved closer to him and crossed my arms. “You called me a little girl again,” I said, now very serious. “Well, a few days ago, you had your tongue down this little girl’s throat. So don’t call me that again.”
My words took him by surprise. It was as if he’d erased that memory from his mind and couldn’t imagine that I hadn’t done the same.
“Maybe you’re not a little girl, but you’re not going anywhere tonight unless I go with you.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s a fact,” he said, lifting his glass to his mouth.
I huffed, then stormed into my room, immediately sending a quick text to Liam.
Don’t even think about going without me. I’ll meet you at 67th and Madison in half an hour.
Afterward, I took off my dance clothes and got in the shower.
I was not going to stay locked up. I was an adult, and I needed to feel like one again.
I was tired of living in fear, but most of all, I was tired of having Sebastian come everywhere with me.
I needed to feel like I was in control of my own life.
I put on jeans, my motorcycle boots, and a dark T-shirt, pulled my hair back into a high ponytail, and grabbed my bag.
I knew I couldn’t just walk out the front door with Sebastian still lurking around out there, so I opened my window.
The building next to mine opened onto the fire escape; I just had to cross over, and the rest would be easy.
Like I was back to being fifteen at boarding school, I shoved a pillow under my covers and turned off the lights.
If I was lucky, Sebastian would think I was still mad, and he’d leave me alone for the night.
Crossing the ledge was effortless. I’d snuck out of boarding school so many times that I was a pro. The real trick was not being noticed by my neighbors, so I raced down the stairs, silently praying I wouldn’t be seen.
Soon, I was walking the city all on my own for the first time in weeks. Despite the adrenaline pumping through my veins, I couldn’t help but look all around to make sure no one suspicious was following me.
You’re just being paranoid, Marfil. Prove Sebastian wrong.
When I finally reached the corner where Liam had agreed to meet me, relief flickered through me as I saw him waiting for me in his gleaming car.
I jumped inside. “Let’s go, let’s go,” I said, looking back.
No one was following me.
“Your bodyguard is going to be fucking pissed,” he said with a grin that took up his entire face.