Page 39 of Sebastian

“For you and Katy. Don’t tell me that sweet girl of yours doesn’t need a treat. I take my auntie-status seriously.”

“Auntie, huh?”

“Well, as Daisy’s best friend, her baby is my niece or nephew. Daisy is Grace’s cousin, so that means Jack is my nephew. And Katy is Jackson and Grace’s niece, which means she’s my niece, too.”

John laughed. “It makes perfect sense when you say it like that. I’ll let her know her Aunt Emma is trying to spoil her rotten.”

“Perfect. See you later, John.”

Emma took a few minutes to wipe down the display case and wash up some dishes in the back before heading back out front. The bakery was in its midday lull, and Emma was thankful for the break. She took a chocolate cookie out of the display case and grabbed a glass of water, already knowing a certain someone at the corner table needed a pick-me-up.

“Alright. Here’s a water and triple chocolate cookie, which should be able to turn that frown upside down.” Emma placed the items in front of Stone. The poor man was living up to his nickname with his face stuck in a deep scowl. “Jeepers, what’s got you in such a bad mood?”

“Unfortunately, nothing I can discuss with you, beautiful.”

“Ahh, mysterious contracting work with the government not all it’s cut out to be?”

“Something like that. What did that deputy want?”

“Who? Oh, John? He wasn’t here for anything more than a coffee. Don’t worry, I’m safe.”

“Well that’s good, especially seeing as how I grabbed coffee from Seb’s office today and it’s terrible. Natalie seems like a great assistant, but she cannot make a good cup of coffee. Tasted like melted rubber bands.”

“Stone! Why didn’t you just stop in here earlier?” Movement on the sidewalk caught her eye. Ugh, Alan was on the sidewalk talking to someone she couldn’t see. “I cannot believe you would—” Alan moved, walking away from the shop and she couldn’t breathe. It was as if the world stopped turning, her eyes laser focused on the man he was talking to, now peering in at her as he began to turn and walk away. They locked eyes, and every fiber of her being ripped apart from fear. Those dark amber eyes pierced through her, making her stomach clench with dread.

Her body froze, and she couldn’t do anything except stare out the window. A noise in the distance jolted her mind. Was someone screaming? Was it her?

Her world was fading away. She tried to grab a hold of something before the floor came out from under her, and her hands desperately reached for the table that Stone was sitting at. Cold metal touched her skin and she snatched the utensil up, wrapping her fingers around it so tightly that she felt the sting of the metal digging into her skin.

“Emma?” Stone’s voice drifted in front of her but her vision was blurry. “Emma! What’s wrong?”

It wasn’t her step-father. She’d known this whole time, felt it deep within her bones, but was too afraid to believe it could be true.

Marco was there. She would never escape him now.

What she wouldn’t give for her world to go back to just a few minutes before, when she let herself live in delusion and prayed the big bad wolf was coming after her, not the devil himself. No, she wasn’t that lucky. His bald head was covered by a baseball cap, but there was no missing that disgusting sneer he had plastered across his face as he locked eyes with her.

She had to run. She needed to force her body to move. Run, Emma! Run because you’re life depends on it. Her chest hurt. Why? Why wasn’t her body moving like she needed it to? The old scar on her stomach ached, searing with a warning of what was to come. Her feet slid out from underneath her, knees failing to catch her before she crashed to the ground.

“You’re my wife, Imogene. You’ll do as I say. There will be no talking back, there will be no refusals. You are mine to do with as I see fit. And I say open that nasty, pouty mouth of yours and suck me off.”

“Emma. What’s wrong?”

“Fuck you, Marco. Y-you can’t force yourself on me. I can say no.”

“I hate to break it to you, but I can. And I will. You will fulfill the role of wife, in every way I demand you to.”

“I’ll bite you. I fucking will.”

“Is she okay? Should we call 9-1-1?”

“Such a nasty mouth for such a pretty little thing. I’d think with a mouth like that you’d have no problem doing what I’m telling you to do.”

Her world faded to black as the first punch landed on her face.

“You are nothing. You are no one now. There is not a single person in this world who cares about you. The last person in your broken family sold you to get out from your dead mother’s medical debts, and you almost weren’t worth enough to cover that.”

“I think we need to get her help. Emma dear? Can you hear me?”

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