Bound by Vengeance (SKALS)

by Adriana Noir

  He nodded and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. "I'd like to believe that. We will see. Some people just can’t motivate themselves to do the things they should. Lucky for you, I love you enough to help you. I also love you enough to try."

  “Thank you, Sebastian. I love you, too,” she whispered.

  Taylor closed her eyes as he palmed the back of her head and gently massaged her scalp. It wasn’t exactly forgiveness, but it seemed as close as she was going to get right now. Her chest ached. She wanted nothing more than to crawl into the warm reassurance of his arms. Leaning forward, he pressed a light kiss against her brow.

  “Go clean yourself up, get dressed, and get dinner started.”

  She nodded and blinked against a fresh wave of tears. Shame and confusion still branched through her body and Taylor choked down a whimper, trying to still the trembles in her body as she rose to her feet. Hanging her head, she smoothed the rumpled comforter and grabbed her clothes off the floor. She shivered as she made her way to the bathroom. Sebastian’s weighted stare followed her, assessing her actions every step of the way, and his words chased on her heels.

  Chapter 6 ~

  The sweet smell of mushrooms and caramelized onions wafted through the house. Setting the steaming skillet aside, Taylor checked on the hamburgers. She bit her lip, praying the simple dinner she’d taken out earlier would be enough to please Sebastian. She couldn’t afford any more screw-ups tonight. A white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake sat cooling in the fridge. At least she had the comfort of knowing dessert was one of his favorites. Her gaze flickered to the living room. He was sitting on the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table and his laptop open. He’d moved there from his study when she came down, presumably just to keep a better eye on her while he worked. Taylor swallowed, wondering what it was he thought she was going to do—or not do—that he needed to supervise her actions. Part of her kept waiting for him to change his mind, for him to grab the belt and give her the punishment he’d intended. In some ways, knowing she’d hurt him and gotten off scot-free and the constant feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop was worse than getting the punishment itself.

  She frowned and turned her attention back to the kitchen. The tops of the potatoes were starting to crisp the way he liked, and a fragrant burst of cream rolled out of the oven on a billow of steam. Shutting off the heat, she wiped away the smudge her fingers left on the handle and hurried back to the stove to flip the burgers one more time. She jumped, flinching as an unexpected hand settled against her back, stroking where the fiery strips branding her skin should have been.

  “Don’t pull away from me,” Sebastian warned quietly. He kissed her neck and rested his chin on her shoulder. His body pressed against hers from behind. “How much longer?”

  “Everything’s ready. I’m just getting ready to serve it now.”

  “Perfect timing.”

  A few minutes later, she’d carried in the food and condiments, lit the candles, and fixed them both a plate. Squirming, she tried to find a comfortable position in her chair. Feeling Sebastian’s stare, she stilled and bit her lip, refusing to meet his eyes. Afraid of what she might see, she watched the candlelight reflect off the glossy cherry table. He set down his fork and leaned closer.

  “Is there a problem, Taylor?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  He nodded and took a long drink of sweet tea before responding. “You brought this on yourself. Stop squirming and eat.”

  “Yes, Sebastian.” She managed to choke down several bites. The silence hanging between them was killing her. Daring a peek in his direction, she decided to take a chance. “How is work going?”

  His head snapped up from his plate. Mixed vegetables tumbled off Sebastian’s fork as he stared at her. She held her breath, waiting as his expression shifted from one of utter confusion to surprise. Spearing another forkful, he shrugged.

  “Good, I guess. We’re getting close to zeroing in on Laychee’s supplier. That’s all the BATF wants. Once they have that information, we can make our move on him and do as we see fit.”

  She frowned. “You have to wait until they have his supplier before you can take him down?”

  Sebastian nodded. “That’s the way it works, darling. If other agencies are involved, they get what they want first. We get what’s left over.”

  “That must be hard for you sometimes though—the waiting I mean.”

  He laughed dryly. “Why? Because I’m so impatient?” He arched a dark golden brow in her direction.

  “No. I didn’t mean it like that.”

