Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
FIONA
The sea breeze is frigid when I step outside, and I taste the salt on my tongue with each gust. I grab a beanie from my purse, pull it on, and walk briskly along the uneven sidewalk, stepping over jagged cracks where tree roots have erupted through the concrete.
The maple trees lining the street are barren and stark against the heavy gray clouds, but the evergreens on the hills in the distance still offer a splash of emerald color.
Vancouver is already alive with commuters, car horns blaring and people standing impatiently outside overcrowded coffee shops and bakeries.
I take a sip from my coffee cup, smiling when I taste the rich flavors.
I learned early on that Seb likes his coffee strong and black, and I’m not kidding when I say his favorite brand is Kicking Horse Coffee, specifically their Kick Ass dark roast. It lives up to its namesake.
I never complained, but I think Seb could tell it wasn’t my favorite because he started making my coffee in the morning and cutting it with a Splenda and oat milk, and it’s absolutely perfect.
I pull out my phone to browse my calendar while I walk, and a little shot of dopamine parks in my brain when I remember that Charlie will be in town for lunch.
I’m excited to see her, but I also wonder if the dirty thoughts I’ve been having about her brother will be obvious.
We can’t lie to each other well, which is a blessing and a curse.
I need to get a grip. Crushing on your best friend’s brother is a girl code violation.
As I round the corner into the alleyway, I look down at my purse, digging for my pub keys. “I really need to clean this out,” I murmur as my fingers search for the familiar jagged metal.
I pause at the scuff of footsteps behind me, and I turn slowly.
A figure blocks the exit to the street, his presence much larger than his actual stocky six-foot frame.
Panic floods my veins, cold and tingly, as I take in his familiar black hair, neatly trimmed mustache, and calculating brown eyes nestled beneath bushy brows.
“No, no, no…,” I chant under my breath as I take in his aggressive stance.
“Hello, Red.” I hate that nickname. It sends waves of nausea crashing through my stomach. “You owe me.” He holds out an envelope, tapping it against his hand as he slinks toward me.
I swallow and will my voice to stay steady. “You don’t need to contest the will, Dennis. I’m not touching my mom’s money. No one gets it, okay?”
“Not okay,” Dennis sneers, and he takes a menacing step forward. “I have debts to settle, as you know.”
“I don’t see why that’s my problem,” I growl.
I try to twist around him, but the alley is very narrow, placing me within arm’s reach.
He grabs my hair, wraps it around his fist, and pulls me close.
My beanie tumbles to the pavement. White-hot pain and unbidden memories explode in my brain as I smell his expensive cologne.
“You’re meeting Charlie for lunch today, right? ”
“W–what?” My whole body starts to shake. “How the fuck do you know that?”
“She was on her way to the pub to surprise you for breakfast when I caught her getting out of her pretty little silver Volvo. She’s tucked safely in the trunk of my car as we speak—for now.”
“You’re bluffing.”
But doubt slithers in as I stare into his reptilian eyes. What if he really has her? But Link and Trey would never let that happen, right?
“Do you want to test me, Red?” He moves his hand in a way that twists my neck painfully, and I wince.
“Don’t hurt her,” I whimper.
“Maybe she’d be a good long-term replacement for you.”
“Don’t—”
His fingers twist in my hair. “Well, she’s not really my type. But I suppose if I close my eyes while I do it…”
Panic makes my heart crawl into my throat, choking me. “Fine,” I gasp. “I’ll sign the papers, okay?”
“Well, here’s the thing,” he drawls slowly. “I can’t actually serve them to you in Canada. Something about international laws.” He shrugs. “So, I need you to come with me. Charlie will go free, and we’ll head back to the States and get this all sorted.”
I swallow, my breaths shallow, and he crowds me closer to the building, pushing his body against mine. He presses his nose into my hair and sniffs. “Well?” he whispers as if he’s giving me a choice.
Hot tears trickle down my cheeks, but I inch my hand down into my purse, my fingers grasping for something—anything—to defend myself. Hope blooms in my chest when I find my keys, and I slide them tightly between my fingers. I tense my core and swing my fist backward toward Dennis’s face.
He grunts in surprise as I strike him. Two of the keys shift, pinching my fingers, but the tip of the third digs into his left cheek. His hold loosens, and I duck out of his grasp, turn, and drive my knee right into his dick. He doubles over with a curse.
Just then, the door behind me bursts open, and Seb steps into the alley, his eyes blazing, but he stops short when he sees Dennis dancing around, one hand clutching his crotch.
