Chapter 23
Sebastian
I watch as Mary and the girls talk on the bed. Maddie hasn't left her side since they came back this morning. After I kicked them out two nights ago, I spent every night in bed with Mary.
Keeping her pinned to my chest all night, needing to feel the rise and fall of her breathing as she slept. It's going to take me a while to move on from finding her the way I did. My eyes stay glued to her until Roman walks in, phone in hand.
"Found Anthony. He's been holed up in his dorm since Game Night.
Clearly hiding out, since not many people know they were back in town.
" His finger taps on the top of his phone, almost as if he's just waiting for me to give him the okay to murder the fucking asshole—but this one is mine. Anthony and Tyler will die at my hands.
"Let's go before he decides to leave. Anything on Tyler?" I ask, hoping he's found both of them so we finally put an end to this mess.
"Nope. He's a ghost—no trace of him even being here besides us and a few others from the party. But I'll find him. Might take a while longer, though."
I nod, knowing he's being honest. If anyone could find him, it's Roman.
"Let's go deal with Anthony, then." I push off the wall and go to Mary. The need to touch her is never-ending.
"You okay?" I ask, bending down and pressing a kiss to her temple as Roman pulls Maddie away, telling her to stay with Mary.
Damon makes his grand entrance, carrying a teddy bear and flowers, a smirk lingering on his face when he sees me.
"Sorry, I'm late. Had a house to clean up and cops to get rid of. Those assholes are relentless." He leans over Mary, setting the stuffed bear next to her and the flowers down on an empty countertop.
"What did I miss?" he asks, opening his arm for Tate to walk into.
"Nothing. Roman and I have something to take care of really quick, but we’ll be back. Damon, can you stay here with the girls?" He's already nodding his head yes, no questions asked.
"Actually, can Ace go with? I need to look into our other problem before any more time passes.” Dean Westwood. Besides Tyler, he's our only loose end—and we need to take care of it.
"You're coming back, right?" Mary asks, her voice trembling at the thought of me leaving.
"I'll be back soon. I promise, Rebel." My lips press against her, and I savor the moment. The next time I kiss her, one of the men who hurt her will no longer be breathing. It’s the least I can do after what she’s been through.
***
The rage boiling inside my chest is about to burst as I watch Anthony cower like a goddamn little bitch.
"You already know how this is going to go, right?" I ask, pointing the tip of my knife at my finger and twirling it around until a small bead of blood wells up at the tip.
“W-what?” he stutters, taking a step back as I push off the doorframe. I stalk closer, and he cowers in fear the second his back makes contact with the wall.
“I'd ask why you did it, but nothing you say can save you now.” A deranged smile takes over my face at the thought of taking this blade and slicing him wide open.
“I-I’m sorry, Seb. I-I’m so sorry.'' The fear etched on his face sends another wave of rage through me. His phone dropped from his hand when we broke the door down. It’s lying on the ground between us—and now it’s ringing. Tyler’s name lights up the screen.
"Awe. Perfect," I say, bending down and answering.
“Hello, Tyler.”
“Seb?” A single-word question from Tyler.
“Where are you, Tyler? It would've been nice to catch up after the past six months you guys have been gone.” My voice is low and steady. There’s a long pause. Heaving out a loud sigh, my annoyance grows more by the minute.
Anthony’s still pressed against the wall as I set the phone on the counter and stalk back over to him.
He’s scared of me—and with good reason. I wish he’d been harder to crack, but guilt is written all over his face. He knows exactly what he did.
“I’m so sorry. I tried telling Tyler to leave her alone, but he wouldn’t listen. Please, don’t kill me, Seb.” Desperation rolls off him in waves. I tsk at him softly before bringing the sharp knife to the crook of his neck, tilting his face so his eyes have no choice but to meet mine.
I hear Tyler yelling from the phone on the counter, but all I care about is getting revenge for my Little Rebel. They touched her. Tried to kill her. Now, he’ll pay.
“Mmmm.” I hum before lowering my knife to his abdomen. I shove it in until it won’t go any further, leaning in until my face inches from his. "You're going to regret ever messing with her." His eyes go wide as the reality hits.
“You hurt what’s mine. Now I'm going to do the same to you, but you won’t come out of it alive.
” His warm blood coats my hands as I pull the knife free.
Anthony collapses, sobbing. I’ve known them for so long, and never once did I ever think either of them was capable of something like this.
They’re spoiled-ass rich kids, but I never took them for murderers and rapists.
Leaving him on the floor, I take a few steps and grab the phone from off the counter.
“You hear that, Tyler?” I smile, knowing it’s killing him to hear his brother’s pain—but I also know he won’t come back here. He knows his fate will be the same.
“Leave him alone, Seb, or I swear to God, next time I see you, I’ll kill you myself!
” Tyler yells on the other end, and I can’t help but let out a throaty laugh.
Tyler’s all talk when it comes to me, and he knows it.
I look down at my blood-covered hands and feel not one ounce of remorse or sympathy for this bastard.
“Want to say goodbye to your brother, Tyler? I’m not a complete monster. I think you should tell him how much you love him before you listen to me cut him open like you did to Mary.” I shrug when Tyler remains silent.
“Alright,” I crouch beside a bleeding Anthony and hit speaker before bringing the phone close to his face.“Ty-” Anthony’s weak voice comes out in fast gasps, fear rising in him by the second, and it only brings me joy.
“W-Where are you, Tyler?”
“I’m sorry, Anthony. I can't come back. He’ll kill me, too.” I pull the phone away and toss it to the ground. I’ve heard enough.
“As much as I love this heartfelt conversation, I’ve got things to do tonight, so let’s get this show on the road.” My heart beats in my chest as I take in the scene around me.
Looking down at Anthony, his lips start to move, but I don't actually hear a single thing.
Anthony's life ends tonight.
Tyler is next.
Roman’s already working on something for the Dean.
Not wanting to hear his sobs anymore, I pull his hair back, grab the knife, and slide it along his throat. His screams are music. The unmistakable scent of blood fills my nostrils. It’s a smell that triggers an instinctual response deep within me, both repelling and captivating my senses.
“Now you know what it feels like to get what you never asked for.” Stepping back, I watch until he takes his last breath, wanting to see the life seep from his eyes.
Dropping the knife, I leave him in a puddle of blood.
Outside the bathroom, Ace leans against the wall, arms crossed, shaking his head.
He doesn’t even bother commenting on the blood covering me.
Concern flickers in his eyes, but he keeps it to himself.
“Can you get that cleaned up?” I nod in the direction of the bathroom as I head out of the dorm, next to where Ace is waiting. I desperately need a shower to wash all of this shit off me before returning to the hospital.
“What is with all of you guys creating these messes and making me clean them up?” He huffs, pushing off the wall and opening the door.
“Good fucking lord, Seb.” He pulls out his phone and starts calling someone, and I stand there listening to what he says to the person on the other end as I walk away, his words fading out the farther I get.
“Roman, I’m gonna need some help cleaning up Sebastian’s mess.
” He’s silent for a few minutes before continuing.
“I don’t care, get your ass here. I cleaned up your last mess!
You can come fucking help me.” Shaking my head, I don’t look back as I stop to wait for the elevator and make my way to Mary's dorm room.
Pulling the key from my pocket, I unlock her room and step inside. I’m hit with the smell of her. Lavender and vanilla. My hands itch with the need to feel her skin on mine again.
I strip off my clothes and start the shower. The feeling of the hot water burns my skin as every aching thought runs through my mind from tonight, but it feels healing, cleansing—one step closer to getting revenge for Mary.