Chapter 15 Sebastian
Sebastian
Icouldn’t stay in the office anymore. Not with Caspian betraying me with Mr Kingsley. I’d genuinely thought he was different for a moment. That I was going to have him on my side and not have to fight the board with everything I did.
I’d ended up at the Organisation on my own, sipping whisky.
Then Matt showed up, getting everything ready for his deal that was taking place in two weeks.
He had a new client who wanted to buy firearms from him.
I helped him with what to prepare to try to keep my mind occupied.
He’d asked me to join him, and I happily accepted.
I missed those days of being fully involved in exchanges.
Some were good, and some ended up with me killing people.
It was pot luck as to which way it would go.
That pure rush it gave me, not knowing what would happen, felt like ecstasy running through my body.
Soran’s number came up on my screen in my car, and I pushed the button to answer.
“Sebastian, where are you?”
“Just getting home.”
“I’ve been hearing some things about Dante through the grapevine.”
“What things?”
“That he’s been more active than normal. Wanting to move out of Barking.”
“Dante’s been quiet since I shut him down a year ago. He’s not a concern.”
“You know, people don’t like that you’re back. I wouldn’t put it past anyone to try something.”
“Ask Hayden to look into it if you’re concerned.”
“Actually, I’ve got someone in one of my basements that may have a few answers. I need you to come now.”
“I can’t. I’ve got prior commitments.”
Ones that I didn’t want to participate in, but I wasn’t going to let Aria be alone with Callum.
There was silence for a moment. “There’s no in between in this world, Sebastian. The sooner you understand that, the better.”
I let out a heavy breath.
Things were different from before. I had the company and Aria. I couldn’t be there all the time like I used to be.
“I get it, but nothing will ever come before Aria.”
He let out a sigh. “You can’t have everything, Sebastian.”
He cut the call.
This wasn’t something I needed right now—pressure from Soran. Not with the thought of Callum telling Aria everything.
I pulled up at the house and turned the ignition off, sitting there for a moment. Aria was already home. Logan had dropped her off for me when she’d finished work. She was probably preparing everything for dinner tonight, making it fucking perfect for her beloved Callum.
“Fuck.”
I slammed the palm of my hand on the steering wheel, then grabbed hold of it with both hands, tensing my arms to try and release some of that fire that was already pulsing through me. I needed to keep my cool tonight.
It was going to be fucking hard, sitting there playing nice with him, but I couldn’t let Aria catch on to anything.
I picked up the grey roses from the passenger seat and dragged my body out of the car, forcing myself to the front door. I rested my forehead on the cold wood for a beat to try and extinguish the burning running over my skin, before I opened the door and stepped through.
“Nyx?” I called, walking through the foyer.
“In the kitchen,” she called back.
As I got closer, the smell of chicken and tomatoes hit me. Was she making my favourite, creamy Tuscan chicken? A smile curled on my lips as I stepped into the kitchen—then the aroma changed, with a smell of doughy dumplings.
That smile quickly disappeared when I saw the oven had something in it, and not the stove.
“What you cooking?” I asked, walking over to her, and she turned around to face me.
“It’s chicken and tomato cobbler. It was always Callum’s favourite.” Of course, I’d forgotten this was all about Callum.
She took the roses that I’d forgotten I was holding. “Thank you.” She kissed me. “They’ll look lovely on the dining table.”
She then carried on with whatever she was doing before I’d interrupted her. I took a deep breath to try to calm myself as I made my way back out and into the dining room.
The table was decorated with a black tablecloth and a white netted table runner with silver butterflies embroidered on it.
We’d been out shopping one day, and when she saw it, her whole face lit up, so I bought it for her.
This girl loved anything with a butterfly on it.
Running my fingers over one of them, I let out a heavy sigh.
I needed to be supportive of her tonight, not a dick. She was that free little butterfly that was allowed to do anything she wanted, and I wasn’t going to stop or try to cage her. I’d never do that to her.
The doorbell rang.
Time to be nice, Sebastian.
I started to walk towards the door to open it, but Aria hurried past me and got there first. She pulled it open to see Callum standing there with a huge bouquet of purple roses, and his face lit up with a smile as he saw her. He pulled her into an embrace.
I cracked my knuckles. He shouldn’t be touching her like that.
