Chapter 49 – Sebastian
SEBASTIAN
Killing him is a long time coming.
My muscles tense when I spot him leaving his building.
He takes his time, slowly walking down the busy street, and I follow, keeping my head down and blending into the crowd.
I’ve made an art form out of it, being invisible.
It started as self-preservation, a way to stay under the radar and keep safe.
Now it’s the most useful tool in my arsenal.
Sydney is at risk, and it’s past time I do something about it.
My Sydney.
Maybe before I could have waited. I could have played it safe and cautious, planned this out perfectly so there would be no risk, no chance of something going wrong.
After the other night, that’s all gone out the fucking window. Fuck the risk, fuck taking my time and generating a plan. Sydney is in danger. And the only thing in the entire fucking world right now is keeping her safe.
Because she’s finally mine. Ours.
I’d imagined a thousand times over exactly what I was going to do to her when she’d unlocked her door and invited me in.
And she’d shown me that night that it’s what she wanted from me.
She’d wanted me raw and vulgar. She’d wanted me to order her, force her to do the things she’s only dreamed of doing, take away all that hesitation and doubt.
And I was ready to do it. I was ready to fuck her until it hurt, ready to force her down onto my cock until she gagged. I’d wanted to make her touch me, make her rub her hand over the piercing on the head of my dick and imagine how it would feel inside her.
But then I’d touched her.
And everything changed.
She looked so perfect, lying there, leaning her face into my palm. Like an angel. So exquisite, and so beautiful, and I’d never wanted anyone more in my life.
I’ll never forget the sounds she made as we touched. Soft, breathless gasps, each one like a prayer. I’ll remember every single one until the day I die, the sweetest music I’ve ever heard.
I was transfixed by her, mesmerized by her touch.
I’ve never felt anything like that before.
And now?
Now I’ll do everything in my power to protect her from scum like this.
He’s easy to follow. Most people are. Keeping my head down so he won’t recognize me too soon and only looking up to keep my eyes on him, I begin to close the distance between us.
The sun has set, and though there are people on the streets around us, the crowds are growing smaller and smaller.
By the time I’m right behind him, reaching out to grab his shoulder, there’s no one else around but me. No one to save him.
“Remember me?” I ask, feeling a surge of pleasure at the way his face falls in recognition. At the fear that fills his eyes.
Chase Levine did nothing to deserve a woman like Sydney. And so long as he is alive, she will never know peace.
Killing him is a long time coming, and I hope to make his death as slow and painful as possible.
“No one will help you if you scream,” I assure him, digging the barrel of my gun into his spine as I grip his shoulder tightly.
From the pathetic little noise he makes, he knows it’s true.
I glance quickly toward the street as my car pulls up to the curb.
Pressing the gun into him a little harder than necessary, I steer him toward it. “Nod once if you understand me.”
He nods quickly, head bobbing up and down.
“Good,” I say, reaching around him to open the car door. “Get in. You and I need to have a little chat about boundaries.”
I’ve just gotten him situated in the wet lab when my phone beeps, a sharp alarm.
It’s not a tone I recognize.
Frowning, I pick it up, opening the alert from my security app.
Smoke alarm.
And another.
And another.
Fear grips my heart as I pull up the video feed, pulse pounding in my ears as I watch the flames surge and grow.
As I watch Sydney’s building catch fire.