Page 73 of Witch's Promise

He couldn't do it. Not again. The past few days with Gabe had been like coming up for air after years of drowning. To lose that, to go back to the empty existence he'd been living... Sean wasn't sure he'd survive it this time.

But what were his options? Beg Gabe to stay? Ask to go with him to Manhattan? The idea was tempting, but Sean squashed itruthlessly. He had no place in Gabe's world of gods and heroes. He was damaged goods, a liability at best and a danger at worst.

Besides, it was too soon. They'd only just started reconnecting, trying to rebuild something from the ashes of their past. Asking to uproot his entire life and follow Gabe to a new city? That was too much, too fast.

Wasn't it?

Sean's spiraling thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his name. He looked up to find both Gabe and Alex watching him expectantly.

"Sorry, what?" Sean said, mentally kicking himself for zoning out during such an important conversation.

Gabe's brow furrowed with concern. "I was just telling Alex about your connection to Riley. Your inside knowledge of the organization could be invaluable in tracking him down."

Sean nodded, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand. This was bigger than his personal drama. People's lives were at stake. "Right, yeah. I'll tell you everything I know. Though I'm not sure how much help I'll be. It's been years since I was involved with any of that shit."

Alex leaned forward, his intense gaze pinning Sean in place. "Any information you can provide could be crucial. We need every advantage we can get in this fight."

As Sean began to recount what he knew of Riley and his father's organization, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was standing at a crossroads. The choices he made in the coming days would shape not just his future, but potentially the fate of Salem's entire magical community.

It was a terrifying thought. Sean had spent so long running from responsibility, from the consequences of his actions. Now, here he was, thrust into the middle of a conflict with stakes higher than he could have imagined.

But as he caught Gabe's eye across the table, saw the pride and trust shining there, Sean felt something shift inside him. Maybe he didn't belong in this world of gods and heroes. Maybe he was still the same fuck-up he'd always been.

But Gabe believed in him. Gabe saw something in him worth fighting for, worth giving a second chance.

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough to start with.

Sean straightened in his chair, squaring his shoulders as he dove into the details of Riley's operation. He might not be a hero, might not have a place in this grand cosmic struggle. But he'd be damned if he didn't do everything in his power to help Gabe and his team stop whatever Riley was planning.

It wasn't much. But it was a start. And for the first time in a very long time, Sean allowed himself to hope that maybe, just maybe, it could lead to something more.

Sean was in the middle of explaining a particularly convoluted aspect of his father's organization when his phone buzzed insistently in his pocket. He fished it out, ready to silence it, but froze when he saw the caller ID. Dad.

"Fuck," Sean muttered, his heart rate spiking. His father never called. Not unless something was seriously wrong.

"Everything okay?" Gabe asked, concern etching his features.

Sean nodded, already pushing back from the table. "Yeah, just... I need to take this. Sorry. I'll be right back."

He could feel their eyes on him as he hurried out of the room, his father's ringtone growing more insistent with each step. Sean's mind raced, conjuring up a dozen worst-case scenarios. Had Riley made a move? Was the organization compromised?

Once in the hallway, Sean answered the call, pressing the phone to his ear with a shaking hand. "Dad? What's going on?"

The sound that greeted him made his blood run cold. His father's voice, usually so strong and commanding, came out as aragged whisper. "S-Sean, Son? Whatever they say, don't do it. I'll be fine. Don-"

The words cut off abruptly, replaced by the sickening thud of flesh meeting flesh. Sean's stomach lurched as he heard his father's muffled grunt of pain.

"Dad? Dad!" Sean shouted, gripping the phone so tightly his knuckles turned white.

A new voice came on the line, smooth and coldly amused. "Hello, Sean. It's been a while."

"Riley," Sean growled, fury and fear warring for dominance in his chest. "What the fuck do you want?"

Riley's laugh sent shivers down Sean's spine. "Oh, it's quite simple, really. I want you to bring me the girl. You have one hour to deliver her and yourself to the address I'm about to send you. Fail to comply, and Daddy dearest here gets to find out just how creative I can be with a knife."

Sean's mind raced, searching for a way out of this impossible situation. "I'm not bringing Jessy into this," he snarled. "Whatever your problem is, you take it out on me. Leave the girl out of this, you psycho."

"Now, now," Riley chided, his tone dripping with false concern. "Is that any way to talk to the man holding your father's life in his hands? One hour, Sean. You and the girl. Or Daddy dies screaming."

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