Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 127146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
I try to shrug out of his hold, but his grasp is ironclad. “There is nothing to take care of. I’m done with him, and I don’t give a fuck if I ever see him again.”
“I understand that, but they don’t get to treat you like this. To toss you out like trash. You’re not trash. You’re fucking royalty.”
I’m so confused by his words that I have no response. Instead, I find myself staring at him. His cheeks are pink, his curls tousled and shoved away from his face. His bow tie is undone as he surveys my face, and I swear I can feel his eyes penetrating the spot on my cheek, the bruise already forming from where that stupid goon hit me. The concern melts into red-hot rage as he takes in my entire face, clearly seeing something that angers him.
He releases my shoulders, his huge hand circling my wrist instead. “Come,” he orders, gently tugging me down the hallway back toward Drew and his father. I must’ve hit my head harder than I thought because nothing about this man, the care of my body, and being safe should ever be used in the same sentence, but that’s how I feel with him by my side. If anything, I should be running in the opposite direction, not letting him lead me back into the lion's den. I know better than to trust someone who is friends with Drew, but this is so out of character for Sebastian that I can’t do anything but follow him and see what happens.
Sebastian walks into the room, his head held high, his eyes blazing, but the rest of his face is impassive, like a prince staring down at his subjects. I use every single inch of willpower in my body not to look at Drew. Each person stands as still as a statue, their eyes bouncing between him and me.
Drew's father is the first to speak, his gaze narrowed to slits.
“Can I help you, Mr. Arturo?”
Letting bravery lead the way I stare up at Sebastian. His hand still grips my wrist, anchoring me to the ground, keeping me sane. I watch him intently as he takes in the scene. Drew, his father, Jackie. All of it in one quick analytical survey. His sharp jaw tenses, and he squares his shoulders as if preparing for war.
When Sebastian doesn’t respond, Drew’s father presses. “Can I help you with something? I didn’t see your grandfather out there.” His gaze ping-pongs back and forth between Sebastian and me, a wrinkle of confusion forming between his brows.
"I’m not here to answer any of your questions. The only one who will be asking anything will be me, and my first question is: who did this?" His voice cuts through the air like a knife. I’m unsure of what he’s talking about until I feel something wet and warm trailing down the back of my neck. I wipe at it with my free hand, and when I pull it back, I notice the streaks of blood on my fingertips. This must’ve happened when I hit my head on the edge of the counter.
My knees threaten to buckle beneath me. The weight of everything suddenly becomes heavier. My body sways, and I’m about to go down, but Sebastian catches my shoulders and adjusts me, keeping me in a vertical position.
Drew chooses then to take a protective step forward, a grimace on his face. He looks like he wants to help, but Sebastian, keeping me upright, shakes his head slowly in warning.
“Whoever did this to her, they’ll pay. Consider this your only fucking warning. If any of you come near her again, I’ll destroy you, piece by fucking piece. I don't care who the hell you are, whether you’re my friend or what your last name is.”
My brain must be fried because it can’t compute what I think it is. Sebastian is sticking up for me, threatening his own friend?
“Sebastian, where is your grandfather? I'm sure we can figure this out together. Our families have been friends for years. You don't even know this girl. It seems a bit irrational to make such rash statements when you haven’t the first clue on who it is you’re defending. That girl is no one. She fell all on her own and probably has nothing more than a concussion.” He lets out an anxious laugh, his gaze sweeping the room.
"You're right." Sebastian's grin resembles that of a shark. "I don't know her, but as of right now, she’s under the protection of the Arturo family.”
Yup, my brain is leaking out my ears because what he's saying doesn't make sense to me. Protection, what does that mean? What the hell is going on?
“Protection? Sebastian, you don’t even know this girl, and what happened here today has nothing to do with you or your family. I think you’ll find this entire thing is being blown completely out of proportion. The girl is simply upset that Drew is moving on.”