  The left side of his face dimpled with his pensive smile. “It happens more often than I care to admit. Sometimes we have to step aside completely in order to serve the greater good. Yes, it gets frustrating, but security and safety come first. Despite SKALS methods and the end results, our main priority is still to protect this country and its people.” He frowned as he pinned her with an inquisitive stare. “Why do you ask?”

  “I was just curious,” she admitted. “I love you, and I want to hear about your day, even if I can’t have all the details.”

  He reached over and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Don’t worry, baby. We’re going to nail this guy.”

  “You’ve had him under surveillance, right? What do you think he’s going to do with all those weapons?” she asked, slipping a small bite of potatoes past her lips.

  Sebastian sighed and refocused his attention on his plate. “Even if I knew, I couldn’t tell you, Taylor. Hopefully, nothing.” His lips pursed and whitened for a moment before his gaze swung up to hers. “Dinner is good, sweetheart. Thank you.”

  “Way to change the subject,” she teased. Her face lit with hope as Sebastian’s dimples deepened and he offered up a knowing wink.

  After dinner, he helped her clear the table, putting the food away while she rinsed things off and loaded the dishwasher. The sun was just starting to set beyond the window bay, flooding the house with a rich colorful glow. Leaning against the island, she took a moment to enjoy the view and marvel at how lucky she was. A few months ago, she’d been struggling to make ends meet. There were nights when cereal or a package of Ramen noodles was all her dinner had consisted of. The only view her rundown apartment had offered was a glimpse of the train tracks and dilapidated urban spread. Though Sebastian would claim his house wasn’t a mansion, it was a virtual palace in her eyes. Everything was gleaming, luxurious, and clean. Even the outside was a decorative sprawl with lush greenery and rocky landscaping with views of the surrounding forest and mountaintops looming in the distance. He gave her so much and asked for so little in return. Her chest twisted with guilt. So little, and even that, she’d managed to screw up.

  Hot breath fanned across her nape and she let her heavy lids drift shut as Sebastian pressed behind her. His hand covered her throat, making her heart hammer, but he merely tipped her face up with his fingers and gently coaxed it toward him. His lips brushed hers and he turned her in his arms. When she opened her eyes, she was greeted by the intense green scape of his stare.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  A sad smile threatened. “How lucky I am to have you. You give me everything. You are everything. You’re my whole world, Sebastian,” she whispered, hanging her head. “I’m so sorry I hurt you and let you down.”

  Sebastian stared down at her and stroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb. "If I didn't love you so much you wouldn't have the power to hurt me, Taylor. I'm glad you understand that I only correct you out of love and a desire to better our life together. I forgive you. Just remember what’s important here," he said, his fingers trailing down her back in a gentle reminder of what could have been.

  Something in him was changing. She tried not to think about what those changes might mean or at what cost they might come. All that mattered was the here and now. There was no point in clinging to the past, or wallowing in guilt. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him an
d pressed against his chest. Words of gratitude tumbled past her lips. He returned her embrace and held her for a long minute before pulling away and capturing her hands in his.

  “You can finish the laundry tomorrow,” he said, drawing her toward the living room. “Come spend time with me.”

  Sebastian stared out the window. It was too damn early to be on the job. Darkness still cloaked the warehouse yard and bathed it in deep shadows. Dim yellow streetlights glowed in the distance, illuminating the thick tendrils of pollution rising from the city basin below. The call from Marx had come in just after three, letting him know Laychee and his men were on the move. It figured the cockroaches would scuttle out of hiding when the rest of the world was still fast asleep. That’s what most vermin did. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he sighed. At least he’d turned in at a decent time. After watching a movie and sharing a plate of dessert with Taylor, he’d called it quits and taken her to bed. It had been shortly after eight. Gauging his partner’s bleary expression and the exhaustion still riding his angular features, he decided Josh hadn’t been as fortunate. Nudging him with an elbow, Sebastian pointed to the cup of Pic-N-Run coffee sitting in the holder.

  “Better drink up, sunshine.”

  “Fuck off, Baas.”