Seb’s gaze slides to mine. “What the fuck?”
I shrug, trying to calm my racing heart.
Dennis’s head snaps up, and I smile when I see the trail of blood dripping into his mustache. He spots Seb and immediately starts backpedaling to the street. Seb lunges toward him, but Dennis jumps back, stumbling onto the sidewalk.
I grab Seb’s forearm. “No, you can’t.” My voice shakes. “He said he has Charlie. You have to check on her.”
His face drains of color, and he pulls out his cellphone.
I hear police sirens.
“How did you know?” I ask quietly while Seb starts pacing with his phone to his ear.
He nods above the door, and I spot a camera. Dennis was literally caught on camera assaulting me. Glee tickles my chest. That can’t be good for his will contest case.
“No answer.” Seb starts scrolling furiously, hits another contact, and puts the call on speaker.
“Hey, Seb.” Lincoln Evans’s gruff voice echoes over the line. He sounds normal to me.
Seb raises the phone closer to his face, glancing at me. “Lincoln, is Charlie with you? Or have you talked to her?”
“She’s right here. She’s not leaving for another hour to meet Flowers—”
“Thank fuck.” Hot relief floods my limbs.
“Seb?” Link asks. “What’s going on?”
“It’s nothing,” Seb says quickly. “I need Fi here late today, so I’m just sorting through some scheduling conflicts, and Charlie wasn’t answering her phone.”
“Oookaaay…” Link draws out the word like he doesn’t really believe him.
“Anyway, Fi has to cancel lunch today.”
“Sure, I’ll let Charlie know.” Lincoln still sounds skeptical, but he seems to buy it.
Seb hangs up, drops his phone in his pocket, and walks up to me, gripping my shoulders and looking me over. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
We’re so close together that I can’t breathe as his hands continue to flutter over my cheeks and in my hair, checking for injuries.
His touch so soon is too much after what just happened, so I step away, and despite the anxious energy tightening my muscles and the dull ache in my head, I smile.
“I’m really fine, Seb. I swear.” He eyes me doubtfully, so I give him something. “Actually, my head hurts a little. Do you have some Tylenol?”
He nods just as the back door swings open again and Gabriella peeks outside, her long hair blowing wildly with a gust of icy wind. She looks confused.
“Boss, there’s a bunch of cops here to see you?”
Sebastian nods, his hand falling protectively on my shoulder as he guides me inside. I stiffen but allow the contact this time. I know it’s meant to be comforting, and when his warmth mingles with mine, I start to relax.
We spend the next hour talking to the police. A VPD officer named Theo with dreadlocks and warm brown eyes takes my statement. I tell him everything that’s happened between me and Dennis since my mom died, including the fact that I came here because he was stalking me in the States.
Sebastian sits in a chair by my side, and I feel his eyes shift to me. This is all new information to him, obviously. When I glance over, he meets my gaze, his lips pulling into a deep frown.
“Do you have a photo of Dennis?” Officer Theo asks.
I shake my head. “No, I’ve never taken a photo with him.”
Theo gives me an odd look, and I realize that it is weird that my family never took pictures. But we weren’t normal. We didn’t pose with Santa or celebrate birthdays. My mother and stepfather didn’t come to any of my graduations or take me on family vacations. My childhood was a fucking joke.
“Is there anything else I should know for this report?”
“He knew things he shouldn’t.” My voice shakes.
“What do you mean?”
A chill sweeps through my body. “Like, he knew I was meeting my friend Charlie for lunch today.”
Theo nods, scribbling something on his notepad, then he looks up and gives me a kind smile. “Well, based on the nature of this situation, I need to pass it along to one of our detectives. They’ll be in touch.” He glances at Sebastian. “You said you emailed the security footage?”
Seb nods, and Theo places his hands on his thighs and stands, his gun belt creaking as he straightens up.
Sebastian and I stand with him. “Despite the fact that Dennis was spooked, I would be cautious. Do you and your boyfriend have a place where you can lay low for a bit? Maybe take a little vacation? It should be somewhere Dennis may not expect you to go.”
“Oh, he’s not my boyfriend,” I say quickly at the same time Seb says, “We’re just friends.”
We glance at each other, and Sebastian smirks.
“Sorry,” Theo says awkwardly. “I shouldn’t have assumed—”
“No, it’s fine,” I cut him off with a confident smile. “I have somewhere I can go.”
Theo nods, then walks from the office, and I turn to stare at Seb.
“So.” He gives me a pointed look. “Where are we going?”