AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What are we doing here, Baas?”
“We aren’t doing anything. I’m going to make things right.”
He heard Josh blow out a deep breath and curse as he stepped out of the car. Glancing around, Sebastian burrowed deeper into his coat and strode across the street. The recessed alcove offered a little privacy as he rang the bell and waited. Ears straining, he listened to the thunder of tiny footsteps and movement on the other side. He closed his eyes as the excited shrill of his niece’s voice exploded behind the door. The sound cut deeper than he’d imagined.
“Unco Sebby!”
A quiet murmur followed. Biting his cheeks, he braced himself, hoping whoever it was had sent the child away. He didn’t think he could handle seeing her and going through with what he had planned. A few seconds later, the wine colored door cracked open and he was confronted by a hostile glare.
“Get off of my property,” Dane’s mother snapped. “Leave us alone. You’ve done enough.”
He grabbed the door and stopped it with his shoe before she could slam it shut. Giving a slow shake of his head, he regarded the woman with open contempt.
“Don’t ever try to shut a door in my face again,” he warned in a quiet rasp. “Like it or not, you are going to listen to what I have to say, and you are going to consider my offer very carefully.”
“Why would I do that? Your organization killed my son! He was my only child! You came to my house. We treated you like family, Sebastian. You sat on my couch and promised me you wouldn’t let anything happen to him. Where is he now? What good were those promises? He’s dead!”
Flattening his lips in a brief bid of anger, he stiffened. “Your son made his own choices. Those decisions cost him his life, not me. I’m not splitting hairs with you, Mrs. Dupree and I am in no mood to argue. You would be wise to shut your mouth and listen before I change my mind.”
“Is that a threat?”
Sebastian chuckled softly and his grip on the door tightened until his knuckles grew white. Dropping his chin to his chest, he gave a slow shake of his head. “No, Mrs. Dupree. I’m afraid that was a promise.”
When he glanced up, the jowly folds of her face had blanched to a sickly pale. It made the bright red lipstick bleeding into the wrinkled creases above her lips even more noticeable. Her double chin quivered as his eyes narrowed and she snapped her mouth shut.
“Regardless of what you think of me or my job, Monique is a damn good mother. She is innocent in all of this and that little girl loves her. I love them both and only want what’s best. I will let you play your game and keep this situation out of the courts, but you are going to give my sister visitation. That means holidays and every other weekend. You do that, and I give you my word—I will stay away. Refuse me, and you and your husband will see your son again much sooner than you think.”
Ida’s watery eyes bulged.
“This isn’t a request,” Sebastian warned. “It’s an offer, and the only one you are going to get.”
“What about that man she’s been seeing? I don’t want SKALS or its filth anywhere around my grandbaby. You tell him to walk away, too.”
He gave a curt shake of his head, his eyes narrowing into thin slits. “No, Ida. That isn’t going to happen. He’s been raising her like his own. I trusted Josh to keep them both alive, and so should you. Last chance. I’m afraid this is all or nothing for you.”
His hand moved to the pistol strapped to his hip and the woman’s ample body shuddered. She wrapped her floral housecoat tighter. He grimaced as she folded her arms and her sagging bosom deflated under their meaty bulk. Refusing to meet his stare, Dane’s mother offered a grim nod.
The muscles in his cheek twitched as he regarded her. “I will tell Monique. You would do well to keep your word,” he warned. “Don’t make me come looking for you.”
With that, he shut the door and walked away.
Taylor’s head snapped up from her hand of cards as the front door swung open. Her eyes locked with Monique’s across the mosaic-tiled table. The beautiful blonde’s face was a mirror reflection of her own confusion. Laying her hand down, she glanced at the microwave clock with a worried twist of her brow. It wasn’t even three yet. Short days weren’t uncommon, but Sebastian usually called. She frowned at the thought. He’d been calling all day. Drying her sweaty hands on the rump of her jeans, she walked into the foyer to greet him.
He’d set down a plastic bag and was already shrugging out of his coat by the time she got there. Lifting his head, he gave her a wink. Her heart fluttered and she couldn’t contain her bright smile.