  Cocking his head, he forced a terse smile. “Did someone have a rough night?”

  Josh snorted and waved him off, slumping against the passenger door of the Benz. “Is this you giving me a taste of my own medicine?”

  Sebastian chuckled quietly. “Perhaps. Are we all done with the sharing and exploring each other’s feelings phase of our relationship, now?”

  Josh’s face tightened as he forced his gaze out the window. “I think you made it perfectly clear we don’t have any relationship at all, Baas.”

  “Jesus. You’re worse than a woman sometimes, you know that?” he snapped. Sighing, he raked a hand through his curls and slumped in his seat. “What I said to you yesterday…I didn’t mean that.”

  Giving a dry huff, his partner shook his head. “You never say anything you don’t mean. Isn’t that like rule number one with you?”

  He refused to look the other man’s way. Things were awkward enough. Taking a deep breath, he nodded. “Usually, yes,” he stated quietly. “But yesterday, I did. You’ve been a good friend to me, Josh.”

  “Whoa. Hold on a sec here. Are you apologizing?” his partner asked, his voice hitching in disbelief. “What the hell did they do to you? Are you feeling okay?”

  Sebastian shrugged and steeled his jaw. “Take it for what it’s worth.”

  He twisted, his eyes narrowing into blazing slits as Josh reached over and gave his hair an affectionate ruffle.

  “Look at you getting all warm and fuzzy on me. Now who sounds like a woman?”

  Sebastian batted his arm away with a forceful chop and glared. “Touch me like that again, and you’ll end up one.”

  Holding up his hands in placation, Josh laughed. “Easy, killer. I don’t think that arrangement would make your sister very happy.”

  Sebastian turned away with a mutter of disgust.

  “Wow. Just like that, you’re back to your usual charming self,” Josh mused. “I don’t know how the hell Taylor keeps up with you.”

  “My love life is none of your damn business. Keep your nose out of it before it gets broke,” he snapped, pinning his partner with a cold stare. “Are we clear on that?”

  “Yeah, Baas,” Josh mumbled, sobering. “Crystal.”

  Tension hummed through his body. As much as he wanted to trust Josh, Marx’s words still weighed heavily on his mind and burned in his gut like gasoline. Just hearing someone else speak her name made him feel defensive and on edge. The smallest sign of weakness and the big man would strike. He’d threatened his family before. Sebastian winced. It was beyond a threat. Christian was dead. Lucian was dead. Rage threatened his sanity. Career be damned, he wouldn’t lose Taylor. SKALS had trained a killer. Marx stressed the importance of being ruthless and cold. Sebastian clenched his teeth. If he went after the woman he loved, the director would quickly discover just how apt of a pupil he really was.

  The radio inside the car caught him off-guard. He startled slightly, yanking himself from his thoughts as Vince’s smooth voice broke across the airwaves.

  “Sector One, is everything alright up there? That car was doing an awful lot of moving and shaking. What’s going on?”

  Josh rolled his eyes and picked up the receiver. “All clear. Alpha was just knocking me down a peg or two, per usual. You want to come take my place for a bit?”

  The radio crackled with the sound of Vince’s feigned thought. “That would be a negative, Bravo. I’ve been on the receiving end of those blows before. It’s not a place I like to be.”

  “Roger that.”

  A small smirk played on Sebastian’s lips as he stared out the window. Perhaps he wasn’t losing his touch after all. He wondered if Marx saw the way his teammates looked at him. Maybe it wasn’t enough or maybe the big man just didn’t care. Sebastian snarled beneath his breath. He’d never showed an ounce of mercy or compassion on the job. Not once. He understood the importance of making sure his life and family affairs were in order, and like it or not, he did whatever needed to be done. What the hell else did he want from him? What else was there? Frowning, he rubbed the ache in his neck and watched the warehouse doors. He was sick of waiting around on Laychee. The bastard was dragging things out and pushing his patience too far. Not to mention the little stunt he’d tried to pull with his security team. That was far from forgiven. His fists curled as he remembered the pictures. Pictures of Taylor, his sister, and his partner.

