34. Stevie
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
STEVIE
Tonight’s our first meeting with the Black Veil Society after taking out three of their members.
The chance they’ve caught on to what we’re doing has clouded my thoughts.
Will they suspect Sebastian and me? What would happen if they were to accuse us?
What will they do? And how would Sebastian and the guys get us out of it?
Even after a good session with Sensei Clark this morning, I can’t shake the nerves or the overall feeling of being on edge.
I grab the shampoo bottle from the tiled nook in the walk-in shower. My eyes dance through the glass door and around the bathroom, searching for an answer we won’t have until hours from now. The lights are dim to calm my anxious mind, but it doesn’t seem to work.
Why do I feel more nervous this time than the first time? Is it because when we met with them that first night at the masquerade ball—or in the basement of the old library downtown—we had done nothing wrong yet? My conscience was clear.
Now I’m plagued with my own disturbances from the whole situation.
“How are you doing?” Sebastian appears through the hot steam, naked and smiling.
I run my fingers along the tattoos that span the length of his torso and arms. “A little nervous…I feel more nervous this time than I did before the ball and the library,” I admit.
“I’ll wash your hair for you.” Sebastian grabs the shampoo bottle from my hands and squeezes some into his palm. “I know the stakes are high, but I trust you, and I know you can do this—we can do this.”
His confidence warms me, but one word hits deep. “You trust me?”
Our bodies flush with one another—he glances down at me while massaging my hair. “I do. I trust you, Stevie.”
The water droplets fall into my eyes, but I stare at him with affection. “Coming from a man who doesn’t trust anyone…this is a big deal for me.”
He laughs, pulling me into his warm, wet body. “You should be grateful.”
Giggling, I shove him aside. “Me? You’re the one who should be grateful to have a partner like me.”
He leans down and gives one of my nipples a teasing lick. “You do think highly of yourself in this operation, don’t you?”
I cross my arms over my chest, playfully blocking his access to my breasts. “We’re partners.”
He gives me a side-eye, grabbing his soap and lathering up his skin.
“Sebastian,” I say his name like a warning.
The water cascades down his face and along his body. He runs his hands through his hair, rinsing off the soap. “Yes?”
He won’t admit it, but he knows it’s true. He needs me, and I’m going to make him acknowledge it. “Say it.”
“Say what?” He smirks.
“Say we’re partners.”
His brawny arms come around my waist, scooping me up. I wrap my legs around him. “You’re my partner, Stevie.”
A silent beat passes while he holds me close in the hot shower. “Thank you.”
“You’re a handful, you know that?” he asks, pressing a soft kiss on the tip of my nose.
Running my fingers through the hair on the back of his head, I bring my forehead to his. “I’m not too much to handle, right?”
“Not for me,” he answers in a deep voice.
My phone rings on the bathroom counter. “I should get that. It might be the mortuary.”
Sebastian releases me, and I slide down his body and over his growing length.
I glance down. “Down, boy,” I say, then grab my robe from the hook and step onto the heated floor.
Sebastian turns to face me, his cock standing at full staff. He bites a balled fist. “Fuck, Stevie.”
Clutching my phone, I see it’s Lux calling. “You’re going to have to wait. It’s my sister, and I haven’t talked to her in a while.”
Sebastian drops on the other side of the glass, his knees hitting the floor. “Stevie, I need you.”
I laugh. “Hang on.”
“I’ll be quick. I promise,” he begs.
I roll my eyes and step out of the bathroom, hitting the call button on my phone.
“Hi!” Lux answers.
I fall back into the thick down comforter on the bed. “How’s the French countryside?”
“Ahh.” She exhales. “It’s been glorious.” She giggles. “Lots of food, wine, and sex.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” I laugh, shaking my head at her reply. She’s sounding more upbeat, and I’m happy she’s getting the time off she deserves.
“Speaking of sex, how’s it going with Sebastian?”
My stomach flutters, and I think of everything that’s happened the last couple of weeks. And my heart squeezes, knowing the answer before my brain does.
“It’s going all right. He’s been great,” I reply vaguely. Hopefully she doesn’t pry.
“That’s it?” She sounds annoyed. “The guys won’t tell River anything about what’s going on with the project, and now you’re not giving me any breadcrumbs about you and Sebastian either?”
I wasn’t aware River wasn’t getting updates on the progress of the Black Veil Society, but I understand why Sebastian, Christian, and Hayden wouldn’t want to cause stress if they have everything taken care of.
