Chapter 10 ~
The soft, golden haze engulfing his surroundings told Sebastian it was a dream, but he clung to it, not wanting to wake up. The crisp scent of bacon and coffee hung in the air, luring him down the steps. He prowled silently through the house, smiling to himself as he heard Taylor’s throaty voice wafting from the kitchen as she sang along to some bluesy Stevie Knicks tune. Gypsy, he believed. His mother had played that song often. It was amazing how much he missed her, and just how often that sentiment snuck up on him and caught him unaware.
After rounding into the kitchen, he froze and leaned against the archway, stunned by what he saw. Taylor’s dark hair spilled over her shoulders, the lighter chestnut highlights blazing like spun gold in the early morning sun. Happiness and contentment shone on her delicate features, and even her skin seemed to glow from somewhere deep within. He couldn’t remember her ever looking more beautiful or alive.
Sebastian’s brow knitted as his gaze roamed over her curves in languid appreciation and locked on the rounded swell of her stomach. Once he realized he was still dreaming, the confusion passed as quickly as it came. The notion seemed as natural and welcome to him as breathing. He crossed the room in long strides, eager to greet both mother and unborn child. After dropping a tender kiss on Taylor’s lips, he crouched down to run his palms over her mounded belly. Fascinated and enthralled, he caressed the gentle swell and lifted his eyes to hers. Her smile melted his heart.
“How are my two favorite people doing this morning?” he asked, straightening to snare her hips and cradle her closer. The warm press of her hands as they rubbed up and down his back was pure heaven and he closed his eyes with a contented rumble.
“I’m wonderful,” she purred, nuzzling his neck. “As for our son, he finally wore himself out and went to sleep. I think I’m harboring a future kick boxing champion. The little fighter kept me up all night.”
An unrepentant grin tugged his lips. “I’m sorry, baby.”
But he wasn’t. Not really. He was excited and proud. Damn proud. They were going to have a son. A little part of them, an extension of their love and the life they shared that would live on well after the both of them were dead and gone. He was pouring himself a cup of coffee and still trying to wrap his mind around that when the first shot shattered the silence. There was no warning, just a quiet ping and the telltale tinkle of glass as it exploded inward in a violent spray.
Sebastian whirled from the counter, the mug falling from his hands. He dimly registered the hot scald splashing against his pant legs, but he couldn’t move. His mouth opened and closed in soundless horror and he hit his knees, scrambling across the cold stone floor to get to Taylor. She lay motionless, a dark, sinister puddle pooling beneath her head. The frying pan she’d been clutching had fallen from her hand and still spun in a haphazard spin against the floor a few feet away. Agony clenched around his heart and squeezed the air from his lungs with an iron fist as he gathered her against him. Rocking her lifeless body in his arms, he cried and screamed her name.
Sebastian sat up with a start, his breath coming loud and ragged in the quiet confines of their bedroom. Panting, he tried to gulp fresh oxygen into his aching lungs, his entire body still heaving with anguish. He fumbled blindly, ignoring the shrill ring of his phone, as he groped for reassurance beside him. Finding Taylor still there and breathing, he gave an audible sigh of relief. He wanted nothing more than to curl his body around hers, hold on tightly, and never let go. Shuddering, he swiped at the warm dampness still clinging to his cheeks and rolled toward the nightstand to reach for his phone. His voice came out in a choked rasp.
“Yeah?”
“Sebastian?”
Dominic’s voice caught him by surprise. Pulling the phone away, he squinted and double-checked the caller ID. “Yeah, what is it?”
“We got problems, Baas.”
“When don’t we? I’m trying to sleep here, so spit it out,” he snapped, finding some small semblance of himself again. His gaze travelled to the slender form outlined beside his and he combed a shaky hand through his hair. Jesus, he was a mess. He needed to pull himself together, and fast.
“There’s a shipment coming in at the old warehouse. Word on the street is this is the final one and it’s packing a heavy punch. Marx wants you to meet me out there to get some intell.”
He scowled in the darkness. “Why you? Where’s Josh?”
“He called in sick.”
“Give me twenty.” He hung up without waiting for a response. An icy rush of apprehension rushed through Sebastian’s veins. Staring at his phone, he frowned. Josh had seemed fine earlier, and it wasn’t like him not give some sort of heads up if he was going to be out of commission. His shoulders sagged with a sigh as he levered out of bed and staggered into the bathroom, mentally ticking off the rings on his partner’s end of the line.
Just before it kicked over to voicemail, a reluctant and sleepy sounding Josh mumbled a greeting. Casting a final glance toward the bed, Sebastian pulled the bathroom door shut behind him.
“Is everything okay?”
“Huh?” Josh muttered.
“I need you to wake up and listen to me,” Sebastian hissed. “Did you tell them you couldn’t come in?”
“What?” Blankets rustled in the background, and Sebastian heard the soft murmur of his sister’s voice as she stirred. “What are you talking about, Baas? I’m fine. No one even called me tonight.”
Nodding, he dropped down onto the ledge of the tub. Sebastian’s stomach dropped. Tension wound through his muscles, making them throb. “I figured as much.”
“What’s going on?” Concern edged into his partner’s voice.
“I just got off the phone with Dominic Chase. He said Marx wants us to rally at the warehouse, and you were too sick to come.”
“Shit,” Josh mumbled. “What the hell is he trying to pull?”
“Which one?” Sebastian asked, trying to keep the disgust from his voice. “I know I’m walking into a potential setup here. The problem is I have no idea who’s behind it or how it involves Laychee. If it turns out Marx is the one behind this, I’m done. There’s no coming back for me. We both know that.”
“Fuck, Sebastian. Do you think that’s the case?”
“No. He might be a pompous prick, but he needs me. I think this has more to do with Dominic, but if I call Marx, word will spread. You know how that goes. It’s like a game of telephone. Somehow, word will end up getting back to Chase and he’ll call the whole thing off. I can’t risk that. This is my team. These men are my responsibility. If he’s switched playing fields, SKALS needs to know so we can handle our business and take his ass out.”
“You aren’t going at this alone. Give me a few minutes. I’ll tail you and watch your back.”
“No. It doesn’t do anyone any good if this is a trap and we both go down. I need you to have my back here, out of the line of fire.”
“Seb--”
“Listen to me,” he interrupted, cutting his partner off. “I’ll check in once an hour. If more than that passes without a call or a text coming through you’ll know I’m in trouble.”
“A lot can happen in an hour, Baas,” Josh said. “I don’t like this. Not one bit.”
“And you think I do?” he asked quietly. “Sit tight. If you don’t hear from me, send in reinforcements. The only way I’m going to be able to get to the bottom of things is if I know I have you as a safety net. I trust you, Josh. You’re the only one.”
A startled pause ensued on the other end. “I know the feeling. Do you at least want me to come over there?”
He grappled with the decision for a long moment, his heart pounding in his chest. As much as he wanted the extra reassurance that Taylor would be safe, he didn’t want his entire family gathered together in one place. It made things too simple, too easy for anyone wanting to take them out and rip away everything he loved in one single, devastating blow. That might be the sort of move Laychee was hoping for. Clo