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Leaving the girls to their own devices, he wandered through the house in an automatic bid to reach his study. As hard as he tried, he could see no traces of any struggles or intrusion. Only the lingering smell of fresh paint and carpeting alerted him to the fact that anything was off. Unfortunately, it had happened. It wasn’t just some bad dream he could shake off and forget.
Once he reached the familiar sanctuary of his office, he dropped into his leather chair and poured himself a drink from the crystal decanter perched on the corner of his desk. The glint of a metal flash drive caught his attention, and he leaned forward to pick it up and turn it in his fingers.
“It was hard to get a read on you out there. In all seriousness, Baas, I hope you don’t mind that we came in and cleaned things up,” Josh said from the doorway.
Glancing up, he motioned his partner in and gave a slow shake of his head. “No, it’s fine. Come in and shut the door behind you, please.”
Josh did as requested and stood sentry with his hands clasped behind his back.
“I will reimburse you for whatever you spent here.”
“That won’t be necessary, Baas.”
“It doesn’t fall on you to shoulder the expenses of fixing my home,” he stated in a stiff voice.
“No, it doesn’t,” Josh agreed. “We took up a collection at work. All of the guys pitched in. All of them. Everyone wanted to contribute something.”
Sebastian felt his brow twitch and tighten as a brief wave of confusion rolled through him. The kindness threw him off guard. It also made him think—think about the kind of men they were trained to be and the kind of men most of them secretly ached to be. Forcing a tight nod, he took a drink and grimaced against the sweet burn of the amaretto-flavored liquor. “I will take that into consideration when I return.”
“No one wanted you to come home to that kind of chaos, Baas, and Taylor certainly didn’t need to relive it. It was pretty bad,” Josh admitted. “I know you though. There’s some pictures and video footage on that flash drive if the need to see it ever does arise. I just wouldn’t advise it.”
He clenched his jaw and leaned back against his seat. “What happened?”
“As far as we can tell, they started the attack by launching flash-bang grenades at your security. Blind, deaf, and disorientated, they never stood much of a chance. It was a massacre out there. Laychee’s men probably gunned them down while they were still fighting to regain their senses and scaled the gates. Some of the wrought iron bars were chipped like they’d used anchoring hooks. The frenzy made it easy to scale the gate. We also found casings on the deck, up against the rails. Its percussion blew the glass in.
“From what we can tell, Taylor was in the kitchen at the time. She started to run toward the foyer. We’re guessing whatever men were stationed out front were trying to beat the front doors in by then and spooked her. There were signs of her doubling back around and hiding in the cupboard in the wine room for a while. They ransacked the entire place looking for her. I’m not sure when or how they located her, but there was a mass struggle in the hall leading down here. I’m guessing that’s where she broke the one guy’s nose.”
Pinching his sinuses, Sebastian nodded. His heart wrenched with the notion. “She was trying,” he mumbled. “She was trying to get away and get to my guns.”
“She’s a fighter, Baas. As far as local officials are concerned, a group of crazed radicals was trying to break into a decorated FBI agent’s home. When you weren’t here, they attacked your fiancée. She managed to get away with one of your security staff and was treated for minor injuries in a private facility. Henderson, unfortunately, did not survive. Be that as it may, it’s now a federal matter and none of their concern.” A wry smile twisted his lips. “Not that there’s anyone left to prosecute. None that they will find, anyway.”
Blowing out a deep breath, Sebastian then downed the rest of his drink. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. You all right?”
He clenched his teeth until the muscles along his jaw bulged with the force. “I will be,” he said, setting his glass down.
Clinging to that simple statement, he embraced it as fact. Things would be different. He would do better, be better. He would do whatever it took to keep Taylor safe and be the man she needed him to be. Nothing would ever come between them again. Not some two-bit thug with a grudge, not some backstabbing traitor who felt he had something to prove to the world, not even Marx. He couldn’t risk going through that. Couldn’t risk losing her again. Taylor was the glue, the only thing still holding him together, and that was a fragile, perilous thread at best.