They need to keep their heads in the game, and having input or interference from someone outside could muddy the waters, even if that person was trying to help.
Which is more of a reason I need to keep Sebastian and me under wraps until we’ve wiped out the entire group.
From the corner of my eye, I catch him walking out of the bathroom with nothing on. His glistening skin makes my mouth water, so I squeeze my eyes shut and roll over to my stomach, facing away from him.
“They probably want to focus on getting the project completed,” I assume. “Besides, you both are supposed to be relaxing and taking a break.”
She sighs. “You’re right. Can you at least tell me how you’re handling everything?”
“It’s been fine. Not something a normal person would ever be involved in—”
“Yeah, but what about, you know, killing,” she interrupts. “Have you been handling that all right? Has it been hard for you?”
I shrug to myself, not sure if she’s insinuating something or showing genuine concern. Lux has always felt like she is the smarter, more levelheaded one between us—and sure, that might be true, but I can handle what I’ve gotten myself into.
A warm pair of hands slides up my legs, raising the robe to my waist. My body breaks out in goose bumps, but I stay in the conversation because now I’m curious about what my sister is getting at.
“What do you mean?”
She pauses. “Well, you’re a little impulsive sometimes, and I know how you shut out your emotions, so I want to make sure you’re mentally handling what the crew does.”
A pang of defensiveness hits me. “I’m doing fine, Lux. You did this completely by yourself—”
“But you’re not me,” she interjects again. “I’ve seen things and have been exposed to more murders and violence through Dad than you.”
“And you’re saying because I wasn’t Dad’s favorite and spent hours poring over case files and murder pictures, I can’t be a part of this like you?”
“Dad’s favorite?” Her voice rises with confusion. “Wait. What?”
Sebastian’s hands grip my ass cheeks. He spreads them open and runs his tongue along my puckered hole from behind.
I moan into the pillow, my legs twitching. This conversation with my sister has to end before I say something to piss the both of us off.
“Never mind. He called me looking for info on you yesterday,” I say.
She huffs. “Why would he call you? He knows where I am.”
“He doesn’t like going too long without talking to you. Call him back, okay?” I rush my sister off the phone, lacking the energy to continue.
I can’t believe she doesn’t believe in me enough to do this. Which is strange because Sebastian got the okay from her before asking me to work with him. Perhaps her confidence was grounded more in Sebastian and the team than me and my abilities.
Sebastian senses the tension, pausing his movements.
“Fine,” she spits. “I still don’t know what your problem is. You’re my sister. Of course I’d be concerned for you.”
I shake my head, preparing to respond. “There’s a vast difference between being concerned for someone’s safety and not believing they can actually do something. And this isn’t about this one instance. It’s always how it’s been with you.”
“Where is this coming from?”
Sebastian comes around my side, lying next to me with his head perched in one hand.
His expression is troubled, I’m sure he wants to know what’s up with Lux and me.
And frankly, I’d rather be talking to him about it than her anyway.
Letting my insecurities with myself get in the way of my ability to awaken my confidence is something I rarely let happen.
I swallow down everything. “Forget I said anything. Call Dad back, and we’ll talk when you return from France.” I end the call.
Tossing my phone to the side, I roll to my back and bring my palm up to my forehead.
“What was that all about?” Sebastian asks.
“Nothing,” I say.
“Stevie, talk to me.”
I sigh. “I’ve already told you. It’s stuff with my dad and sister.”
Sebastian cups my cheek. “Let nothing get in your head before tonight. You’re going to do well, because we are going to bring down this group together. Now, get dressed, because it’s almost time for us to leave.”
Sebastian’s expression is soft but stern.
I want to fight back with him for bossing me around like that, but I let it go, because he’s right.
I have fueled every step of this process with his help and support, and during that time I have unlocked something in myself that’s always been there.
But I was too closed off before to recognize it.
The lengths I’ll go to make sure we take this group down have no limit. Sure, I might be scared, and yeah, I probably overreacted a bit with my sister, but her words triggered me, and it feels good to bring these emotions to the surface.
I smile at him. “I know. Thank you for believing in me.”
Sebastian’s eyebrows snap together. “You don’t need anyone to believe in you. You believe in yourself enough.” Then he leans in to bring his soft lips to mine.
My hands thread through his hair, holding him in place for a minute longer.
How is it that someone I could barely stand a few weeks ago has suddenly become essential to my world?