Page 154 of Bastian

She steps forward, and the guards see it as a threat, so they each move in front of me while Benjamin stands behind me, ready to intervene if Nessa pushes it.

“You’re a pathetic—”

Laughing coldly, I dismiss her. “Leave, and do so quietly because if you so much as cause a scandal or show your face here or anywhere Sebastian is again, I will personally make sure you don’t get a second chance at life like the last time.” With that not-so-subtle threat, I lean back in my seat and watch as she’s escorted out of my office while everyone outside witnesses her departure.

No one messes with Sebastian. No one but me.

She not only tried to hurt Sebastian but my partner and friend, Quinne, too. I had Benjamin dig deep, and he found some interesting details about Nessa. For example, the last name she goes by is not her real name. Her real name is attached to Quinne’s gruesome past.

A name that explains why she was so eager to help me ruin Sebastian’s image. Sebastian pardoned four criminals who didn’t deserve redemption in her eyes.

The girl is insane.

And she clearly messed with the wrong family.

She betrayed my trust, and what happens next, well… that’s the bed she made.

She can lie and bleed in it.

“You two are one and the same…” My eyes leave the hall where Nessa disappears with the guards tailing her and turn to Benjamin. “The way you looked and sounded while handling that girl. That’s how he would have done it.” Sebastian, he means. I do realize Sebastian and I are a lot alike, and it works for us, even if he infuriates me fifty percent of the time. “He would have ordered me to spill some blood or call in a favor to Sandoval to handle the pricks, though.”

Chuckling, “Like I would allow that girl’s blood to ruin my suit or my pristine floors, Benjamin.”

Rubbing my belly, I feel my kid kick, filling my once icy heart with more warmth and joy. I can’t wait to show you how to mess with people, little tyrant…

The baby kicks again.

Yeah… you’re already your daddy and mommy’s baby. A little troublemaker.

Walking to my desk, I take a seat.

Nuisance resolved.

Now, we move on.

“Yeah… that’s something the pompous prick would say, too.” My friend shakes his head and laughs.

His laugh fills my heart with joy, too.

Opening my email, I see there’s a message from my doctor’s office reminding me of my next appointment. “You may leave now…” I offer Benjamin a grin.

“I love you, too, my girl.” he says, chuckling as he exits my office.

Resting back on my office chair, I smile.

A real smile.

“We are loved, kid…” I whisper to my baby while looking at the clouds and sunny sky outside the window.

At one point, hate and misery plagued my heart and soul, and now… now, there is only joy. “So loved.” I whisper. So, so loved.

ARIANNA

FEELS LIKE HOME

“How did I get so lucky? To end up being loved by you?” — B

Weeks later

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