23. Stevie
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
STEVIE
Sebastian and I, along with the rest of the murderers, spend what felt like an eternity in that cold conference room watching documentaries.
I’m convinced it takes longer than it should since Silas kept pausing the video every ten to fifteen minutes so we could have an open discourse about each segment.
Hearing different takes on how to capture the victims or what to do with the bodies, combined with humor, all while offering their unsolicited advice to one another, was unnerving and made me feel uncomfortable most of the time.
It’s not something most people sit around doing.
As soon as we left later this evening, Sebastian and I wasted no time getting back to our room for a moment to debrief, and so Sebastian could grab something. I didn’t ask him because my thoughts were still reeling from the afternoon of mind-numbing discussions.
Now we’re on the top story of the chateau for what Silas calls a “social gathering with tempting entertainment.”
A show of three topless women dancing on a small stage, wearing animal costume masks, while Pete sits in a high-back chair on stage with them.
They grind their bodies against his legs while burying his face in their breasts.
The women move their bodies seductively to deep, haunting instrumental music, which leaves an unsettling aura around the room.
Every so often one of them lets Pete lick at her nipple, creating excitement among the group, each waiting for their turn on stage.
I wonder if the women knows what type of people they’re dancing for. Could they be targeted or are they simply for entertainment?
As the lights are dim, I keep my focus on Sebastian, trying to block out my surroundings.
“Did you learn anything?” Sebastian asks sarcastically, leaning against the wall in the cigar lounge.
“Not much,” I reply. “Most of it I already knew, anyway.”
“Oh yes, the daughter of a detective. I almost forgot.”
I chuckle and give his shoulder a playful shove. “Don’t patronize me.”
Sebastian’s bright white teeth shine as he smiles wide. I return his smile while tiny butterflies fill my stomach.
“Well.” He runs a hand through his dark hair, glancing at two of the women who are locked in an embrace. They kiss and rub their hands over each other’s bodies. “Shall we get to work?”
It bothers me when he looks at them. I take my hand, resting it gently on the side of his face and move it away from the stage. “Yes. Let’s get to work.”
Again he grins, a knee-buckling smile. “I’m not into women sharing their bodies.”
“Sharing?” I play.
“I am a possessive man, Stevie. I’d rather find one woman to make love to over and over for the rest of my life. Because it would be me and me alone who had the power to disrespect her as I wish.”
My breath hitches. His response is not what I’m expecting, because truthfully, I would have never pegged him as a one-woman man.
Then he shifts his body close to mine, leans down, bringing his mouth to my ear. “You need to make conversation with Larry.” His breath dusts my skin, making it hard to focus on his words. “Try to lead him toward the bathrooms. There’s a utility closet tucked into the back corner. I’ll follow you.”
“And? What’s the plan with him?”
“Hayden hid a gun between the vines on the trellis of our balcony.” Sebastian’s eyes capture mine, then slowly drag them down to his feet. I follow his line of sight, knowing exactly what he’s showing me. “That’s why we had to run upstairs after the documentaries earlier this evening.”
“You have it on you?” I whisper.
He nods. “Once you get him to the bathroom, I’ll do the rest. Your job will be to return to the cocktail hour like nothing happened.
If someone asks—which I’m sure they won’t with how entranced they are with the entertainment and drinks—tell them Larry mentioned needing to use the restroom and he’d be right back. ”
My palms sweat as my nerves kick up now that it’s show time. “Okay.”
Sebastian’s expression softens as he clasps his hands around mine. “Can you do this?”
My thoughts bounce around the inside of my skull for a moment, second-guessing every decision I’ve made so far, but they circle back to who I am and why I’m here. “I can do it.”
He nods reassuringly. “I’ll have my eyes on you the entire time. Don’t worry. Focus on getting him to the hallway.”
“Okay.” A low tremor of adrenaline pulses through my veins. I release his hands, turn to Larry sitting in the corner toward the back of the lounge, and make my way over to him. Without a plan for what to say, I simply give in to instinct.
“Is this seat taken?” I ask, gesturing toward the chocolate brown leather chair at his side.
Larry’s gaze slides up my legs, to my breasts, and then settles on my eyes. “Ms. Annabel.” His nasal voice greets me. “You may sit.”
“Great show, isn’t it?” I make conversation, but not before leaning close to him and inching my dress higher to expose my legs. “Can’t wait to have my turn to dance on the stage.”
