53. CHAPTER 53
SEBASTIAN
I stood in Hayden’s study, pacing the room. The night had turned into day, and I still didn’t have a clue where Aria was. Hayden was doing all he could, and he’d put the word out within the Organisation, but I felt completely useless. I didn’t know where she was or if she was safe.
I had put her in that situation, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to her.
“Please tell me you have something,” I whispered, looking at him.
“The system is still searching through the CCTV for facial recognition,” he said, eyes fixed on the multiple screens in front of him.
With or without the facial recognition, it was Jason. I knew it in my bones.
“Thought you guys could do with some coffee.” Serfina handed me a cup, then placed one on the desk next to Hayden.
I needed something stronger than coffee, but I had to keep a clear head to find Aria. She was all that I was focused on right now.
“Any news?” Serfina asked.
“Not yet,” I replied quietly.
“Hayden will find her,” she said, looking up at me.
I just hoped by the time he did, it wasn’t too late.
“Wait,” he said, eyes still fixed on the screens. “I think I’ve got something.”
I rushed around to see the screens, Serfina behind me. My eyes darted around, trying to figure out where to look.
“This one.” Hayden pointed at the left screen.
He played the CCTV. It was a camera I hadn’t noticed before, across the street from Aria’s flat. A black BMW pulled in and a man got out. Hayden paused it, zooming in on the face.
Sure enough, it was Jason.
I was going to burn everything in my way to get to her.
I’d make him bleed slowly, so he could feel every single little bit of pain he had put Aria through.
“Is … is that who I think it is?” Hayden said, pausing the footage.
I leaned over so I could see the screen better. Hayden slowly rewound it, then played it again slowly to show the man getting out of the passenger side.
Nicholas.
What the hell was he doing with Jason?
Fire raged through my veins, my fists clenching as my jaw clicked. I’d kill him for this.
“Run that number-plate. I need to make a call,” I told Hayden, rushing from the study.
I found the number and dialled.
“Sebastian. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Soran asked.
“I need your services,” I blurted, running my hand through my hair.
“Ah, is the house a mess?”
“It will be after they’ve finished partying,” I told him.
“Let me know where they need to go, and I’ll make sure they arrive on time,” he replied. “Oh, and Sebastian? You know the price.”
“Understood,” I replied, cutting the call.
Nothing was for free in the Organisation. I knew I would owe Soran, but I didn’t care; all that mattered was finding Aria and making the people who took her pay.
“Sebastian,” Hayden called from his study. “We’ve got a location.”
The forty-minute drive out of the city led us to an old stone manor house, situated next to Epping Woods.
Hayden pulled up near the trees, concealing the vehicle as Logan and the men slowed behind.
Stepping out to meet Logan, I grabbed my Glock from the holster, pulling back the slide slightly, checking the bullets in the chamber before allowing it to snap back.
“Is everyone ready?”
“Harry’s getting into position. We’ll have visuals in a minute, and he’ll take out anyone we can’t see. The rest are ready to go in the car, waiting for your signal.”
“Nicholas isn’t there. I’ve just hacked the CCTV. He left by himself about an hour ago.” Hayden said, walking over to us.
“Fuck.” My palm met the tinted window, though it did nothing to calm the anger I was forcing back down.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get Valon to pick him up. I’ll be in the car, sorting the security system. Oh, and I’ve had word that Callum is on his way down.”
I narrowed my brows at him. If Callum wanted to meet the grave like his brother, then so be it.
“Harry’s confirmed he’s ready with visuals.” Logan held out an earpiece.
“I don’t want it. I can’t have anyone in my ear right now.”
My mind was solely focused on Aria. I couldn’t have any distractions, and these guys were my brothers; they knew me and how I operated.
Logan banged his hand on the car, alerting the other four men that we were ready. Kai, Zane, Rhys, and Luca stepped out, kitted up.
“We’re with you, Sebastian,” Rhys said.
I gave them a curt nod, a silent thank you. I owed them, but then I owed them for so much before. These were the type of men you wanted in a situation like this. Ones who knew how you operated, inside and out. Men who’d follow you to the end.
“We’ve got two guards on the gate. Four wandering the grounds. Two at the back and two at the front, and Harry can only see six in the house.”
I tapped the car window to let Hayden know we were making our way out.
I melted into the darkness, the men falling behind as each step was silent, ready for impact. The rage shimmered beneath my skin, waiting to explode at the right moment. We approached the gate, the guards falling, pink mist bursting from their heads as Harry took down anyone in our way.
My movements were smooth, continuous. I never paused, curling my fingers around the gate and over with one push.
All I could think about was getting to Aria.
The men weren’t far behind, scoping the place.
My heart was racing, pumping adrenaline around my body.
My warm breath hit the cold air, clouds forming.
They knew I had no fear of going out on my own.
I pulled my Glock from my holster, preparing to take down anyone in my way. I prowled along the stone drive, my footsteps placed with care.
