Page 93 of Deadly Rival

“Right, then.” The doctor sticks a patch over Sebastian’s good eye. “Let’s see, shall we?”

I hold Sebastian’s hand as the doctor unravels the bandage. I hiss as the damage is revealed. A thick scar bisects Sebastian’s eye, and I tighten my grip on his hand.

“That bad, hey? Good thing I already own you, or you might have run for the hills.” He tries to keep his tone light, but I can hear the strain.

“No. You were all boring and pretty before. Now you look dangerous, like an assassin. I like it.”

He laughs, but it has a panicky edge. “So, what now, Doc? Do I try to open it?”

“In your own time, yes. It’ll be painful, and don’t expect to see clearly if the eye is still functional. We’re hoping for light and blurry shapes.”

“Wonderful news.”

Sebastian takes a deep breath and winces as his eye opens a crack. He snaps it shut, then tries again, this time getting a little farther. “There’s light!”

I glance at the doctor, who gives me a small smile. “It’s a good sign. Not definitive, but a good sign.”

“There are shapes too. Is that you, pet? Lift your hand for me.”

I do, and his smile lights up my heart. “I saw that! Now take off your top.”

I gasp, and he laughs. “Kidding. I’m kidding. This is good though, right?”

“Yes. Very good, indeed.”

An hour later, Sebastian is set up with an eye patch to allow the eye to rest and recover, and I’m signed up for a basic online anatomy course. The idea of studying still tightens my chest,but I’m excited, too. This time, I’ll have all the support I need. We walk out of Medical hand in hand.

“Hey. How many fingers am I holding up?” I turn to see Quinn, both middle fingers raised in our direction.

Jacob smacks her ass hard enough to make me grab my own in sympathy. “Behave.”

She turns the middle fingers on him. “After what you pulled yesterday? No. This month is going to be as bad for you as it is for me.”

“Oh, I highly doubt that.” Jacob’s voice, low and dangerous, makes her drop her hands.

All Sebastian’s friends have been waiting for us. Gabriel asks, “So…are we celebrating or drowning our sorrows?”

“Celebrating.”

A round of hugs, high-fives, and manly back claps follows. I watch, smiling, until Quinn drags me off to one side. “You are so fucking lucky. I’d have fetched that bone a hundred times above what he did to me. Did you hear? The fucking audacity!”

She chatters on and on, and it makes the day brighter. I don’t just have Sebastian here. I have friends and a life. A weird, fucked-up one, yes. But normal wasn’t really working for me, was it?

For the first time, I’m happy right where I am.

Epilogue

Sebastian

Three Months later

“I can’t do this. I don’t want to. I’m not doing it.”

Ophelia examines herself in the full-length mirror, tugging at her costume. It’s a much, much sluttier version of a classic Playboy bunny suit—tiny black skirt with a fluffy white tail and black stockings with lace garters. Stiletto heels and a pair of white bunny ears complete the look. I haven’t given her anything to cover her tits.

She looks incredible, and the red-hot blush on her face and chest caps the outfit off nicely.

I stand behind her in the mirror and rest my hand on her hip. She says she doesn’t want to do this, but her blown-out pupils and rock-hard nipples tell a different tale. Still, I make a show of compassion.

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