As for work, that situation would also improve. He would deal with his team when he returned. Dominic would answer for all he had done. He would answer and pay dearly. Of that much, he was certain. But as Marx would say, today was not that day. Now was the time to focus and rebuild his life with Taylor. One step forward, one day at a time. It was the only way to move.
About the author: Adriana hails from a small town where unpredictable weather and inspiring locals abound. She shares her house with Boo, who keeps her in shape, because she believes she is a mountain lion trapped in a domestic house cat’s body. When she's not busy writing or being hunted by her mascot, Adriana enjoys interacting with her readers, running from large insects outdoors, or sharpening her culinary skills.
You can find out more about her, her hijinks, and any upcoming projects or releases at www.adriananoir.com For teasers, first looks, contests, and giveaways please join her official page on Facebook. She’s also on Twitter and Goodreads.
~Edge of Obsession (SKALS #3) Coming Summer 2013!~
Excerpt below:
CHAPTER 1~
Sebastian stared into the flickering flames of the candle, his thoughts distant and disjointed despite the laughter echoing around the table. His food sat mostly untouched. Leaning back in his seat, he took a long sip of wine and turned his attention to Taylor, watching her, gauging her mood and reaction as Monique regaled her with stories of their childhood. His jaw tightened as he tried to pull his focus back to the present, but it seemed determined to linger in the past. The smell of fresh paint and new carpet lingered in the air, overriding the spicy Chinese blend wafting from the table. He shifted uneasily in his seat, not caring for the changes around him.
Though Josh and Monique had done a wonderful job of cleaning things up and the rest of the house remained the same, the dining room chairs were different. A necessity after Laychee’s men had ransacked his home and broken one of the previous set while they’d brutalized Taylor.
Guilt and rage seethed below the surface. Deep down, he hoped Josh and Henderson had made those bastards pay. Fists clenched beneath the table, his lean body trembled with silent fury.
“Sebastian?”
He glanced over at Taylor. His brow furrowed with concern as he watched her smile falter. Swallowing, he fought to pull away from the dark tide of his emotions. She’d been through so much over the past few weeks. The last thing she needed was to suffer through one of his violent moods. He regretted their audience, wanting nothing more than to pull her out of her seat and hold her close. Instead, he settled for tucking her hair behind her ear and forcing a smile.
“Are you okay?” she asked. Worry lined her face as she nibbled her lower lip in uncertainty.
; “I’m fine, sweetheart,” he soothed. “I’m just not very hungry.”
She leaned into his touch before turning her head to kiss his palm. The distinct creak of wood drew his attention, and he glanced up to see his sister squirming across from him. Even Josh gaped his way, his dark blue stare full of questions. Sebastian sighed and pushed his chair away from the table with a quiet apology. Shaking his head, he strode out of the room, carrying only his wine glass with him.
“Do you want me to heat you up something else?” his sister asked.
Turning, he found she’d followed him into the kitchen. “No, Monique. I ordered what I wanted. Dinner was fine. I promise.”
Nodding, she wrung her hands. Apprehension creased her usually flawless features as she draped a tentative hand over his forearm. He tensed, looking at her in inquiry, but he made no move to pull away.
“I won’t insult you by pretending to know what you are going through, Sebastian. I don’t, but I do know how strong you are and how much you hate not being in control.” She lowered her head, her next words coming in a plea. “You aren’t going to be either of those things if you don’t take care of yourself.”
Backing away from her, he raked a hand down his face and squeezed the bridge of his nose. “I know that, Monique,” he said in a measured tone. “But I assure you, one night of not eating isn’t going to kill me.”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to tell you what you should do. I’m just worried about you.”
He dumped the rest of his wine in the sink and rinsed his glass before setting it on the counter. Needing to stay busy, he snagged a checkered dishtowel out of the drawer and started wiping down the faucet and handles even though the brushed stainless steel already gleamed. He felt his sister looming behind him, watching him as she waited for some kind of reaction. Flinging the towel over his shoulder, he spun on his heel to face her.
Monique staggered back a quick step. Her already pale skin lightened even further.