Crunch.
I turned, pulling the trigger, the silencer blocking any sound as the guard fell to the ground.
Logan gestured for me to follow him into the house, and the rest continued securing the outside. He slowly opened the door as I stepped in, blending into the shadows, scanning around, my Glock ready to be used again.
Chatter came from the room, laughter following. Logan peered around. His fingers stated two, his hand gesturing where. We crept through, my arm tightening around one's neck from behind. The barrel landed on his temple. Logan was already taking out the second one.
“Where’s Aria?” I hissed in his ear.
Another guard walked into the room.
He pulled his gun as I pushed Joey, sprinting for the counter, gunshots going off, bits flying everywhere.
I slid down behind the counter, my heart pounding as I met Logan, who was already there.
I gestured with my head, and he nodded. I made a run for it, bullets flying my way, inches from hitting my body.
They stopped, bodies thudding to the floor. Logan had taken them both out.
“Harry said there are four more on the way, but he can’t get a clean shot.”
Gunshots echoed from outside, and we rushed out to see Kai and Luca taking two more out.
I didn’t have time for this. I needed to find Aria. That burning rage fuelled my entire body as I faded from their view, back into the house.
I crept up the stairs, hiding in the shadows, checking the rooms, but no one was there.
“Sebastian, Harry took the last two out. Rhys and Zane have swept the perimeter, and there's no more.”
My fist hit the wall, dynamite exploding through my body.
“Where the fuck is Aria?”
Logan pointed out the window.
An outbuilding.
I shot out of the room, bolting through the house, racing through the grounds as I charged at the door, breaking it down with all my force.
Jason stood there, his forearm tightly around Aria’s neck, gun to her temple. I raised my Glock, pointing at him, eyes solely fixed on his. I couldn’t look at her right now. If I did, I would break.
He smirked at me. “I’ve fucked her in ways you couldn’t imagine.” He ran his tongue up her cheek.
I gripped the Glock tighter, my finger twitching at the trigger, ready for him to move so I could blow his brains across the wall.
“She tastes like me; she smells like me. I’ve claimed her in the ways a woman should be claimed.”
My eyes flickered to Aria’s. Her moon eyes were eclipsed by darkness.
“I’ll get you out of here. Just focus on me,” I told her.
“I’ll kill her before I let you have her,” he growled.
I tilted my head, taking a small step closer. “Do you really think there is anywhere on this earth where I wouldn’t find you? Every crack, every corner you try to hide … I will fucking hunt you down, and I will destroy you.”
He pressed the barrel harder to her temple.
“Sebastian, I love you, no matter what happens. I always have and I always will,” she said, her voice low and shaky, tears spilling down her face.
Jason covered her mouth with his hand, and I could hear her heavy breath against it. “Shut the fuck up,” he roared.
She slammed her heel down on his instep, his hand jolting away from her mouth as she bit him. But before she could move, he grabbed her, smacking her across the face with such force that she fell to the boxes.
I didn’t even see him charge at me, I was so fixed on her.
My Glock slid across the floor as he pinned me down.
I grabbed the barrel of his gun with my hands, pushing it to the side.
Adrenaline surged through my veins like a storm breaking through my chest. With one full movement, I hit him clean in the head with mine, causing him to stumble back.
I rose, smashing my left fist straight into his nose, and blood started to pour from it.
I swung with my right, and the sound of cracking echoed from his jaw.
My eyes flicked over to Aria as I heard moans coming from her, her body shifting to sit up. Then, I felt the cold metal of a barrel pressing against my heart. My eyes locked onto Jason’s, fire burning in his.
BANG!
Blood dripped from Jason’s mouth, and he coughed, more splattering out. He fell to his knees, looking at his hand covered in crimson from the wound, before turning his head, eyes fixed in one spot. I glanced over.
Aria.
Her hand trembled, metal clacking, the gun still pointed.
Her blonde hair was thick with dirt and wild, her grey eyes melting like silver burning in a furnace.
Dust, mud, and dried blood were glued to her torn leggings.
Her top barely covered her. And her face was covered in cuts, her lip swollen, her eyes red, sore, puffy. Bruises painted her cheeks.
It felt like I had been stabbed in my heart, unbearable pain wanting me to keel over as if the knife had broken, cutting me from the inside out as knots formed in my stomach, guilt seeping through my skin like I’d just downed a vial of poison.
I may not have done this to her, but it was my fault she was here.
I held my hands up, slowly stepping towards her. “Nyx. It’s me. Can you put the gun down?” My voice was calm, soft.
I reached her, placing my hand over the gun as it shook. She allowed me to take it, and I placed it in the holster.
I caught her as she fell into me, her knees barely holding her up. She buried her head in my chest, muffling her cries. I stroked her hair, my lips resting on her head. I could still smell her green apple scent through it all.
Then I blinked, and my own tears fell.