36. Sebastian
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
SEBASTIAN
She killed him.
Stevie killed that man execution style, and I can’t believe it.
I was fucking pissed that Silas was making her do it, and my fist is still sore from punching the side of the building after we entered the parking lot. I mean, I could only hold in my anger so long before I blew up.
I glance down at the small cut on my knuckles, understanding why Silas made her do it. Stevie needed to take his life in front of the group to secure their trust. Like passing another level in their twisted game.
As soon as we stepped out of the elevator back home, she headed straight for my bedroom and into the bathroom. Fighting the urge to join her in the shower, I instead gave her space and went to the kitchen to make us something to eat.
After some time, Stevie appears in the kitchen with her hair still wet, wearing my black hoodie. She’s fucking gorgeous. She bends down to scoop up Poe, and he cuddles into her arm as she climbs into the high chair at the counter.
“You okay?” I ask, walking over to her.
Stevie kisses Poe on top of his head, holding him close to her face. “I’m in shock, but not sad about it, you know?”
“I know the feeling. The emotions afterward can be complicated at first.”
“Shouldn’t I be regretful or throw up or scream or something?” Her voice is filled with desperation while her eyes search mine for answers. “I don’t know? Anything?”
I cup her cheek, softly caressing her skin with my thumb.
“Stevie, there is no playbook for how you should feel about what you did. There’s no right or wrong way to react to it either.
” I move between her spread legs, bringing my other hand to her face, tilting it to force her to look at me.
“He was a monster. Yes, you were forced to kill him, but I would’ve done the same thing without a second thought. ”
“But I did it. I pulled the trigger.”
“Yeah, you did. You ended his reign of terror and saved his future victims. You did that,” I tell her, ready to defend her actions all night if I have to. “We know he was a bad guy, right?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“And you took him out.” I bend to press a soft kiss on her sweet lips.
She draws her head back, giving me that smile of hers I love so much. “Thank you, Sebastian.”
“Anyone hungry?” Christian enters the kitchen. My head swings around, narrowing my eyes at him for interrupting us. “Did I interrupt something?” he teases, then grabs an apple from the fruit bowl in the middle of the island.
“Yes, but it’s fine,” I say. “I’m hungry, too.”
“Same,” Stevie replies, still petting Poe.
I glance around the kitchen a minute before heading to the refrigerator.
“Hello, everyone!” Ben greets us as he walks in with Aunt Mae.
“Oh, thank goodness you’re here,” I whine. “We’re starving.”
Poe jumps off Stevie’s lap and dashes over to Aunt Mae.
“Hi, buddy.” Aunt Mae bends to greet Poe, then turns to Stevie. “How are you doing, sweetie?”
“I’m here to save the day.” Ben rounds the island and takes out his laptop. “Also, it’s Sunday, which means meal planning!”
Stevie smiles at Aunt Mae. “I’m doing all right.”
“I’m glad you’re staying here again with us. It’s the safest, especially while you’re working on the Black Veil Society stuff.”
“She killed a guy tonight, Mae,” Christian says before sinking his teeth into his piece of fruit.
I shoot him a side-eye. “Thanks for outing her.”
“Okay, well, since we’re all up at this hour, do you want me to whip something up before approving the meal schedule for next week?” Ben interjects.
A collective “Yes!” can be heard from at least three of us.
“Breakfast?” Stevie asks.
“Perfect,” Christian adds, sliding into a chair at the far side of the island.
Aunt Mae suddenly pulls Stevie in for a hug, almost knocking her off the chair. “Oh, sweetie. That must have been so hard. Your first kill.”
“She did well.” I smile, patting my aunt’s back. “Want the details?”
Aunt Mae releases, looking Stevie in the eye. “Like your sister. You Levinson women are strong. It’s beautiful.” She tilts her head in my direction. “But absolutely not. The less I know, the better.”
Ben flips a cooking pan in his hand, glancing over his shoulder. “You know a lot, Aunt Mae.”
She scoffs him off, shuffling around the kitchen. “Maybe I like to pretend I don’t.”
I wrap around Stevie’s shoulders. She leans into me. “That’s true.”
“Sebastian, breakfast burrito?” Ben asks, cracking an egg.
“You know it.”
“Stevie, avocado toast?” Ben guesses with a grin.
“Sounds amazing, thank you.” She smiles.
Aunt Mae scrolls through the meal-plan list on Ben’s laptop. “Oh, nothing for me. I’m not hungry.”
“Christian?” Ben says with his back toward the range stone.
“I’ll take whatever you’re putting in the breakfast burrito, without the tortilla.” He cleans the lens of his glasses on the hem of his shirt. “I want the protein without the carbs.”
I roll my eyes. “I bet you’ve already broken in the gym at Nightrose Hall?”
“You know it.” He tips his head in my direction.
We all make small talk between bites, while Aunt Mae and Ben go over the meal plan for next week.
It’s nice having Stevie around. She fits into my world like she’s been here all along.
I wonder what will happen when Lux and River come back.
Will Stevie want to stay with me? I can’t imagine her not being here.
“Sebastian, are you sure you don’t want to check the meal plan out?” Aunt Mae asks, even though she knows I don’t care what he makes.
“Nah, I’m not picky, you know that.”
She turns her attention to Stevie. “Stevie, dear?”
“I don’t eat seafood.” She grimaces.
“Perfect,” I say. “Neither do we.”
When Aunt Mae and Ben finish up, he leaves for the night, and she heads off to bed. I turn to Christian, eager to talk about the last event a couple of days away.
“Let me text Hayden to see where he is.” I slide my phone from my pocket. “I want an update on what they found out about Moore Mansion.”
Me: Hey are you on property?
Hayden: Yeah. I just got back to Hollow House.
Me: Can you meet Christian and me in the kitchen at the manor?
Hayden: Only if there’s food.
I laugh. Of course Ben made enough for him, he always does.
Me: Ben was here. He made breakfast
Hayden: Be there in 5.
I turn to Stevie and Christian. “He’s on his way.”