Page 24 of Blackmail
“Hey, listen.” Sebastian scribbles something on the back of a business card and hands it over. “Your friends all want to help. You’re in good hands here. If you need it, though, my number is on this card. If you need help with anything, even if it’s paying the hospital bill, call me. I can also put you in touch with a detective I trust.”
Fuck this fucking guy. I can’t stand how fucking much his being kind to my friend makes me like him.
Christian still looks uncertain. “You don’t know me.”
“That’s my bad luck. But I do know this guy.” Sebastian angles his head toward me. “I know it takes a big heart to want to go into nursing, and I know he’s probably going to worry like crazy about you if you don’t get checked out. I just looked it up on my phone, and a broken nose can cause…snoring.” He whispers that last word as if it’s some kind of shameful thing.
The joke makes Christian laugh a little. And then wince, because no shit. It probably hurts for him to even breathe right now. But, finally, he agrees to go to the emergency room.
Michael goes to put Christian’s clothes in his car, and PJ checks the bathroom to make sure Michael grabbed a toothbrush. Sebastian and I are cleaning up the bloody towels and first aid supplies when Christian’s eyes get wide, and someone grabs me from behind.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Donny’s hot breath is in my ear, pulling me backward toward the busted door.
Sebastian’s already coming toward us. His fingers flex and release. He’s gearing up for a fight.
“Let him go. Right now.”
The tone of his voice tells me he’s not used to hearing the word no.
“I don’t think I give a shit what you want me to do, pretty boy.” Donny’s got one arm looped around my neck. I can breathe, but it doesn’t feel good. Doesn’t smell good, either. Whatever Donny’s been up to lately, it hasn’t involved showering.
Sebastian laughs, but it’s kind of a cold, dry laugh. “There’s something I haven’t been called before.”
Oh hell. I’m getting shivers. Am I the only one who thinks that tone sounds dangerous? And sexy as fuck?
“You should care, though,” Sebastian continues. He sticks his hands into his pockets, looking for the whole world like we’re all chatting casually. “You should care because I don’t like bullies. And if you don’t let him go, I’m going to knock you the fuck out.”
Donny’s nasally weasel laugh indicates he doesn’t find this very likely. And God help me, but he’s got bad breath too.
Lord, I know we aren’t on the best of terms these days, but if you get me out of this, I promise to floss and not just swish with mouthwash when I’m in a hurry in the morning. Forever and ever, Amen.
“May I suggest seeing a dentist, Donny? Halitosis can be a sign of gum disease or other underlying illnesses.”
“Man, shut the fuck up.”
Well, I tried.
Donny jerks me backward again but stops as suddenly as he starts. “What the fuck are you doing?”
I assume this is directed at Sebastian, who is, for some reason, opening up kitchen cabinets. This doesn’t feel like the time to go looking for snacks. Does he have low blood sugar or something?
But then he turns, holding what looks like a can of little sausages.
“Donny, is it?” Sebastian tosses the can up and catches it again. “You know processed meat is nasty for you, man. All that salt and fat, not to mention the studies that show consumption of processed meats like this can of little sausages has been associated with greater risks of diabetes and certain types of cancer. You don’t look like a guy who can afford to take health for granted, Donny.”
Is it fucked up that I’m turned on by him talking about health shit? It is, right? Except it’s not the health stats alone, it’s the ice in each word. If I didn’t have this piece of shit holding on to me, I might actually get hard.
“Dude, shut the fuck up. Get the fuck out of my house.” Lucky me, I get another blast of the man’s breath in my face.
Sebastian acts like he hasn’t even heard Donny. “There’s one other fundamental reason this can of sausages is bad for you. Probably the most important.”
Then he chucks the can at full speed toward Donny’s head.
Thank fuck I’m several inches shorter than that asshole. When Donny puts his hands up to protect his face, I drop to the floor and get out of his way. Then I scramble over to where Christian is still pale and cowering at the far edge of the kitchen area to make sure he’s okay. We really need to get him out of here.
I turn in time to see Sebastian charging at Donny. He lands a solid punch before Donny can even react.
“Looks like he’s wearing brass knuckles,” Christian murmurs.
