Abducted By My Father's Best Friend (Taken)

“It’s really weird your father is a part of this thing.”

I raise a brow. “Why?”

“Well, I just didn’t know your father was a fully invested partner. Because,” he glances over his shoulder to make sure no one is listening, “I heard Georgio is acting on his own.”

I laugh a little, pretending this is all normal. “Georgio DeWinter and my father are like this.” I hold up my index and middle finger and cross them. “Best friends for life.” Sounds lame, but I always thought it was the truth.

Enzo swipes his tongue across his ice cream again, and it makes my stomach revolt. “So, you know Sebastian Cain? The man who’s taking the fall?”

I think about his question as I put a spoonful of gelato in my mouth to stall for time. I want to tell Enzo that yes, I’ve come to know Sebastian Cain very well in the past few weeks. That every time I think about him, I get goosebumps and a longing in my core I don’t know what to do with.

I want to tell Enzo I’m falling for Sebastian Cain.

Obviously, I don’t.

I shrug a little, trying to keep my feelings at bay. “Sure, I’ve met him a few times.”

“Real asshole, huh? Georgio says it’ll be easy to frame Sebastian because everyone will believe it.”

“Why would they believe it?”

“Well, Georgio and Sebastian worked closely for many years, so of course, they’ll believe Georgio.”

“What if Sebastian says it wasn’t him, and it’s actually Georgio?”

Enzo laughs at this, like it’s the funniest thing in the world. “Georgio’s an original head of one of the Four Families.”

I jab my gelato with my spoon a few times. “Yeah, I know.” I want to ask him if there’s anything Sebastian can do to save himself, but I don’t want to blow our cover by appearing too interested in what happens to Sebastian. “Do the other families know it was Sebastian who stole?”

Enzo bites into his cone. “Yeah, everyone knows. They’re searching for him now. He’s in China or something.”

“China,” I say, with a little laugh. “Why there?”

Enzo shrugs. “I guess he thinks he can find bank transactions.” He shakes his head. “Little does he know we have all that info on Oliver’s server at home.”

“Home?”

“Yeah, Oliver lives here in the city.”

“Ah, why aren’t you staying with him?”

Enzo smiles, wiggling in his seat a bit. “Because I wanted to be closer to you.”

Now I know I need to lay it on thick. Everything to clear Sebastian’s name is at Oliver’s house in this city. “I’m happy you are.” I run a finger down his arm as I smile at him.

I hope he’s buying this.

He leans in. Oh no, he wants to kiss me. I lean forward, letting him. It’s just a small peck, and I know I need to do it to earn his trust.

“So, you sneak out of the house and this is where you end up,” Sebastian’s voice sounds from behind me before Enzo’s lips touch mine.

I turn around, looking up into the hauntingly intense blue eyes of Sebastian Cain.

He’s like fire and ice. Beautiful, if you can say a man is beautiful and with Sebastian, I think you can.

His bright blue t-shirt accentuates his eyes in the hottest of ways, and I suck in a breath. I pretend to be upset.

Wait, no I am upset.

I thought Sebastian trusted me. He knows I’m here trying to get information on my father. “Don, what are you doing here?” I ask.

“I followed you here, because I didn’t trust you being out with him.”

I apologize to Enzo for my fake father’s behavior. “I’m so sorry. I should go.”

“Yes, you should,” Sebastian says, his arms crossed over his broad chest.

He stares down at Enzo like he’s scum, and I want to kick Sebastian with my foot and ask him why he’s ruining everything.

“Everything’s fine,” Enzo says. “We were just enjoying some gelato and nice conversation.”

Sebastian scoffs. “Didn’t look like conversation to me.”

I stand, trying my best to diffuse the situation. “I’m so sorry, Enzo,” I apologize again.

Sebastian steers me out of the gelato shop with a hand on my elbow, and once we’re far enough away, I jerk my arm from his hold. “How could you do that?”

Sebastian stops walking. “I was sitting at Tony’s, and I just couldn’t handle the thought of you and Enzo together. I just kept picturing his hands and mouth all over you.”

“So?” I cross my arms over my chest.

“So, I couldn’t handle it.” He pushes a hand through his thick black hair. “I was right, too. Kissing him? What were you thinking?”

At this point, I’m so angry. “I was thinking I could get some information to clear your name.” I park a hand on my hip. “Now Enzo probably thinks you’re a jealous asshole. How can we even explain this one?”