Chapter 7
Days turn into weeks and Jonathan and I spend every waking moment together, while the anticipation of any news from Sebastian is rising with every passing day. The phone call comes just as we’re ready to sit down and have dinner, on a chilly Sunday night. Jonathan hands me my phone and puts down his fork as Sebastian’s calm voice comes on the line.
“Hey. What’s up?” I say, wondering what words are going to come out of his mouth next.
“You two are lucky fellas, you know? Those sons of bitches were bullying all kinds of folk around here for months.”
“You’ve found them?” Jonathan cuts in, his eagerness to know more overlapping all my concerns.
“They have been taken care of,” he simply says. “I am a man of my word.”
“What happens now?” I ask before Jonathan cuts me off again.
“I kept my end of the deal, sweet girl. Now it’s time for you to keep yours.”
“And if we don’t?” I foolishly ask.
“You know, darlin’,” Sebastian says in his eerily soft voice, “bad things happen to good people all the time. It’s a cruel world we’re living in…”
“You’re just saying that to intimidate us,” I screech, but Jonathan grabs the phone from my shaking hands.
“A deal’s a deal, Sebastian. Name the time and place. We’ll be there.”
“See? You have a reasonable man by your side. Better not lose him to your shenanigans.”
Jonathan ends the call a moment later and I suddenly realize that I am going to have to go through with this whether I want to or not.
***
The night of our little rendezvous with my stepbrother has arrived and Jonathan’s anxiety is even greater than mine. “Ready to go through with this?” he asks when in reality, I should be the one asking him. I’ve done this before. He hasn’t.
“I’m ready,” I say, looking into his eyes. “Baby, whatever happens in there, please know I’d never have agreed to it if you hadn’t made me promise to do it.”
“Let’s go, M,” he says dejectedly. His every move, the tone of his voice, everything about him is teeming with anxious energy.
The door opens to Sebastian’s place and this time he is alone. He ushers us in with a smile on his face and a bespoke suit cloaking his body.
“Welcome back,” he says, excitement lacing his voice. “I could say I wasn’t looking forward to this night, but that would be a lie.”
“Let's get it over with, okay?” Jonathan growls out and I wish things were that simple. But with Sebastian, you never know what you're going to get.
“Shall we start with a drink, what do you say?” he asks while Jonathan can't stop fidgeting with his watch.
“I'll have a double, on the rocks,” I tell him, knowing I'm going to need it.
“How about you, Jonathan?” Sebastian inquires.
“Just water,” he finally responds, his eyes on me.
He hands us our drinks and a few minutes later, he guides us to his massive bedroom, dims the lights and I take in the lavishness of the room. The king-size bed boasts a plush midnight blue comforter, an array of large pillows, and the chandelier hanging in the center of the room gives everything a rosy yellow glow. There are no whips, canes, or ropes that catch my eye and I pray that this time, he'll go easy on me, on account of Jonathan watching.
“Shall we get this underway?”
I turn to look at Jonathan who's taken the only seat in the room, a comfortable looking Bergere that is placed strategically at the nearest corner. He tries to move it further away only to be met with Sebastian's disapproval.
“No cheating, now, Jonathan,” he tsks. “A deal's a deal. Sit back down and enjoy the show.”
Jonathan's face contorts and my nerves are starting to get the best of me.