Chapter 33
Mira
The Sentinel server went down.
My fingers hovered over the keyboard a second too long. Stan turned to me. I tried to cover by starting to type again, but he rounded the table and found the blue screen.
“What the hell did you do?”
“Nothing,” I huffed. They’d gotten my message. His free hand clamped around my bicep and yanked me out of the chair. Pain flared as my feet barely caught the floor. He brought the gun up and pressed it against my temple.
“Stan, think about this.”
“What did you do?”
I swallowed hard, and before I could answer there was a knock on the door. He pushed the barrel of the gun harder against me.
“You say a word and there will be two dead bodies and I’ll walk away,” he hissed in my ear as he dragged me to the door and looked through the peephole.
“What’s Mr. Reid doing here? Mid-day booty call?”
I wanted to jerk away, but self preservation won out. If he did anything to Sebastian, I’d never forgive myself. The sirens had given me hope, but they’d cut out a few moments ago so I didn’t know how I was getting out of here.
“Get rid of him.” He shoved me toward the door.
Sebastian knocked again. Not hurried like something was wrong, just like he was visiting. “Ms. Rhodes, something came up, we really need you to come in today.”
Stan took a step back but kept the gun pointed at me. “No funny business.”
Unlocking the door, I opened it just the crack Stan’s foot would allow. “You’re going to have to get your own coffee today boss.” I sniffled, trying to sound sick.
As much as I wanted to say something or give him some sort of sign, Stan didn’t take his eyes off me.
Sebastian stepped back and my heart sank. He was going to leave. I wanted to call after him but Stan started to close the door when Sebastian took another step away, then lunged at the door, shoving it and Stan against the wall.
The impact knocked the breath from Stan’s lungs and the gun from his hand.
Sebastian’s focus wasn’t on him, it went straight to me, who had pushed myself up against the wall. I’d never been so happy to see someone in my life.
“Mir—“
Stan crawled and grabbed the gun. “You stupid bitch, this is all your fault.”
“Gun!” I shouted, pointing.
Stan rolled and brought the weapon up.
Sebastian still stood by the door but didn’t hesitate.
He stepped in front of me as the gun went off.
The sound was deafening, filling the whole apartment.
Sebastian staggered, a sharp sound tearing from his throat as he absorbed the impact. His hand flew to his side, blood already seeping through his fingers.
“No—” I screamed. That bullet had been meant for me.
Stan stared at the gun like he hadn’t meant to pull the trigger.
That moment of shock was enough.
Sebastian turned and lunged at him, tackling him to the floor with everything he had left. The gun clattered away again, this time sliding under the couch.
Thuds came from down the hall, then shouting.
“Police! Hands where we can see them!” Two heavily armed officers entered the apartment, scanning the entire apartment.
I brought my hands up, but their focus snapped to the men on the floor.
A third officer entered behind them and came straight toward me. “Ma’am, are you hurt?”
“I—I don’t know,” I said, because all I could see was Sebastian and I needed to know if he was okay.
He tried to push himself upright, one hand braced against the floor, the other slick with blood. He raised both hands slowly, grimacing.
“Sir, stay down,” one of the officers ordered.
Sebastian shook his head once, eyes never leaving mine. “When she’s okay,” he said hoarsely. “Check her.”
One of the officers, weapon still trained on Stan, glanced toward the officer beside me. She scanned me over, then nodded to her colleague and he turned back to Sebastian.
“Ms. Rhodes is okay.”
Only then did Sebastian exhale.
His shoulders sagged as the fight drained out of him. He let himself sink back to the floor, one hand pressed hard against his side.
“Now,” the officer said firmly, stepping closer, “you stay down.”
Sebastian didn’t argue this time.
I stayed where I was, hands shaking, watching as they moved in around him, around us, finally taking control of the space.
And for the first time, I believed it was really over.
Everything blurred, but when they verified Sebastian’s identity, he moved to stand. Our gaze met as he grabbed his side. His shirt and jacket were soaked in blood. The color drained from his face.
“Mira!”
I barely caught him before his knees gave out. We hit the floor together, and I cradled his head in my lap, hands slick with his blood.
My tears splashed onto his forehead.
“You stupid man,” I sobbed. “You can’t leave. You don’t get to leave.” I pressed my forehead to his. “I just found you. Sebastian, please. Stay with me.”
His eyes fluttered, unfocused but still there.
“I’m here,” I whispered. “I’m right here.”
And this time, I meant it for both of us.