The silence threatened to drive her insane. She was surprised to feel a small surge of gratitude as the looming brick house and sweeping wrought iron gates rolled into view. Sebastian pulled the car into the garage and shut the door behind them. His hands flexed in rigid experimentation on the steering wheel several times before he plowed one through his hair.
“Get in the house,” he ordered quietly.
Taylor stared at the discoloration marring his knuckles with no small measure of trepidation before hastily scrambling to comply. She almost broke into a run when she felt his menacing presence close in behind her. Her gaze darted around uncertainly as she tried to decide on the safest room and course of action. Sebastian decided that for her. A cry escaped her as his fingers closed around her arm and he pulled her through the laundry room straight into the kitchen. She stumbled back a step, catching herself on the island as he released her with a none too gentle shove.
His hoarse laugh caught her off guard and sent a frigid bolt of fear down her spine. Shaking his head, Sebastian rubbed the back of his neck with a cold smile.
“I don’t even know where to start with you, sunshine.”
“I can explain,” she whispered.
He cocked his head, that chilling farce of a smile still stretched across his face. “Is that so? Please do, Taylor. Explain to me why I get a phone call in the middle of an operation telling me the woman I live with has been picked up in connection with a moonshining sting.”
“Sebastian…please…”
No,” he said, taking a step forward. She pressed deeper into the island. “Now is not the time to beg, Taylor. It’s the time to talk, and I suggest you do so quickly.”
“I didn’t know! All Bryce said was he needed to borrow my truck.”
Sebastian folded his arms. The muscle in his cheek below his right eye twitched dangerously beneath the skin. She inched back as he pressed closer. His shoulders jerked with a humorless chortle. Her heart leapt into her throat as his green eyes narrowed into furious slits. Feeling her way along the island, she edged backwards.
“They found the still your uncle had hidden in his basement,” he said, his voice dropping back to a menacing whisper. “Did you know about this?”
She shook her head in adamant denial. “No, Sebastian…please….I swear.”
“Was this some little plan you cooked up, some scheme to ensure your family’s safety? Is that what I am to you, Taylor?”
She scrambled back several more steps as he cocked his head and closed the distance between them. The look in his eyes was nothing short of terrifying. The whites were growing bloodshot and watery with rage, making his pale green irises stand out even more.
“Is that why you agreed to go out with me? Did you think sleeping with a Fed would be beneficial to your fucked up little family?”
“No! Please listen to me…” she begged, backpedaling toward the hall off the great room with her hands splayed. Sebastian lunged, pouncing forward with lethal speed. A cry broke from her lips as he caught her wrists in a brutal hold. Her body crashed against his as he jerked her forward. Cold fury blazed in his eyes and rolled off him in menacing waves.
“Stop trying to get away,” he warned. “Don’t you ever try to run from me.”
The deceptively quiet tone of his voice threatened to drive her to her knees. Tears rolled down her cheeks, blinding her, as she fought the urge to try to pull her throbbing wrists free. “O-okay,” she choked, trying to soothe him. “Just let go, please. You’re hurting me.”
His nostrils flared as he cocked his head and leaned over her until their faces almost touched. “I’m hurting you?” he asked in an incredulous whisper. “You embarrassed me in front of another agency today. That phone call interrupted an important operation, and I had to cut things short to bail you out of trouble. Now, I’m starting to have my doubts about your intentions here, and I’m hurting you? No, Taylor,” Sebastian said with a slow shake of his head. “I’m not hurting you. Not yet.”
Her body shook with an uncontrollable sob. His anger, his doubts, wounded her more than anything else did. Only the powerful grip on her arms kept her standing. Even that was cruelly stripped away. Sebastian released her with a shove, and she sprawled across the floor.
“Please,” she begged. “I don’t know what to do, what to say to make you believe me.”
“You can’t.”
She flinched as he crouched down in front of her. Cool fingers wrapped around her chin, forcing her teary gaze to his.
“Whatever ties you had with your family are done. You are never to speak to them again. No phone calls, no texts, nothing. If I so much as think you are looking in their direction I will show you what hurting you really is. Is that clear?”
Torn, she stared back at him with raw pleading in her eyes. Sebastian’s jaw steeled. Her breath left in a forceful snort as his hand locked around her throat. His fingers clamped in a tightening vise, his face darkening as he slowly pulled her to him.
