Cruel Seduction (Underground Kings 2)

Sebastian.

My hand covers my mouth, and I want nothing more than to take a step in his direction, but my feet are frozen to the ground. I could make a run for it, but then what if Sebastian gets hurt? I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.

Our eyes lock, and I can almost breathe in the way he makes me feel; it feels that good, that liberating, and that is how it is supposed to feel with someone you love. Love is supposed to be strong, wild, and a bit crazy. And that is what Sebastian makes me feel. He makes me feel all sorts of crazy.

His blue eyes are relieved, intense, happy, and furious all at the same time. He speaks to the guy next to him out of the corner of his mouth, and the man’s eyes land on mine, shock evident in his face.

Both take a step forward, but I glance at Kendrick pulling out his wallet, and I hold up my hand to stop them. Oh, I don’t want to stop them. It is the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life.

Sebastian doesn’t listen. He takes another step, his long legs eating up the distance all too quick. God, he looks so good. His hair is wild, kind of slicked back, but a few pieces fall unruly over his forehead. Those blue eyes sear me, piercing me like a needle to my skin.

The hard edge of his mouth tells me he is determined to get me out of here, damned the consequences.

It isn’t just me who is in danger—it’s him, his friend, the children getting popcorn next to me, the pregnant woman standing behind Kendrick, who has no idea he has a gun hidden under his shirt.

I shake my head at Sebastian and point with my index finger to the reason why I don’t want him coming any further. His eyes follow my finger, and his jaw flexes when he sees why he can’t come any closer. His friend, the guy with an angry expression on his face, nods as Sebastian speaks.

What are they planning?

Are they going to get me out of here? How? It’s too crowded. Kendrick won’t like it. He won’t allow me out of his sight. If this fails, the punishment I’ll receive will be very severe.

So severe, I’m afraid I won’t survive it.

In a blink of an eye, his friend is gone, and in the next blink, so is Sebastian.

I turn around, looking for him, wanting the safety I felt again even if it is just for a second. I want him back. It has been too long since I’ve seen him; maybe he is a figment of my imagination. That makes more sense.

Why would Sebastian be here after so many years? Out of all places?

Kendrick takes a step back and reaches out his hand to grab the leash without looking at me, and something zips by, blowing off four of his fingers, spraying blood all over my dress. He cries in agony, and his good hand grabs his wrist; the only digit he has left is his thumb. Blood pours down his arm, and I can see the bone peeking out from the flesh and muscle.

“My sweet, let’s go. It isn’t safe,” he says, tripping over his own two feet, but instead of listening to him, I rebel.

I unhook the collar from around my neck and toss it at him.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Put that back on! I own you. I will always own you, and if you think for one minute you will ever be able to be free of me, you’re dead wrong. I will always find you, my sweet. You are mine until I say otherwise.” He takes a step forward and wraps the leash around my neck, choking me. “And I have something very special planned for you, so you aren’t going anywhere!” he roars.

The crowd around us is hysterical from the chaos surrounding us. A gunshot whistles through the air and pierces Kendrick in the chest, through and through, and punctures my bicep.

I stumble back as Kendrick loses the grip on the leash. Blood pools along the wound and soaks his shirt. I bite my tongue from lashing out and hold my hand to my arm, then I do the only thing I’ve been waiting to do for far too long.

I run.

I’ll never luck back. I don’t care if the fucker dies in the middle of the road, holding grapes. Tears blur my eyes, and my legs pump as I sprint in the direction of the highway. I want Sebastian, but I have no idea where he is. I have a feeling I made him up in my head, and that means I am losing my mind.

My shoes hurt my feet. Blisters are forming from the leather rubbing against my skin as I run uphill, blood flowing between my fingers as I put pressure on the wound. The hill is too much. I haven’t been outside in too long, nor have I worked out. My body is weak.

I am weak.

I get lightheaded and as I begin to fall, someone tackles me, pulling me safe into their arms as they get me out of harm’s way.

For the briefest of moments, I think it’s Kendrick, but then my body warms, and my heart thumps in a way that only happens when Sebastian is around.

“Look at me, baby. Look at me, Gabriella.” His hands cup my face, but I am too afraid to open my eyes because if he really isn’t there, what am I going to do? I can’t live with the despair that he isn’t in front of me, touching me, holding me, talking to me. I’ve missed him so much, and life has been hell for so long.

I don’t think the world has any kindness for me left.

“Come on, baby. Look at me, please, god, please let me look at you,” he urges.