Page 27 of Taken By the Kingpin
There’s a roar in my ears, in my head. Grey noise I can’t decipher.
I’m going to be right back to where I was at thirteen. In this evil man’s power, helpless, andalone. Deserted by all my friends and family. And this time, Sebastian won’t be able to save me, because he’s across the city helping others, assuming I’m snug and secure.
“No you don’t,” Fletcher snaps and leans down, reaching for my hair. And I see it. His gun, that’s what clattered to the ground with me. Not even thinking I throw myself across and snatch it up. My thumb finds the safety—as Sebastian taught me—and I press the trigger without aiming or considering, justat him. Because Icannotgo with him.
Ross screams and releases my wrist and hair as he falls to the floor beside me, clutching his thigh. It’s spurting red.
I shot him. My mind is blunt with shock. He was going to hurt me, and instead I shot him.
“Jeanette!”
I can’t look away from what I’ve done. I’m stone. Unable to move. There’s blood everywhere, a veritable fountain that Fletcher uselessly has his palm over.
“Angel.” Strong arms lift me and I’m brittle, cracking as I curl into Sebastian’s embrace.
“You came.” The relief to be back with Sebastian is like the clouds parting on a dark night to reveal the moon. He doesn’t negate everything bad, but he guilds it all in pretty silver, making it impossible to be scared anymore. There’s not the harsh light of day. There’s enough.
“Always. Always.” He strokes my hair and I hide my face in his shirt and breathe in the sandalwood and citrus scent of him. “I knew something was wrong as soon as I arrived, and after I …”
“Did you…” I find the ground with my feet and grab Sebastian’s arm as I look into his face. And I see the truth in the hard set of his jaw. He killed my father because he deserved it. And because he wanted to protect me.
“Jeanette, I’m sorry. I had to make the choice for you.”
I should feel regret, but I don’t. I only feel glad. Did my father die quickly or slowly and quietly like Fletcher? For all I have longed for family love, it doesn’t matter now.
Because I have Sebastian, and he is everything I didn’t know I needed.
There’s a gurgle from the floor. I made a choice too and I glance down. The fountain is already a little stream. Sebastian follows my gaze and I feel him tense.
“Is it safe?” my boss pipes up. It takes me a moment to see her, crouched behind a car.
“For now,” Sebastian all but snarls, his temper flicking like a switch. “Leave before I change my mind. And find a new administrative assistant.”
“It wasn’t her fault—” I start to protest, but Sebastian slaps my arse, hard. I suppress a yelp and glare at him.
“You liked it,” he murmurs into my hair, and I can’t deny that. The sting of his hand on my buttocks has sent an inappropriate bolt of need between my legs.
Moments later, there’s the clip of Priscilla’s shoes as she runs from the car park.
“Good luck!” I call after her, then turn to chide Sebastian softly. “Was it necessary to scare her?”
“I’m letting her go, aren’t I?” He shrugs. “No one gets to be around you but those who would lay down their lives for you. That’s my rule. She led him here.”
We both look down at Fletcher. He’s still.
“Sorry,” I whisper with a twinge of guilt, though I know he can’t hear me anymore.
“That bullet hit an artery; it wasn’t your fault. But from the moment he touched you, he was a dead man.” Sebastian squeezes my waist possessively and leads me to the elevator. “He’s lucky you got to him before I did. My way would have been far more painful.”
And I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that Sebastian will always care for me. He doesn’t care about anyone but me. His only regret is that I killed that bastard and he didn’t. I’m certain as he lifts me by the rump and presses me against the glass, kissing me hungrily, that he’d do anything. Great and terrible things to look after me. No longer the lost princess, I am his Queen. When the doors open, he doesn’t put me down, striding straight through to his blue bedroom and laying me on the bed, covering me with his body.
We line up perfectly, his cock nestled in the gap between my thighs and I have to look up just a bit for our mouths to touch.
“Angel.” He grabs my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “There are consequences foreveryonewho put you in danger.”
“Oh?” That thrill down my spine has nothing to do with the adrenaline of what just happened and everything to do with the dark promise in Sebastian’s stormy eyes.
“You deserve a thorough spanking for risking the love of my life like that.”