  Josh glanced over as his hand closed around the door handle. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Shaking things up a little.”

  “Are you insane?” Josh hissed, grabbing his arm.

  They both froze as headlights swept across the grounds. The beams bounced with the uneven terrain, reflecting off the rusted railroad cars and abandoned truck trailers scattered throughout the yard. Motes of dust and sand kicked up behind the vehicle and swirled in a reddened cloud. The gleaming Navigator was as out of place in the dilapidated surroundings as Sebastian’s sleek S550.

  “Shit,” Josh muttered. Slamming his coffee back in the holder, he grabbed the radio. “Thanks for the head’s up asshole. We got company.”

  “Sorry boys. I was taking a piss. Stand by. I’m keying in the plates and running them now.”

  “Taking a piss,” Josh repeated dryly. Lifting a brow, he turned to Sebastian. “Maybe we should cath him the next go round.”

  His shoulders shook with a silent laugh. “The idea does have merit.”

  Another curse burst past Josh’s lips as the SUV rolled closer. Sebastian closed his eyes. It was too late to pull out. Any movement and they would be spotted for sure. There were no guarantees they hadn’t been already. His jaw tightened and he rolled his shoulders. The stiffness knotting the muscles was becoming unbearable. Pulling his pistol free, he wrapped his finger around the trigger. Now it was a waiting game, a matter of who would twitch first. His gaze shifted between the encroaching Navigator and the warehouse doors, his tension ratcheting.

  “Do you want the good news or the bad news?” Vince asked.

  Sebastian squeezed his throbbing sinuses between his thumb and forefinger, ignoring the questioning look from his partner.

  “Just give it to us straight,” Josh spat. “You’re in enough trouble as it is.”

  “The good news is I think we just locked down Laychee’s supplier. The vehicle is registered to an Armando Soeleze, a known weapons dealer. He was on the BATF radar for a while, but two years ago, he seemingly dropped off the face of the planet. No one’s seen or heard from him since.”

  “Yeah, great. Lucky for us, he’s back in orbit. What else do you got?”

  “He’s most likely armed and extremely dangerous.”

  Sebastian slumped. That was the best their e
yes and ears could come up with? A low pulse of anger surged through his system. Beside him, Josh rolled his eyes.

  “Yeah, that’s real helpful of you. Thanks a lot.” Scrubbing a hand over his face, he turned in his seat. “What the hell are we gonna do here, Baas?”

  He rubbed a forefinger across the stubble dotting his chin and pondered the situation. They didn’t have many options, and they sure as hell didn’t have the gun power to go toe-to-toe with someone like Soeleze. Laychee alone was questionable enough on a night when they had the whole division in place. Tonight, it was just two teams on the ground and one on standby in the air. His eyes snapped up to the windshield as the doors to the SUV swung open, bathing the interior with a bright flood of light. Several soft clicks flooded the inside of the Mercedes as Josh snapped off a succession of pictures. Holding his breath, Sebastian waited. His entire body stiffened into rigid attention as two of the men exiting the Lincoln looked their way. Josh released a ragged exhale beside him.

  “Stay calm,” Sebastian urged softly. “We’ve got this. Send the pictures through. Let Vince do his job.”

  “What, like my last act?” Josh asked with a rueful laugh. “Mission first, right?”

  “We’re going to be fine.”

  From the corner of his eye, he watched Josh send the images through. Within a few minutes, Vince would have facial recognition matches. It was what they needed if they were ever going to take Laychee and his crew down. He glanced back up and tensed. Three of the five men were starting to edge their way toward the Benz. Their leader, a burly baldheaded man with caramel skin, shouted something he couldn’t decipher. Blowing out a steady breath, he slowly unlocked the safety and cocked the hammer on his pistol. Josh’s weapon clicked in tandem beside him.

  His fingers crept toward his ear as Josh pulled the plug on the radio and swiped a scrambler over their electronics. “Nighthawk, get Sector Three in the air. We’ve been compromised. Hostiles are engaging.”