“You’re home early,” she said, leaning up to kiss his cheek. Heat flooded her as he palmed the back of her head instead and greeted her with a kiss that was both bruising and hungry. When he released her, she hung onto his arm for a minute and bit her bottom lip. “We didn’t have a chance to start dinner yet.”
“It’s okay, baby. We’ll order in.” He swatted her ass, making her jump when she tried to peel back one side of the plastic bag. “Get out of there and stop being so nosey you little imp.”
Taylor colored as Josh’s laughter rolled through the foyer. She watched him step around Sebastian to engulf Monique in a warm hug. She observed the two, feeling a bit like a voyeur as he kissed her friend tenderly, the affection between them suddenly more than a little obvious.
“I gotta go pick up the boy from school, gorgeous. Do you want to come with me or hang back with your brother?”
Monique glanced Sebastian’s way. Getting a mute nod of dismissal, she then laced her arm through Josh’s with a promise to return soon. Shaking her head, Taylor watched the two of them leave before turning her attention back to her lover and his mysterious bag. His lips quirked as he scooped up the package off the floor and made his way into the kitchen, his steps marked with a confident swagger. She was halfway tempted to smack his ass for the teasing, but she was pretty sure what that gesture would earn her in return. Instead, she contented herself with following behind and trying to peer around him.
“You’re asking for it, darling,” he warned, though his voice held the lilting notes of play.
“I know!” she said, laughing. “And you still won’t let me see!”
Tucking the bag behind him, he leaned against the black counters and lifted a brow. “What makes you think it’s something for you? Am I spoiling you, Taylor?” he asked, drawing her closer. “Am I creating a monster?”
She shivered with delight as his mouth brushed against the side of her throat. Squirming, she wriggled against his chest as his powerful arms locked around her. There was no mistaking the effect their play had on him and her cheeks flushed as he ground his growing erection against her.
“Maybe,” she admitted, writhing and still trying to elude the scrape of his stubble. “How was your day?”
His smile faded a little as he straightened to peer down at her. “It was okay. As good as it could be, considering.”
“Considering?” she asked. Unable to help herself, she cupped his face and trailed her fingers over the sculpted ridges of his cheeks. “You have such beautiful bone structure,” she breathed.
Sebastian flushed and tugged her hands away. “Stop that.” He kissed each palm before placing them against his chest. “And yes, considering the countless hours I spent locked inside a car with Josh being bored out of my mind with no escape, the day wasn’t too bad.”
“Is that why you called so often?” she teased.
“No, baby. That was because I missed you and wanted to make sure you were safe.” He traced the pouty swell of her lips with his thumb as his pale eyes locked with hers. “Believe it or not, Taylor, you are all I have. There’s no way I’m letting you go without one hell of a fight.”
Her heart wrenched at the sincerity and undercurrent of sorrow in his voice. Leaning up tiptoe, she stole a gentle kiss. The subtle taste of spearmint made her mouth water. Everything about him was delicious. Holding his stare, she traced the hard ridges of his body
beneath his shirt.
“I’m not going anywhere, Sebastian. You’re hopelessly stuck with me.”
“Good. I wouldn’t want it any other way, baby.” He gestured behind him with a nod of his head. “Go ahead and see what you got.”
She waggled her brows and flashed him a devious smile as he stepped aside and folded his arms, watching as she peeled the plastic back. Taylor sucked in a sharp breath upon seeing the upscale cappuccino maker. The image of the stainless steel appliance on the package alone was gorgeous enough to admire. Pulling the box out of the bag, she shook her head and retrieved a handful of frosted candles that had been nestled around it. Lifting one to her nose, she inhaled the rich scent of cashmere.
“I saw how happy that drink made you this morning. This is a Saeco. They’re supposed to be good machines. It makes espresso, too.” He donned a boyish grin and rested his forehead against hers. “Which will come in handy after those late night marathons when neither one of us can seem to wake up in the morning. The candles just reminded me of you…your smell. I walked past them and couldn’t resist.”
Taylor fell even more in love with him in that moment.
“So now the whole house is going to smell like me?” she asked, giving him a pointed look.
