Chapter 25
ISABELLA
I ’m scared to death and also turned on at the same time.
I want out of here, away from this despicable man, but watching Sebastian threaten a drug lord’s life is actually really hot.
Looking back at every relationship I’ve had, I’ve never been with a man who I thought would literally fight for me.
There’s a storyline in an old Grey’s Anatomy episode where a guy kept hiding behind his girlfriend during an active shooter situation, and that’s how most, if not all, of the guys I’ve dated would act.
Not Sebastian.
I fight the smile that twitches on my lips. Undoubtedly, if Maria and Fernando catch on to any of my thoughts, they’ll start up some other ridiculous mind game. And if that man attempts to kiss me again, I will bite straight through his tongue. Gross.
Sebastian taps rapidly on his phone, and I assume he’s texting Trace to update him. He shoves his phone in his pocket before grabbing my thigh, squeezing it tightly. Neither of us look back at the house, and I’m glad to be putting distance between us and Fernando .
Once we leave, and I’m safely tucked against Sebastian’s back on his motorcycle, I let out a loud sigh of relief.
The sun is setting behind the mountains, and the men who led us to Fernando’s compound are nowhere to be found.
We’re on remote dirt roads, in the middle of nowhere, and it’s getting cold.
I tuck my hands under the hem of Sebastian’s shirt, stealing some of his body warmth, and lay my head against his back.
Closing my eyes, I let the vibrations of the road lull me into relaxation.
Just a short time later, the motorcycle comes to a stop. Yawning, I lift my head and open my eyes to find we’re in the parking lot of a hotel. “What’s going on?”
“I’m getting us a room. We’re both exhausted, and we need to talk,” he says curtly, extending a hand to help me off the bike. I’m quiet as he unstraps my helmet, and I wordlessly follow him into the hotel. We’re alone in a room moments later.
I feel my heart beat increase, assuming the worst. He’s mad, rightfully so. But mad enough to do what? End things? Demand I be grounded from going anywhere? Tell my entire family that I willingly went to a drug lord’s home in an attempt to clear my name?
I watch as Sebastian removes his jacket, then toes off his shoes.
When I make no move to get comfortable, Sebastian forces me to sit on the edge of the king-size bed.
Kneeling before me, he removes my supportive but ugly white shoes, then hesitates before laying his head in my lap.
I’m too surprised to react, until his arms slide around my body, hugging me tightly. Only when I hear a sob do I move.
“Talk to me,” I whisper, gliding my hands through his hair.
I can count on one hand how many times I’ve seen each of my brothers cry, and I’m incredibly ill-equipped to handle this.
Sebastian is the strongest man I know. But today’s course of events have clearly drained him entirely.
His body shakes as he lets his emotions release .
“I am so fucking mad at you,” he whispers, each word staccato as he tries to gain strength and calming, “but I’m also so fucking impressed by you.
So in love with you. If something happened to you, Naranja , it would destroy me.
I’m so wrapped up in you that I don’t know how I’d be able to move forward without you. ”
“I love you too,” I say softly, continuing to drag my fingers through his hair, gently scratching his scalp. “I know why you’re mad, but why are you impressed?”
He leans his head up, resting his chin on my thigh.
Eyes red with tears soaking his thick black lashes, I’m so overcome with his beauty that I forget how to breathe.
How on earth did I end up with this man?
A beautiful soul who wears his heart on his sleeve, loves fiercely, and waited years for me to finally get my head out of my own ass.
“You would have sacrificed yourself to save me, and I know you would have done it for Camila too.”
“Of course I would have. She deserves to have a parent raise her. I won’t apologize for that,” I state. Every decision I made today was for Camila. Her mother abandoned her, and I won’t be responsible for taking her father away from her.
“You know the kind of person that does that? Who is willing to die for a child?” he asks.
I don’t answer, not sure where he’s going with this.
He gives me a smile. “A mother is willing to sacrifice herself for the safety of her child. You get that, right? You were treating Camila like she’s yours.
You have given more to her in the last five months than anything her birth mother gave her.
There aren’t many women who would be so willing to do that, Isabella. That’s why I’m impressed by you.”
