Page 15 of Seth
Seth instantly understood that people like Gustavo DeSilva weren’t used to hearing “no” to their requests, as well as he would have no control over whatever would happen in this room today. With a critical eye, he reevaluated his surroundings. A few men dressed in simple dark suits stood out against the prime crowd. Postures tense, they watched Seth with strained eyes.
At that moment, Seth saw only two options; neither appealed. To stay put and listen to the stranger, maybe fulfill his request, except Seth didn’t like being manipulated. Or to flee and hope that the next encounter would be in his favor, but Seth loathed this option as well. A person who came to the presentation with such a dangerous cargo would think through their next encounter to the smallest detail. Next time Seth, most likely, wouldn’t have any options at all.
He scanned the room, gaze stumbling over the tense figures scattered around the perimeter.If they even let me leave...
“What’s wrong? You look like you saw a ghost or lost something,” Gustavo murmured, clearly enjoying himself.
Seth stilled, head tilting to the side.Did he mock me?
Gustavo inched closer. “What’s with your manners? Have you swallowed your tongue or what? You could at least say thank you. I went to a lot of trouble for you.”
Seth’s face hardened as disappointment took over. His chin lowered to his chest as he glared at the man from under his brows.You want to play ugly?Fine. I can play ugly too.Let’s see how confident you’ll be when I overturn the chest. I might have to leave my life behind, but I’ll make sure to destroy yours as well.
Such passion…Every fiber of Gustavo’s soul was taut as he held the glare full of threat.That’s it, Loco. Show me your true colors.
Seth turned to the chest eyeing it with suspicious determination. Gustavo’s blood warmed with adrenaline as tangible waves of aggression emitted from the beast. On instinct, he blocked Seth’s way, making eye contact with the murderer.
“Seth, please excuse us.” Arnold, squeezing between them, grabbed Gustavo’s biceps and dragged him away. With his large, muscular body, the man often looked uncomfortable in his designers’ suits, as if they constricted him, now more than ever. Dropping his voice a fraction, he blurted out, “I should have told you sooner; it’s my fault. Seth lost his voice to fire years ago. He is almost aphonic. Please don’t be insulted if he doesn’t respond.”
Aphonic…Gustavo frowned, scanning Seth’s bare neck and hands for burns, finding nothing.It wasn’t arrogance. Being the center of attention of media and admirers yet being unable to say anything must be uncomfortable, annoying even. And I just tipped him over…
Gustavo wanted to ask more about the fire, but Seth’s cheek flinched. He glared at the chest as if considering approaching it, then at the curious crowd surrounding them, before turning on his heel.
Not ready to part, Gustavo surged after him, grabbed his elbow.I must have hit a nerve if he leaves the sand and body behind. He clearly saw it.
This wasn’t how he planned their first meeting to end, so to mend fences he blurted, “Apologies. I didn’t mean to be rude. I just wanted to introduce myself and to express my utmost adoration of your work. SkyBlade project is breathtaking. I bet everyone can feel that you invested all your heart in it.” Dubious words fell out naturally. Seth’s expression hardened, and at that moment, Gustavo once again read his death sentence in the beast’s eyes.
“Indeed, my friend.” Arnold smiled as he caught up, relief draining pressure from his facial muscles.
“Anyway,” Gustavo continued, ignoring the older man, as his gaze sank deeper into Seth’s eyes. They weren’t brown as he originally assumed, but a very dark mix of gray and blue, like a stormy sky. “I sincerely hope that you appreciated my gift. I will have it delivered to your home. I can’t wait to see what you will do with it, and of course, I dare to hope that we can become … friends. I’m sure this is not our last meeting.”
Without a sign of recognition, Seth wrenched his elbow out of Gustavo’s grasp. His chin flew high as he granted the man a burning stare before storming out of the ballroom under the murmurs of journalists.
Approaching from behind, Diego looped his arm around Gustavo’s shoulder. “Well done, you pissed him off. I’m one step closer to getting your yacht. Wait, is that a nail?”
With a sigh, Gustavo shook his friend off, bent down, and slammed the lid of the chest closed before turning around. “I didn’t see any burns on him that night. This is annoying, Diego. Why did I learn about his voice and fire from someone else?”
Diego raised an offended brow. “His past is… scattered. It looks like his dad did a good job of concealing it.”
Gustavo hummed. “Did you just admit your incompetence?”
“Fuck you,” Diego mouthed, grinning. “You’ll get it soon.”
“Find everything you can about him. If you can’t, I’ll find someone who can. Any news from that BDSM club?”
“Not yet. They aren’t very active during a working week. We hope to learn something tonight.”
“Hurry up. I need to know everything about him before our next meeting. And,” Gustavo extended his hand palm up, “you owe me a thousand.”
* * *
Seth torethe shirtoff his shoulders and threw it on the floor. The cold curiosity in the black eyes wounded his pride, making Seth feel like a bizarre animal locked in a zoo. The feeling was painfully familiar. It brought back memories Seth wished to forget. The memories filled with smoke, screams, and the coppery taste of blood. Seth shook his head, chasing them away.Fuck it…
Rage, pumping through his veins, urged his body to move, robbing him of the ability to stay put. His brain replayed the evening’s events, bringing to his attention the smallest details about the people he’d encountered and things he’d seen.
He wasn’t alone.The memory sharpened at the men who had delivered the chest and their loose-fitting jackets that bulged under their left arms.
How did they pass the security check?Arnold Alby valued his safety, so in addition to metal detectors, a security team checked every person, every purse. No one could bring guns, let alone a chest with a corpse, to an event like that without alerting security.
