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I can’t imagine her becoming any more upset than she must already be, but I nod. We head upstairs and find her in a private room at the end of the hall. Scarlett is lying in bed, looking pale and weak, but her eyes widen with shock at the sight of us.
“Sebastian?” She looks back and forth between us. “H-how are you here? Am I dead too?”
“No,” he says gently, moving closer the sit by the bed and take her hand. “I’m alive. We both are. It’s a long story,’ he adds, and she lets out a sleepy sigh, relaxing.
“Good. I’ve missed you, big brother.”
“I’ve missed you too,” Sebastian looks grim. “What happened to you? Who did this?”
He sounds so calm, but I know there’s a storm brewing inside of him.
Scarlett’s forehead scrunches as she thinks. “I don’t know… I was in the paddock. Then… I heard something behind me, but before I could turn around, there was pain in the back of my head. And… I-I woke up here. I didn’t take the pills,” she adds, tearful. “I know they’re saying I overdosed, but didn’t relapse, I promise.”
Her voice cracks, and Sebastian leans over to hug her, whispering soothing words in her ear.
“I know, sweetheart. It’s OK. It’s all going to be OK.”
I tactfully move away, to the window, leaving them to their murmured conversation. Then I see movement down below on the sidewalk. A black car pulls up, and two familiar figures climb out, hurrying to the main entrance.
Richard and Trudy.
Shit.
“We have to go,” I say, moving back to grab Sebastian.
“What?”
“Unwelcome visitors,” I tell him meaningfully. “Family.”
Rage flashes in Sebastian’s eyes.
“Scarlett, you can’t tell anyone we were here, OK?” I tell her gently, pulling Sebastian away. “It’s a secret. Not even your mum.”
She looks to Sebastian, and he nods. “I’ll send someone to protect you,” he vows. “Just get better, I’ll see you soon.”
We slip out of the room just in time. At the far end of the hall, the elevator doors open, and I bundle Sebastian into an empty room before anyone can spot us.
We can hear Richard talking as they get closer, comforting Trudy with fake concern in his voice. “It must be the stress from her brother’s death. We can try rehab again. I’m sure it’ll be OK.”
Seb’s fists clench with fury. “I should just go kill him right now and be done with it.”
“Not here,” I tell him, blocking the door. “Think, Sebastian, if you just attack him out of nowhere, then his story still stands. You’ll be called a killer, and he’ll get away with all his crimes. We have to fix this, the right way.”
“But how?” Sebastian demands. I can see the pain in his eyes, and the raw anger haunting every word. “He’s come after you, he hurt my sister… When will it be time to make him pay?”
“Soon,” I promise him, with all my heart. “Soon, this will all be over.”
19
SEBASTIAN
I thoughtI knew what fury was. I’m a man of control, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been driven to the edge before, by business rivals and traitorous friends. By Avery, more than once, when I discovered all her lies.
But nothing compares to the cold, hard rage that burns inside me, knowing what Richard has done.
After Avery practically drags me from the hospital, I make a call and summon the best security around, a former Navy SEAL who comes highly recommended. He won’t leave Scarlett’s side, and if anyone asks, she’ll say he’s her new boyfriend. That should keep Richard and his heavies at bay, at least for a little while.
Knowing she’s protected, even without me, we finally head back to London, and a discreet townhouse that Saint owns. Avery says we need time to regroup and figure the best way to tackle the Richard issue. If she’s hoping I’ll take a beat and calm down, she’s wrong. Every passing minute just fuels my anger, knowing that man is walking the earth.
