23. CHAPTER 23
SEBASTIAN
T he city lights flickered across my face. I needed some time to gather my thoughts, and driving was one of those ways. Sometimes, I’d find myself driving around in the early morning hours to clear my head.
Aria had lied to me today . I could see it all over her face.
Did she not trust me enough? She used to tell me everything. It didn’t sit right with me.
I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my fingers tensing. I had to focus on getting that information from Hayden. If she wouldn’t tell me, then I would find out that way.
The Organisation was hidden deep in the streets of St John’s Wood. From the outside, it looked like your typical manor house with iron gates, high trees, and the latest security system. Guards covered the entrance and around the building. It was wealth around here, and no one would bat an eyelid.
I pulled up at the gates and was immediately waved through. I needed to see Hayden, and I knew he’d be here. As I approached the door, the guard eyed me.
“Hey, Sebastian,” he said, taking my hand to pull me into a small bro hug. “I think I’ve seen you more these past few weeks than when you were running the place.” He chuckled.
I probably had been here more than I needed to be, but these guys were more than family. They were part of a life I just couldn’t give up so easily. He stepped aside, allowing me to enter.
The lights were dim as I made my way through the hall. I could hear chatter before I pushed open the door into the main area. Hayden was sitting at the table with Matt and Valon, playing poker. Matt, the youngest in the Organisation, saw me first, rising from his seat to greet me.
“All right, Sebastian. Wasn’t expecting you today,” he said.
“I needed to see this guy.” I playfully hit Hayden on the back, forcing him to move slightly forward in his chair.
Valon stood up, putting his hand out. “Come, join us.” I shook his hand.
I’d forgotten how strong a grip this guy had. Valon was a reserved man but very calculated. He came across as quiet, but it was because he was observing everything around him.
“Come on, you need to help this guy out,” Valon added, referring to Hayden.
“I’ve got you where I want you,” Hayden insisted.
Valon turned to me and said, “ Miku i mire njihet ne dite te veshtire. ” A good friend is known in difficult times.
We knew that proverb all too well. Valon was very proud of his Albanian heritage. He even had the Albanian Eagle tattooed on his back.
“Yes, your friend Hayden needs your help.” Valon let out a light laugh as he sat back down at the table.
I pulled up a chair. “Deal me in.” I threw four hundred pounds on the table to start the bet.
“Look at this rich boy.” Valon chuckled and tossed double down.
“He’s a big CEO now,” Hayden teased, patting me on the back.
Hayden had taken over when I had to step down. He’d be the logical choice, as we’d been together from day one. He knew it inside and out.
Matt shuffled the cards, dealing them out to everyone. “Fuck the corporate world; you know you belong with us.”
If only it were that simple.
“I’m raising you lot,” Hayden said, doubling the pot.
“Look at this guy,” Valon said, matching him.
Matt and I called, and he turned over the first three cards.
“How’s business?” I asked, looking up from my hand.
“It’s doing good. Hassan has set up some more routes for us to get products into the country,” Matt replied, adding more money onto the table.
“And Nicholas?”
The room fell silent. Matt turned the fourth card over. “I’m done.” He tossed his cards on the table.
I arched my brow, looking over everyone. Was there something I was missing?
“Someone better tell me what’s going on.”
“You know what Nicholas is like,” Valon replied, raising the pot.
I knew all too well. He was always up to something.
“Just the usual. Undermining everything. Questioning. Nothing I can’t deal with.” Hayden brushed it off.
My jaw tightened. He obviously hadn’t learnt his lesson from the last time.
“Don’t worry about it. Hayden has it under control.” Matt turned the last card over, and I added more money.
I knew Hayden could handle it, but the thought of Nicholas starting his shit again fuelled the burning in my stomach.
Hayden laid his cards on the table, and Valon threw his down with force. “You’ve been counting cards again, haven’t you?”
“I told you I had you where I wanted you.” Hayden chuckled, taking the money. “Now I’ve beaten your sorry arses, can you give me and Sebastian a minute?”
Valon nodded, patting Hayden on the back. “Next time, I’m going to beat you.” Then he got up, Matt following.
“Well? Did you manage to find anything?”
Hayden shifted in the chair, clearly still uncomfortable about what I’d asked of him. He reached inside his jacket, pulling out some documents, and slid them over, his hand staying on top of them.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he pushed.
Was I? I could just slide them back over to Hayden and never look at them. I could do the right thing and wait for Aria to trust me enough to tell me herself.
But I never claimed to be a saint.
I nodded firmly, and Hayden slowly withdrew his hand.
“It’s not everything yet. I’m waiting for a few more bits of information.”
I scanned the documents in front of me. She’d stayed in London for a bit after I’d left and continued uni. I moved further down the page, fixing my eyes on a name.
“Jason Brown? As in, the man who runs the county lines in Leeds?”
“Yeah, but I haven’t got his full file yet. It’s got extra security around it.”
There’s only one type of file that Hayden would need time on, and that would be one related to a government agency.
What the fuck was Aria doing with that piece of shit?
“It says she moved to Leeds with him?” I questioned. “I don’t remember this guy being around.”
Hayden just shrugged. “What do you want me to say? You left, remember?”
I glared at him. He was right; I had left her .
“And Callum?”
He let out a heavy breath. “You won’t like this.” He threw the file on the table.
I opened it up, and my eyes widened.
Callum Brown.
Jason’s younger brother—also part of their gang.
“Fuck.”
“If Aria has been rolling with these guys … maybe you should just tell her about you.”
My jaw clenched, my body tensing.
Why the fuck wouldn’t Aria tell me about any of this?
Did she already know who I was?
That wasn’t the only question that was burning in my head.
Was she now working for Jason and Callum?
Was that why she was back in London?