Page 24 of Paper Coffins

“You knowwhat will help with that look on your face?”

There’s barely a pause, hardly even a beat.

“A good pint.”

I drag my eyes away from the skyline, my finger still nestled around the trigger of my gun that sits on my lap, loose fingers cradling it.

“Rocky road isn’t just a metaphor, but you can pick your poison,” he jests. “It usually helps with a broken heart, but it might just do the trick for this pity party. Or would you like an actual pint? I can take you to the pub.”

We’ve never had limits to push, but if we did, Sebastian is definitely testing them.

“Are you mocking me right now?”

“Would I mock a man with a loaded gun?”

Narrowing my gaze, I scowl at him as he stands above me, silhouetted by the full moon behind him. “Yes.”

He chuckles, not at all perturbed by the fact I’m sitting here, dark and brooding, nursing my SIG Sauer.

“You’re right. I totally would.” He slumps down next to me, that shit-eating grin still on his face. “Should I be worried this is your go-to after you blow me off?”

Should he?

Part of me wants to go rogue some days. Play in the dark that calls and leave Sebastian well out of it. But keeping him at arm’s length isn’t fair on him. Mercy isn’t something we have granted, and it isn’t time to be gracing anything of the sort. Sebastian had been in this long enough to know how this goes.

Leaving him out now would be just downright cruel, and while I have a list as long as my arm for worthy candidates of my brand of cruelty, Sebastian is not one of them.

“I don’t know… should you be?” I ask sardonically, allowing a small curl at the side of my lip. “Are you scared, Sebastian?”

“Oh, please.” He waves me off. “What were you hoping to shoot up here, anyway? A pigeon?”

“A pigeon?”

“Well, what the fuck else am I meant to pick out?” He leans forward in his seat, looking around. “Foot traffic doesn’t even come near here, Alistair’s away on business, and the nearest building is far out of your skillset and range.”

“Did you come here purposely to annoy me?”

“No, I did not, but you give me the perfect ammunition, brother.”

That wicked grin’s back, and there’s something calming about it. Softly, I sigh, let my shoulders drop, and shake my head as I prepare my admission.

“I don’t know what I was planning on shooting.”

He falls back against the back of the bench, our arms side-by-side, and looks at the same things I’m looking out at.

“So, how about you put the safety on and tuck that little beauty away in your waistband?”

“Still nervous?”

“Nah.” He exhales, laughing. “Well, yeah actually, but more of your dodgy aim than being an actual target.”

I can’t resist the laughter that bubbles in my chest. It’s enough to let him lead into his next conversation topic.

“You’re looking angrier than usual.”

“Eternal state, this one,” I grouse mirthlessly.

“Does it have anything to do with you getting cosy with a raven-haired beauty in The Regency bar earlier?” He pushes against me, nudging me playfully over the situation, full focus on me. “And was this what I was abandoned for?”

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