He lo
oks to Tres. “Keep her safe.” Tres nods his understanding.
When we reach the tent, Elliot is squatting next to the globe. He looks over his shoulder when he hears us approach.
“What’s up?” he asks, sounding nervous as he wipes his hands on a rag.
Without a word, Sebastian marches toward him, his fist flying into Elliot’s face. Elliot’s head jerks back with the hit, his expression stunned. He brings his hands to his nose, and when he pulls away, they’re bloody.
“What the fuck was that for?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Isaac.” Sebastian brings his hand to his chin, like he’s in deep thought. “For lying about who you are for two goddamn years. For locking Evan in a fucking cargo trailer. For breaking into her hotel room. Take your pick.”
What?
Elliot’s eyes dart toward me, but Sebastian shoves him backward. “Don’t fucking look at her.”
Suddenly, Elliot dips a shoulder and tackles Sebastian, both of them hitting the ground, fists wailing on each other. I lunge forward to stop their fight, but Tres wraps an arm around my waist, holding me back.
Sebastian gains the upper hand, grabbing Elliot’s collar in both hands. “What the fuck was your goal? Huh?” he shouts, spit flying from his lips.
“My goal?” He laughs, blood dripping from his mouth. “To see what my father left us for. So far, I’m not impressed.”
Sebastian’s eyebrows nosedive, his expression unreadable. “What does Evan have to do with any of that?”
“Nothing. That part was just for fun.” Elliot smirks, smiling like a psychopath.
Sebastian snaps, cracking his forehead against Elliot’s. His head flies back, and he hits the ground with a groan. Sebastian continues hitting him, landing blow after blow, as Elliot lies there, barely moving.
“Sebastian!” I scream. He doesn’t so much as pause. I look over to Eros and Lathan. “Stop him! He’s going to kill him!”
They hesitate, looking conflicted.
Digging my nails into Tres’ forearm, I claw my way out of his hold, running toward Sebastian. He’s like a man possessed, his cross dangling from his chest in between them as he beats the shit out of Elliot.
Just as I reach Sebastian, I’m being pulled into Eros’ arms and he’s turning away, carrying me out of the tent.
“Lathan, please,” I beg as Eros carries me past him. “Don’t let him do this.”
He gives me a slight nod, walking toward them in no particular hurry. Eros turns back around, making sure to keep a tight hold on me. Lathan hooks his arms under Sebastian’s from behind, pulling him off Elliot. “He’s done.”
Sebastian’s chest heaves, breathing raggedly as Elliot moans in pain, rolling onto his side. “Get the fuck out of here,” Sebastian spits. “Now. If you come back, you’re signing your death warrant.”
Elliot struggles to get to his feet, and I can’t help but feel bad for him. Violence, no matter how deserved, never feels good.
“Leave your bike. Leave all your shit. Get in your fucking truck and leave. Now,” Eros says, and I can feel his deep voice vibrating in his chest. Eros doesn’t get mean. He’s the opposite of scary. But this version of him is a side I haven’t seen.
Elliot stumbles, getting to his feet, slowly making his way through the tent and to his truck, hunched over, holding his stomach. We all watch in silence as he gets into his truck and drives away until his taillights disappear.
Sebastian makes his way over to me, wrapping his bloodied hand around the back of my head, the other one pulling me in by the small of my back. From the corner of my eye, I see the rest of the guys quietly duck out of the tent. “I’m sorry,” he rasps into my ear.
I shake my head. “You stopped.” I don’t pretend to know the first thing about how he must be feeling, but he doesn’t need that on his conscience.
Sebastian presses his lips to mine, kissing the top one, then the bottom before his tongue sweeps inside. I grab a fist full of his shirt, returning his kiss until we both pull away breathless.
“I love you,” I say, peering up into those green eyes. He squeezes them shut, like it’s painful to hear the words, before pulling me into his chest. I don’t know why I said it, other than I felt it and I couldn’t keep it in any longer. I love this flawed, beautiful, maybe-cursed McAllister boy. And even though he doesn’t say it with words, I know he loves me, too.
Two weeks later