31. Sebastian
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
SEBASTIAN
“Are you ready for tonight?” I glance over at her. She’s tucked herself close to the passenger door and has been quiet on the drive into the city, which is unlike her.
Stevie shrugs. “Ready as I’ll ever be. What are you going to do to get her to take you up to her room?” Her lips purse as if the words are poison in her mouth.
Wait. Is she jealous?
I’ve never met a woman so smart and driven, but also a complete pain in the ass at the same time. But there is a twisted side of her that slips out when she’s not guarding her feelings, and my addiction to that side is growing with every passing day.
It was a lot for me to say. Something I’ve never experienced before.
As someone who is not easily trusting, I find myself slowly giving her all of it.
I never imagined bringing a partner who understands my world besides the guys.
And for her to be a woman who understands me, gets me, and accepts me.
I’d walk to the ends of the earth to make sure I never lose that.
“I’ll figure something out like always,” I tell her as I pull into the back alley behind the hotel.
“How far are you—” Stevie cuts herself off mid-sentence. “Never mind.”
Before I get to tell her that she has nothing to be worried about, there’s a banging at my driver’s window
It’s Christian.
I roll it down. “Here are your SEs.” He hands me the small devices.
I place one inside my ear, then lean over the center console and tuck the other into Stevie’s.
“Thanks,” I say. “Stevie is going to stay in the car with you.”
“Yeah, that’s for the best.” Christian folds his arms over the frame of the open window.
“I have a buddy who does security here on the premises. When we find out which room Wendy is staying in, let me know, and I’ll jam the security system on that floor.
I don’t think it’s safe to do the entire building, so you’ll need to keep a low profile until you two are inside the elevator. ”
I nod, then slide my gun from the back of my pants, check the barrel and the safety, before putting it back. “I’m surprised at how easily we’ve been able to take the other killers out.”
“Hopefully our luck remains,” Christian replies.
“I make my own luck.” I scoff him off.
“Let’s keep the momentum going then.” Christian hits the door panel with excitement, amping himself up. “Get this shit done!”
I twist my body to face Stevie. Her eyes are wild with apprehension. “It’s going to be okay. You’ll be with Christian. His SUV is like Hayden’s, fully loaded with every piece of technology needed to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
She forces a smile. “This is the first time I’ve been on this side.”
Taking one hand, I snake it through her hair, pulling her lips down to mine, but stopping before we connect.
“I won’t be long.” She moves forward, pressing a kiss into me.
Her sweet lips tempt me with everything we could be doing right now, except working.
I pull back, releasing her. “Get into Christian’s car. ”
Without looking back, she opens the door and slides out. I stay in place until I see her climb into the SUV.
Taking a deep breath in, I open my door and step out, preparing to enter through the service entrance.
The lounge buzzes with low chatter. A man playing a soft tune on the piano in the corner adds background noise on top of everyone else, which works to my benefit in keeping others distracted.
Wendy is sitting in the corner of the room, looking disinterested in the conversation she’s having with the man across from her while her finger glides over the rim of her martini. I fix my hat in place before walking over.
Wendy’s eyes widen the moment they land on me. I haven’t even approached her table yet before she flashes me a flirtatious smile. She leans in, saying something to the man that I can’t make out.
He immediately stands and walks away, a disappointed look on his face.
Trust me, I’m doing you a favor.
A perfect opening for me. “Wendy.”
She kicks out the chair from underneath the table. “Well, hello again, Dark—”
“Seb,” I interrupt and take a seat. It’s not like she’s going to live much longer anyway.
“Seb.” Her eyelashes bat in my direction. It makes my stomach turn. “It was getting a little weird calling you Dark Prince.”
“I understand,” I say.
“So, what are you doing here?” she asks.
I cross my arms over my chest, but I try to keep them loose so as not to appear too standoffish. “I was meeting a friend in the area and thought I’d stop here to grab a drink when I saw you.”
Wendy glances around the room before leaning in close. “Are you hunting?”
“Maybe.”
“Once again, your girlfriend is missing.” She brings her martini to her cherry-red lips. “Are things not going well in serial killer paradise?”
“You could say that.” I try to sound convincing, since that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
“So, Seb, what are you doing tonight, if not hunting?” she asks, her voice lower this time.
“I am.” But what she doesn’t know is she’s the prey. “You?”
Wendy smiles. “Yes. Since I somehow passed out on our last night in Dupara, I need to get my fill.” Then she arches her brow. “What happened to you that night? When I woke up, you weren’t there.”