He takes the bait and zooms in. “Where is the Dark Prince?”
I smile. “We had a tiff.”
“Oh no.” Larry moves forward in the chair, pushing out his bottom lip in a disgusting pout. “What happened?”
My heart is pounding against my rib cage. “Sometimes he doesn’t get how independent I am. He wants to be the boss of all our kills. But I think I might be suited for a better partner, you know?”
“I get it.” His long, intense stare is intrusive, and I have to fight every primal urge not to run in the other direction because that’s what any sane person would do. But I’m not any person. I’m here to trap and kill him. To make sure he never hurts another innocent woman again.
I can do this.
“I’d love to talk with you about it,” I say, giving him a slow wink.
His back straightens while his head whips back and forth. “You would?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“I guess we can step out,” he says. “It looks like the entertainment will go on for some time still. I don’t really want to miss any of it.”
Rising to stand, I let my fingers graze over his arm to get his attention back. “It’ll just be for a minute.”
Larry painfully peels his eyes away from the stage and climbs to his feet.
“Meet me in the hallway.” I turn on my heels and walk away.
Larry is only a few steps behind me before I hear him stop.
I whip my head around to see he’s quietly gesturing toward a small door to the left of the empty bar. With panic slowly creeping in, I make a split decision to follow him instead. If Sebastian is watching me like he says he is, then he’ll see we’ve changed course.
Dammit.
Taking each step in stride, I’m behind Larry as we round the bar.
Then he slowly opens a side door to a balcony made of stone and with no outside lights.
One foot at a time, I leave the safety of the building and head into the dark night.
A full moon hangs low in the sky, providing more precious light than usual.
“This is much more private.” Larry’s grin is menacing. My muscles flinch, wanting to run back inside, but I can’t. I have to trust Sebastian will find us.
“It’s quieter out here.” My voice shakes.
Larry moves closer to me, but I step back, forcing the distance between us. “So, what’s going on with your boyfriend?”
“Oh, like I said, he doesn’t understand me.” I give him an empty response. His proximity to me is alarming.
“You know why, right?” he presses.
“Why?”
He brings his face only inches from mine. The alcohol on his breath and food stuck between his teeth makes my skin crawl. “Because maybe a man like me is the only one who can understand a woman like you.”
I stumble back a few feet before hitting the stone edge of the terrace, glancing over my shoulder at the fall below.
The height of this chateau reminds me of how far we are from the ground.
If I were to fall, I’d plummet straight through the trees and down the side of the cliff—leaving no chance of survival.
Fear constricts my throat, but I remain in character, hoping Sebastian will find us soon. “A man like you?”
Larry leans in closer, his pupils dilated even under the night sky. “Oh no, sweetie.” A chubby finger traces down my jawline. “A killer like m—”
Suddenly, his head jerks back, and his body is ripped away into the air.
Sebastian appears from behind with a belt tightly wrapped around Larry’s neck. Panic seizes every bone in my body, locking them in place. Short, muffled whimpers escape Larry’s reddened face as Sebastian grips the leather, pulling the sides in opposite directions, cutting at Larry’s windpipe.
My fingernails grip the stone ledge behind me, and all I can do is watch Sebastian end Larry’s life, slowly and with his bare hands. Larry struggles for a bit, but is no match for Sebastian’s skill, because the belt only grows tighter.
“You don’t get to hunt any more women,” Sebastian growls. His voice is deep, menacing.
Larry lets out a few more garbled noises before the air surrounding us is suffocated in silence. Not even the sound of crickets chirping in the distance can be heard.
“Sebastian,” I whisper, his name spilling out like a plea.
He doesn’t answer as he deadlifts Larry’s withered body and carries him over to the ledge. Lowering him to the side first, he shoves the body off, sending it slicing through snapping trees and down the side of the cliff.
“Shit.” The word comes out like a breathy explosion through heavy panting at what I just witnessed.
Sebastian then turns to me, his body towering over mine. His gaze is intense—it quickens my breath. The rage and power he shows is nothing like anything I’ve ever witnessed from another human in person. This is who he is behind all that banter between us. A dangerous killer.
Should I be scared? But it’s Sebastian…and why do I find his power attractive?
“We need to go inside.”
With full-body shakes, I can only nod in acknowledgment.