“Callum, these are beautiful.” She took the roses.
“Anything to see that smile on your face.”
I appeared at her side, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her towards me. A warning to him that she was mine.
She looked up at me and smiled. “Sebastian, this is Callum.”
He held his hand out. “It’s really nice to meet you, Sebastian. Aria has told me all about you.” He grinned.
I hesitated for a beat, my eyes drifting from his face to his hand, then I took hold of it, shaking it a little more firmly than I normally would, and smiled back.
At least I didn’t have to worry about him saying anything if he was acting like he didn’t know me.
“All good, I hope?”
He let out a breath through his nose. “I’ve never known Aria to say a bad word about anyone. Unless there’s something she doesn’t know?”
Fucking piece of shit.
Aria rolled her eyes and tapped Callum on the arm. “Stop messing about, you.” She turned to look at me. “Callum likes to joke around.”
“Oh, does he now.”
“Come in, Callum. I made your favourite.” She stepped away from me, linking her arm through his, and started to walk further into the house.
I screwed my face, slamming the door, and as I turned, they were both staring at me. “The wind caught it.”
Aria looked at me oddly, the kind of look that said she didn’t believe me. Shit. I needed to calm down, or she would suspect something.
I needed to find out what he was playing at.
“Aria, why don’t I take Callum into the dining room for a drink while you finish up with the food?”
“That’s a really good idea. You two can get to know each other.”
Or I could kill him and cover up his murder in the space of twenty minutes without her realising, and act like he had to rush off on urgent business.
It was totally doable.
I stalked over to them, and Callum held his hand out, telling me to lead the way. Oh, I’d lead the way all right, in my own damn house.
Aria went back into the kitchen, and Callum followed me to the dining room.
Standing at the end of the table, I picked up the whisky and started to pour.
“Aria always loved butterflies,” Callum said.
He ran his fingers over the table runner and slowly moseyed around the table, until he’d reached the other end and was facing me. I picked up both glasses, standing tall, shoulders back as I strode over to him. He needed to know who was in control here. I held out a glass.
He looked at it, then his eyes flicked to meet mine. “Poison in there?”
I let out a little chuckle. “If I were going to kill you, it wouldn’t be poison. I’d make you bleed out slowly,” I said, my voice low but controlled.
He took the glass and swirled it before taking a sip. A silent tension filled the room around us.
“Do you remember what I said to you the last time you were in London?”
“That you’d kill me?” He looked unfazed. “Aria is worth the risk.”
“Leave her the fuck alone,” I said through gritted teeth, downing my drink and slamming the glass on the table.
He took another sip of the amber liquid. “I’m not here to cause trouble. I care a lot about Aria. I always have.”
“It sure sounded that way when you threatened to give her up to Jason if I didn’t stay away last year.”
He pressed his lips together. “It’s called a bluff, Sebastian.
And you took it. I’d have never done that to her, but I needed you to stay away from us.
I didn’t want a war. Jason would have gone all in, and we would have lost a lot of men.
I’m in the business of keeping mine alive. Well, the loyal ones, anyway.”
“Then why the fuck are you here now? What is all this?”
“Mostly for Aria.”
“And the rest?”
“You. I want us to work together.”
I nearly choked on his words. Callum Brown wanted to work with me? He must have been on something, because I’d never heard anything so ludicrous in my life.
“I don’t believe a word you’re saying.”
“Look, I think we’d be stronger together. Allies. We both want the same thing, after all.” He sipped his drink again, then placed the glass down.
“I don’t trust you.”
“Let’s set up a meeting, and I’ll prove to you that you can.”
Before I had a chance to respond, Aria came in, carrying a heavy plate that must have been hot because she was using oven gloves.
“Let me take that from you.” Callum rushed over before I could and placed it down for her.
“Thank you—I thought I was going to drop it.”
“Let me help you,” he offered.
“No,” I interjected before Aria could speak. “You’re the guest. Sit down, and I’ll help my girlfriend.”
He gave me a small nod, and Aria placed a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you.”
It took about five minutes at most to get everything brought through, and we then sat down at the table to eat.
“This looks absolutely amazing, Aria. You didn’t have to go to all this trouble just for me.”
She smiled at him. “You’re worth it.”