“Oh,” I whisper bashfully. I close my eyes, thinking about the course of events from the day.
I was ready to go to a drug lord’s home, by myself, trying to save the day.
By myself. What the fuck was I thinking?
Fernando may have manipulated the situation to corner me, where maybe I didn’t have a way out, an escape …
wh at if I didn’t get out? What if he didn’t end my life, but kept me there?
Emotion clogs my throat as my eyes fill with tears. “Oh my God. What was I thinking?”
I start sobbing, and Sebastian mutters, “There it is.” He rises, scooping me into his arms, and turns so he’s sitting on the edge of the bed and I’m crying into his shoulder.
“I didn’t think, I just reacted,” I cry. “I didn’t want anyone else to get hurt. They said they were watching Arianna too, and I just reacted. I couldn’t be responsible for a child losing a parent!”
“I know,” Sebastian says quietly, slowly stroking a hand up and down my spine. “You did what you thought was the best option.”
“What would you have done?” I stammer, sniffing hard.
Sebastian sighs. “The same thing you did. I’d have sacrificed myself.”
My head pops up, and I absentmindedly swipe at my face, moving rogue locks of hair that are stuck in streaks of tears. “Then why are you mad at me?”
“I’m mad because I could have lost you. I’m mad because I had no control over anything that happened today.
And I’m furious because that fucker stuck his tongue in your mouth even after you said you had no interest in what he was offering.
In front of me. In front of his wife. I wanted to strangle him right then, and I knew I’d be killed, and who knows what he’d have done to you.
And I’m more upset with myself because I thought about killing him anyway,” he fumes.
“That’s — that’s not a normal reaction from you,” I murmur.
“No, it’s not. I’m not violent. I kick people out of the MC if they start fights for no reason.
I always feel like disagreements can be solved verbally instead of physically.
But the moment — the fucking moment that asshole looked at you with interest in his eyes, I wanted to launch across the room and rip his head off. ”
I ponder that for a moment. “Maria wanted you too, you know. She’d have slit my throat if she thought you’d agree to be her next lover.”
The look of disgust he gives me is comical. “Gross. First of all, not my type. Secondly, I’m not a fucking home wrecker, regardless of whether they claim their marriage is open or not. And lastly, she’s not you .”
I smile tenderly at him. His voice is evening out, and he no longer looks like he might collapse at any moment. “I’m sorry, Sebastian.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for, mi Cielo . None of this was your fault.”
“I started the ball rolling by glitter-bombing Rick’s apartment. Did I understand that correctly? That Rick and Amelia are probably going to get murdered in Mexico?”
He nods, his lips pursed in a straight line. “That isn’t your fault, Isabella. Fernando insinuated Rick had been stealing from him. If he’s taking Amelia out too, then he must have evidence she’s also stealing. The Cartel don’t take too kindly to that. An eye-for-an-eye.”
“And are you disgusted by me now? Because he kissed me?” I blurt out, blushing furiously as I ask the question I can’t stop thinking about. Am I tainted now?
“What the fuck? No, baby. I’m not disgusted by you in any way. You didn’t ask for any of this,” he says.
“I feel a little dirty,” I confess. “It’s been a long day, and then being on the motorcycle, plus him touching me … I feel like I want to scrub my skin off.”
“Do you want to shower?” he asks.
I nod. “But will you shower with me?”
“Of course.”
Sliding off his lap, I grab Sebastian’s hand and pull him into the large bathroom.
I think momentarily about taking a bath, as there is a large soaking tub in the corner of the space, but continue to the shower.
Sebastian turns on the water while I remove my clothes.
I frown when I think about having to put these clothes back on whenever we leave to go home, knowing it’ll feel awful to slide into dirty clothing that is caked in flour.
I sigh in relief as I step under the hot water, letting it soak my hair.
Sebastian steps in behind me, and I hear the pump of the attached shampoo bottle as he fills his hand.
I moan much louder than I should when he begins washing my hair, his strong fingers massaging my scalp at the perfect pressure.
He turns me to face him, and I lay my head on his chest. I feel his lips ghost over my forehead, and I smile.