43. CHAPTER 43
SEBASTIAN
M y dad called me a few more times over the week, but I let them ring out. He’d never had any time for me growing up, so why should I give him any now?
Sometimes I wondered why my mum ever married him. She was a warm presence in my life growing up, and then my world went cold after she died. My granddad was there as much as he could be, and I loved him for it.
Then, Aria had appeared. This bright, warm, shining light in my dark, cold world. I looked over at the beautiful woman lying next to me in bed. How did I get so lucky?
I’d never wanted anything like this before her, and now, I wanted everything with her.
I gently moved her hair out of her face with my fingers. She always looked so peaceful when she slept, like nothing bad had ever happened to her.
But it had, and I should have been there to protect her. I should have been there to kill the man who had laid his hands on her.
If I were still part of the Organisation, I wouldn’t have thought twice. But Hayden didn’t want a war, and I wasn’t about to let Aria suffer because of me. And after the other morning, I didn’t think the board members would take kindly to their CEO being involved in nefarious business.
It wasn’t just Hayden who had been on my case about this meeting. Soran had said he wanted me there as well. I thought I owed it to everyone to attend. And deep down, I missed the place more then I cared to admit to myself.
Aria shifted, bringing me out of those thoughts. She blinked a few times at me, a smile curling on her lips. She looked tired, as if she hadn’t slept.
“Morning, Nyx.” I kissed her warm lips.
“Hey,” she replied, her voice a little raspy.
“Did you not sleep well?” I asked her, stroking her hair.
“Not great.” She laid her head on my chest. “Do you have to go out later?”
“Yeah, I’ve got something to sort with Hayden,” I said.
It was only bending the truth slightly.
The table fell silent as I entered the main room with Hayden.
Valon sat there, rubbing his hand over his chin, sitting next to Soran, whose body was tense.
Matt walked in from the back office with Hassan, joining us.
Hassan hadn’t long returned from Morocco after dealing with some transport issues.
I hadn’t seen this guy for over a year now, and he’d changed a lot.
His once-short curly black hair was long, slicked back into a ponytail.
The air was thick with tension, everyone on edge. Before Hayden could speak, Sean came through the door with Connor—those two always worked closely together.
Connor straightened his tailored suit.
“Sebastian—I thought you’d traded us for that stuffy corporate world,” Hassan joked.
“If you need some help getting out, I’ll draw you up a death certificate.” Sean laughed, lighting a cigarette.
“I’m sure he’ll come back when he’s finished playing dress-up.” Hassan leaned back in his chair, hands in his jacket pockets.
“Yes, yes, as much as this family reunion is great, we’ve got a serious issue to deal with,” Soran said, and the table fell silent.
“Nicholas has been selling our routes to Nico,” Matt told me.
“He fucked up my shipment last night. He won’t be breathing if I get my hands on him,” Valon gritted out.
“Unless I can find the proof, we can’t touch him,” Hayden said calmly.
Valon slammed his hands on the table. “Come on, Hayden.” His voice was laced with frustration. “We all know it was him.”
“Get that proof.” Soran’s voice was stern as he looked over at Hayden. “We all know the rules. Unless there’s solid evidence, no one touches him.”
Valon rose, cracking his knuckles, the fire burning through his eyes.
The rules were in place for a reason, but a man like Nicholas?
Well, he didn’t play by the rules, so why should I?