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Slowly, she takes another breath, and nods. “I’m fine. Really,” she adds, clocking my concerned gaze. “Except for breaking my favorite mug. I’m so clumsy sometimes,” she gives me a fake smile, and gets to her feet, going to fix another mug of tea.
I watch her, feeling like the worst person in the world. Especially because I know, I can’t stop digging now.
“So, Larkspur…” I prompt, hating myself—but not enough to bite my tongue. Whatever Sebastian and Scarlett have been hiding here, I need to know.
Scarlett brushes back her hair. “It’s not a big deal,” she says, even though all her behavior would say otherwise. “After the crash, I had some… Difficulties.”
Wait, the crash…?
I stare at her, wide-eyed. “You were there, in the car with—”
“With my father, yes.” Scarlett nods. “The night he died. I was twelve.”
She pushes up her sleeves in a nervous gesture, and it’s only then that I see the pale scarring on her arms: mottled tissue, like she’s been burned.
Scarlett sees me looking and tugs her sleeves back down again. “As you can imagine, it wasn’t a great time for me,” she continues quietly. “Afterwards… Well, I struggled. But I’m fine now. Because of Sebastian. My brother’s always taken care of me,” she says, sounding firmer now. “He’s the best, but you must know that by now,” she adds with a smile—genuine, this time. “He takes care of everything.”
I flush. That much is true, but I’m guessing we’re thinking about very different versions of Sebastian Wolfe. To me, that care has been dominant and merciless. I can’t believe there might be a different side to him, not matter what his sister is telling me.
His sister…
I’m about to ask her more when I hear a loud whirring noise overhead. Through the kitchen window, I can see a helicopter approaching, a dark speck on the horizon roaring closer.
Scarlett laughs. “Uh oh. We’re in trouble now,” she says, but her tone is light and teasing. “He only takes the chopper when he’s extra-mad about something.”
Sebastian.
Scarlett doesn’t seem worried, she’s eagerly pulling on her jacket and rushing out to meet the helicopter as it lands, but I hang back, dread pooling in the pit of my stomach.
If he knows I’m here… How much more does he know?
And what kind of punishment will I get for the crime of my curiosity?
I step outside, watching as he emerges from the helicopter, dressed for business, as if he just flew in from a meeting. Which, he probably did.
Even from a distance, I can see the fury clear on his face. He stalks toward us, tension in the lines of his body and a deep frown on his face.
“Seb!” Scarlett greets him with a hug. Sebastian hugs her back, but only briefly. He pulls away. “You’re supposed to call me if anyone comes,” he tells her, shooting his icy gaze my way for just a moment before refocusing on her. “You just invited her in?”
Scarlett rolls her eyes, and even though she’s older than me, she seems so much younger in the way she playfully pushes Sebastian. “Of course I did. I’m not all surly and suspicious like you. And anyway, I figured one of your security team would get the message to you. That’s what all the cameras are for, right?”
Cameras. Of course. Why didn’t I think of that? No wonder Sebastian made it here so fast, I probably triggered some kind of alarm the moment I stepped foot on the property.
Sloppy, Avery,I scold myself, as Sebastian’s gaze burns into me. I’m expecting him to start yelling any second now, but instead, he restrains his temper—for Scarlett.
“You still should’ve called,” he chides her, but his tone his gentle. Scarlett giggles.
“You’re going to get frown lines, with all your brooding,” she teases him. “And then all the money in the world won’t stop you looking like Yoda.”
Sebastian shakes his head, softening. “Sure it will. Haven’t you heard of a little thing called Botox?” he shoots back, playful.
Scarlett hoots with laughter. “If you get Botox, I’m never letting you hear the end of it,” she says, gleeful. “You saw what it did to mum when she tried it. She couldn’t frown for a month! Just walked around looking mildly puzzled at everything.”
“That makes a change from her usual pinot-fueled stupor.” Sebastian replies, with a wry grin.
I stare at the two of them in shock as they playfully banter and joke around. Who the hell is this, and what has he done with the real Sebastian Wolfe?
I’m wondering if this is some sophisticated AI, when Sebastian fixes me with an icy glare that chills me to the core.