“Annabel came back early so I left. Went back to my room and passed out, too. Too much wine, I guess,” I offer casually. “Wish we could have headed out together, though.”
She pauses for a beat, then her eyes sparkle with malice. I wish I could put a bullet between her eyes right here, because I can only imagine how many innocent men she’s charmed with her sleazy affections.
“How about we go to my room for a little pregame and then we hit the town together?” Wendy wraps her tongue around the top of the straw. “We have an entire evening of fun to make up for.”
“Slut.” I hear Stevie’s voice in my ear, and I have to do everything in my power not to laugh.
“That sounds great.” I give her a smile, flashing my white teeth. I have to play the part, whether Stevie likes it or not.
Wendy stands from her chair, walks around to mine, and grabs my hand. Leading me from the lounge, she directs us toward the elevators. We wait in silence as the chimes go off and the door opens.
“What floor?” I ask when we step inside.
“Fourth.”
I press the button just as Christian confirms he heard her. “Copy that.”
The moment the doors slide closed, Wendy shoves me into the mirrored walls, her body on top of mine. She smells like a prostitute drenched in cheap perfume.
“I knew we had a connection ever since we made eye contact across the table in the barrel room in wine country.” Her nose touches mine. “It was only a matter of time before you came to me.”
“Oh, hell no,” Stevie reacts in my ear.
I move my head to the side, but I keep my hands on her waist because I can’t push her off yet. “I knew it, too.”
“Rrrr.” Wendy’s eyes dart down to my lips, then back up.
She quickly leans in to kiss me, but I dodge her attempt, ducking to the side. “Wait.” I clutch her hips, holding her back. “Not here.”
“Bashful?” she taunts, her hands gripping my jacket collar.
Thankfully, the metal doors swing open before Wendy tries again.
Without wasting any time, Wendy is dragging me down to her hotel room. She pulls me by my collar all the way down to the end and stops in front of the last door in the corner.
And what luck, a serial killer who wants privacy?
“Room 425 is a smart choice,” I tell her.
She glances over her shoulder. “More privacy.”
Works out perfectly for me.
Wendy opens the door, releasing the source of her pungent perfume. “So…” She sashays over to one of the queen beds, sits on the edge with her arms spread flat behind her. “Are we fucking or what?”
Slowly, I walk toward her, keeping one arm behind me. My fingers grip the cold metal handcuffs in my back pocket, preparing to slip them onto her wrists.
“Is that what you want?” I ask, leaning in. “Is that what you do to all your victims? Fuck them, then chop their dicks off?”
Her head draws back, confusion sweeps across her face. Simultaneously, I swing my hand around to click the handcuff on her wrist—but someone kicks the door to the room open suddenly.
I whip my head around to see Christian and Stevie barge in, the heavy hotel door closing behind them.
Wendy’s sharp, red nails scratch my neck. The deep cut stings my skin. She scrambles off the bed and makes a run for the door. The pain is fiercer than I’d expect it to be for a simple scratch, but I’m quick on her heels.
She inadvertently sprints right into Christian’s arms as he grabs her around the shoulders and places his hand tightly over her mouth, muffling her cries for help.
“What the hell?” I grit out, my heart pounding inside my chest. “She could have escaped!”
Christian drags Wendy’s body, her legs kicking in the open air. He’s a strong dude, and she’s not going anywhere. He pulls her onto the bed. “Stevie didn’t want to wait any longer, and to be honest, I wanted in on the action anyway.”
I follow behind him,handcuffs back in my hands. I slip one ring around her wrist while Christian holds her in place. Then secure it onto the bottom of a built-in wall lamp.
“I’m going to take my hand off your mouth. Sebastian won’t hesitate to put a bullet right between your eyes if you scream,” Christian tells her.
Wendy’s bloodshot eyes swell with tears. Her black makeup creates a dark ring under her lashes as she nods her head in agreement.
“What the fuck is this?” she rushes out when he frees her, yanking on the restraints.
I walk over to the side of the bed, keeping Stevie in my peripheral vision. “You have done some bad things, Wendy.”
Her eyes scan the room before landing on Stevie standing next to a dresser. “Why is your girlfriend here?”
“That’s right.” Stevie fearlessly struts up to the edge of the bed. “You actually thought you were going to have sex with my boyfriend? Dream on, psycho.”
My chest swells with pride from Stevie not being fearful of Wendy and claiming me.
“Who are you people?” Wendy spits.