“Is that clear?” he repeated. Ice dripped off his civil tone.
Taylor nodded and slackened in his grip. His eyes continued to bore into her until she thought she would pass out from the sheer force of her terror, lack of oxygen be damned. The muscles along his jaw clenched, and shaking his head, Sebastian released her. She collapsed against the cold travertine, coughing and gasping for air as he rocked to his feet.
“This is going on their records, and with the evidence the BATF found, they are looking at prison. I know it’s your family, but they took advantage of you and your trust. That’s not love, and you are damn lucky they didn’t end up dragging you down into their cesspool. Not only would we have been done, but you would be sitting in a cell right beside them.”
“I’m sorry. I swear to God, I didn’t know. The laundry and everything was on the first floor. He-he told me the stairs were too dangerous and that’s why we didn’t use the cellar. I love you. Not what I think you can do for me. Not your badge…you.”
Lowering his head, he nodded. After a long moment, he rolled his shoulders in a bid to shake the tension and offered her his hand. Her legs still shook, wobbling unsteadily beneath her. Taylor closed her eyes as he tenderly stroked the red marks circling her wrists then reached up to brush the tears from her cheeks with his thumb.
“I forgive you,” he said. “Go clean yourself up.”
Sebastian pinched the bridge of his nose and sank onto the edge of the couch with a sigh. A low, boiling rage still pumped through his system, heating his veins. He could feel it throbbing in his temples and winding through his body until every muscle ached. The sick weight of dread still blanketed his stomach. He’d come so close to losing her today. Too close. He ground his teeth at the thought, his fists opening and closing despite the pain in his battered knuckles. At least fortune had smiled kindly on someone today. If they were smart, those bastards were counting their blessings and considering themselves lucky that they were in custody elsewhere. If he had gotten to them first—he shook his head growling beneath his breath. That girl was too damn innocent and trusting for her own good. Yet it was one of the things that he found the most endearing.
His lips flattened into a grim press. Taylor had been so afraid, and with good reason. The fragile hold he’d had on his temper had been tenuous at best. Everything in him had wanted to lash out and strike her in a fit of wounded rage. He’d wanted her to feel the same pain and uncertainty, the same sense of fear that had rattled him to his bones. Was she telling the truth? Her eyes said yes. He wanted to believe that—he needed to believe that. Plowing a hand through his hair, Sebastian tugged in frustration until the last bit of gel gave and his curls stood on end. The couch creaked beneath his weight as he flung himself against the back cushions. Memories of the last few days replayed in his mind as his gaze shifted to the decorative pillows adorning the ends. One side of his mouth twisted with thought and he reached over to trail a finger over the embroidered fabric. No one was that good of a liar. Over
the last few days, Taylor’s body had eagerly proven what her words could not. The burn in his stomach lessened, and the ache in his shoulders started to ease. He sagged into the couch with a sigh of relief.
Tilting his head, he listened to her moving overhead. The faint sound of running water filtered through the house, as did her muffled sniffs. Tracing the stubble above his lip, he considered his next course of action. A little bit of leftover fear might serve her well. In the future, it might cause her to be more careful in considering her options. Sebastian frowned. She needed that caution. Not that he intended to let her step so far out of line again. He wouldn’t apologize for losing his cool. At the very least, her actions had warranted that much. It was best to stand firm but make it clear they were moving forward. Together.
Pulling the phone from his pocket, he listened to make sure Taylor was still occupied upstairs. He didn’t want to upset her any further, but what he was about to do needed done. Swiping a finger across the screen, he pulled up the phone log and sent the call through. After a few rings, the man he’d spoken to earlier answered.
“This is Agent Baas. I’ve considered your offer but the position these men have put Miss McAvay and myself in is inexcusable. Lock them up and throw away the fucking key for all I care.”
He hung up without waiting for a response. Blowing out a sharp exhale, Sebastian tossed the phone on the coffee table and stood. Everyone had their limits, and he’d already suffered through all the headaches and hassle he was going to endure.
Moving into the kitchen, he poured a tall shot of whiskey and downed it. Another quickly followed suit. Grimacing against the burn, he set the glass in the sink and filled another with a sweet red wine. He swirled the thick crimson liquid a few times, watching it glide across the crystal before he levered off the counter and headed upstairs.