Page 40 of Sebastian

“Get back here you bitch. You think you get to leave just because I’ve taken everything from you? I’ve broken you, Imogene, and your mine. You don’t get to leave me. I bought you and you are mine.”

“Sprinkles? Can you hear me? I need you to come back to me. Come back, you’re safe.”

Why was Marco telling her she was safe? He was never kind, or gentle. Had she gotten away? No, she couldn’t get away. She couldn’t escape. He’d always find her. He had found her.

“I don’t understand Marco, where is she? Where is my baby?”

“She’s with her mother.”

“She’s not. They haven’t brought her in here to see me. I’ve been asking, begging. Please, Marco, I’m in pain and I just want my baby.”

“No, you misunderstood me, Imogene. She’s with her new mother. The woman who will raise her. The woman who will get to watch her meet every milestone and make all the memories with her. You are not that woman.”

“W-what do you mean? You have them bring my baby to me, Marco. You can’t take her from me. I won’t let you take my baby.”

“She’s not your baby. She’s mine. You’re nothing but trash. Your whole family was nothing but trash. You don’t deserve to raise my baby.”

“B-but you let me s-set up her nursery. You let m-me name her.”

“So as not to upset you, and thus potentially hurt her, yes. I let you live in a fantasy for a while.”

“Emma? It’s Sebastian. You’re safe. Come back to me now, Sprinkles. It’s just you and me in your bakery. Stone and Hawk are outside, they’re protecting you too, but it’s just you and me in the bakery now.”

“W-where is s-she? W-what did you do?”

“Who? Where’s who?”

Emma recognized the baritone voice. It wasn’t Marco. Her mind was confused. This wasn’t the hospital. He hadn’t just taken her baby from her. She blinked the room back into focus and let out a sob as she looked into the safety of her favorite gray eyes.

“Sebastian? What happened?” The blood rushing between her ears made her head ache.

“Em. You’re okay. Just breathe, sweetheart.” Sebastian was down on his haunches in front of her, palms up as if he was trying to show he wasn’t a physical threat to her. Glass was scattered across the floor, a distant memory of her frantically swiping at Stone’s table shot through her memory. “I need to take that knife out of your hand and check the cut, okay?”

“I didn’t know…”

“No, it’s not your fault. You’re okay. You’re safe. Is it okay if I touch you?”

“Y-yes.”

His hand gently skimmed across hers, urging her to release the grip she had on the knife. Her brain registered the blood and her head swam.

“I’m going to be sick.”

“Don’t look at your hand. Just close your eyes and take some nice deep breaths for me, okay? I promise I’ll get your hand cleaned up fast.”

“I’m safe. I’m safe with Seb.” She mumbled the words in between breaths, placating her racing heart.

“That’s right, Sprinkles. You’re safe with me. I’m going to help you over to a table and have the guys come back in, okay? I want you to just sit and take some deep breaths.”

“N-no, Seb. I can’t sit by the windows. M-my office, okay?”

“Okay. Let’s get you back there.”

He held her close to his body, and she leaned into him more than she wanted to. Her body was completely drained from her panic attack. She hadn’t had one in years, and some hopeful part of her heart had thought she never would again. How naive could she be?

“Can you tell me what happened?” he asked as he helped her sit down on the small sofa in her office.

“How did you even get here? Weren’t you in a meeting?”

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