Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
“I’ve always thought what we shared was special. I need you, and we both know that you belong to me. The sooner you realize that, the better it will be for you and that little maid you’re sleeping with.”
I press a hand to my lips to stop myself from speaking. Sebastian wraps his hands around her hips and lifts her off his lap, sending her to the floor. She scrambles to her feet and lashes out, her nails cutting red lines into the side of his cheek. Tears sting my eyes.
The assault and mistreatment. It’s suffocating.
He stares up at her, murderous rage flickering in his green eyes. That look is so powerful and searing that it makes me afraid. She might be towering over him, but it won’t be long until he unleashes fury on her.
With a smile, she runs her hand over her flat stomach. “Certainly even you remember that night. Don't you? It happened right here on the couch.”
That murderous glare fades from his eyes, and I watch him crumble right before my eyes. He looks sick, pale. One look at his face, and that’s all the confirmation I need. Even he knows there’s a chance.
“Deny the baby if you want, but it doesn’t change the truth. We both know you’re the father, Sebastian.”
I resettle my shoulders and keep my hands plastered over my mouth. I want to scream, to tell her to get away from him. But it wouldn’t change what’s already happened. The whole thing is disgusting, even if they aren’t related by blood.
Her voice grates on my nerves as she stalks closer to him, like she might try to straddle him again, but he stands and stalks toward the fireplace.
“Enough of the games, Sebastian. Let’s talk about this like adults.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“There is plenty to talk about. I'm going to give you the heir you need to hold the Arturo business. This couldn’t have happened at a better time. We can run it together, as a family. If you want, I'll even let you keep your little pet as long as she understands her place and doesn't get in my way.”
It takes me a second to realize she’s talking about me.
She's telling him he can keep me...while being with her. Not that I think Sebastian would ever consider it, but even if he did, I would never allow it.
Sebastian stares straight ahead into the flames for a long moment, then he grabs a bottle off the mantel. His sweats hang low on his hips, and I have to look away from the bare expanse of his back as he flexes his fist against the stonework in front of him.
“Tanya. You need to leave before I do something I won’t be able to undo.”
His words ping inside me, and I'm not sure why they make my stomach turn even more.
Tanya doesn’t seem to care about his warning and approaches him anyway. As if that’s not enough, she skims her hands up and over his shoulders and then back down his back. He doesn’t move, doesn’t even appear to react.
How can he stand there and let her touch him?
“Sebby. We were so good together. I taught you everything you know...we can have that back.”
Sebastian shrugs her hands off of him. “Tanya...” he warns.
Oh no. It occurs to me then that if she comes out here, there will be nowhere for me to hide, and I don’t want to be on the receiving end of her wrath. If she's horrible enough to hurt her own...the man she raised this way...she will have no issue with hurting me.
I need to get back upstairs. The idea of eating after what I just witnessed makes me sick. I need a moment to wrap my head around things, and maybe build up the courage to talk to Sebastian about what I heard.
I tiptoe toward the stairs, but freeze when I spot one of the security guards standing there. Robin, I believe is his name. Weird. They usually don’t come into the house, that is unless Sebastian calls them. Hm, maybe he did. Maybe he’s going to have Tanya removed?
Robin leans down and waves at me to come closer. There’s a concerned look etched into his features. Over the weeks, I’ve come to trust Robin, as he’s always watching out for the animals and making sure I’m okay while I walk between the house and cottage.
With one final peek over my shoulder, I creep up the stairs, stopping once I reach the landing.
“What’s wrong?” I whisper.
“Sorry, I know I shouldn't be inside, but something is wrong with the dog in the cottage. He’s been crying and barking for hours. I feel bad for him, and the thought of leaving him there to suffer. Plus, shift change is coming soon. The other guards might shoot him instead of questioning if he’s someone's pet if they hear him.”