Page 38 of Fated Shot

Her hand pushes against him. “W-what are you—”

Seb cuts her off immediately. “You’re so fucking predictable, you know that? You think I didn’t see how you looked at him?”

His laugh grates my ears as he leans down, getting right in her face.

“Even so, I’m willing to overlook it as nothing more than another childish little outburst.” He’s fully in her face, smirking at her distress. “You’re so immature it’s painful sometimes. You’re lucky I’m so forgiving.”

“Back the fuck up,” I growl as I approach. Seeing Mia’s panicked expression immediately kicks my primal instinct into overdrive. There’s no peacekeeper in sight. I’m going to fucking kill him. Trying my best to keep my head on straight, I breathe through the curdling rage in my gut, “Now.”

“Ha!” Seb calls, turning his head to look at me while not moving from his stance on Mia. “If it isn’t the oaf himself.” A maniacal grin painting his face. The dude looks fucking demonic.

Clearly not phased by my presence, he seems too worked up in a manic show to stop. “You think he wants you, Amelia?” He turns his attention back to her. He lowers his head to her ear, whispering loud enough for me to hear. “You’re such a child. He’sgonna fuck you, realize you’re average as hell, and you’ll come crawling back to me.”

She shudders at his words, squeezing her eyes shut and turning her head away from him.

“Don’t say another fucking word.” I reach my arm out, shoving him away from Mia. He stumbles a few steps backward, and I barely touched him. Even injured, I could wreck him without breaking a sweat,scrawny little shit.

His smile wipes away quickly, but he takes a step toward me. Quiet rage radiates out of me as I stare him down from my stance between them.Try me, fucker. He finally backs off, accurately reading the situation. If we went toe to toe, I could kill him, and he knows it.

“Cool it, bro, I was just leaving.” Raising both his hands in innocence. “I’ve got a plane to catch, you know to myrealjob, Amelia,” he adds pointedly, leaning around my body to look at her like the shit disturber he is.

“Don’t you fucking look at her.” I step forward, shoving him off balance again. “I swear to god, this is your last chance.” I try to quiet the thundering in my chest. I seriously don’t want to subject Mia to what I’m capable of. The last thing I want to do right now is scare her more than she already is.

“I’m going,” he says, trying to sound unbothered, but it comes out shrill. I make a point of taking slow, measured breaths as I watch him leave, exiting out of the side street without even turning back.

Calm the fuck down, take care of Mia.

I turn to her as I cup my hand gently around her jaw, tilting her face upwards toward me. She flinches at my touch, and every inch of my body stiffens under her response.

“I’m sorry,” I let out in desperation as I move my hand to rub her arm instead. Her whole body is shaking, her eyes vacant, and her face devoid of expression.

I’ll kill him.

Unsure eyes meet mine ever so briefly before she drops her gaze.

“I’m sorry to, um.” She licks her lips, taking a moment to formulate her words. “I’m sorry to drag you into that.”

The hell is she talking about? Drag me into what? The guy cornered her. My mind races to what would have happened if I wasn’t there, but I push that aside and refocus on her. She’s still not meeting my eyes.

“Um, I’m gonna head to,” her tone hesitant, as she looks up, pointing weakly further down the street before shaking her head and thinking to herself. “Uh, I mean,” she points the other way.

“I’m walking you home.” I gently place my hand on the arch of her back and lead her back to Oakcrest Tower.

Chapter 17

Mia

I feel like I just had an out-of-body experience.

It’s not Seb’s words or actions that sent me there. Although rare, he’s always been that intense behind closed doors. I’ve just never had anyone witness it before, and the realization of that intensity made it that much worse. It sent me into protection mode.

We walk silently across the street as Jack guides me into Oakcrest and up the elevator. My mind is surprisingly blank—while my body struggles between staggered breaths, uneasy steps, and shaking hands. I don’t know if I’m riled, in shock, angry, or a combination of all three. The only emotion I can pinpoint for certain is straight humiliation.

The moment we reach my door, I pause. I can’t seem to gather the words that I want to communicate. This is my mess, the one I’ve been too weak to face. Jack doesn’t need to be pulled into this crap, and somehow, he’s been dragged into it now on more than one occasion. Even so, I still can’t help the ache of wanting to just be in his arms, let him comfort me, settle into the couch and justbe.

I turn to his concerned face, anguished expression frantically assessing me. Through the ashamed tears threatening to break out, I let out, hardly more than a whisper, “I’m so sorry,” as I pull him into a hug.

His strong arms wrap around me immediately as I settle, my cheek pressed against his pounding heart. His palm splays out, cradling my head against him. In his protective grip, all the tension in my body eases as his warmth floods my system. Appreciation is an understatement.

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