Killing would make Sylar a hit man.
I’m head over heels in love with a hit man.
Boy, do I know how to choose them.
“Is what he said true then?” I ask, because I need to hear the words come out of his mouth.
He watches me, takes in my face, before replying, “Yes.”
And just like that, one word breaks my heart.
Have I been stupid this whole time? Is this something that was obvious but I’d missed? Maybe because I didn’t want to know. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. I put my hands on my stomach. I know Sylar would never hurt me. I can’t see him hurting anyone, to be honest, unless he had to, like we were in danger. I place my hand on his chest, over his heart.
I know this man.
I do.
Does your past define you?
No.
But this, this is a whole other monster.
He has killed.
How does one come out of that unscathed?
They don’t.
“We were trained,” he says, pain etched all over his face. “From the minute our uncle got us in his care, he started training us to be his little soldiers. I told you that. But I didn’t tell you that he trained us to kill. That he was a hit man. He killed for money, and he wanted us to do the same. And I did. I’m not proud of it, Brielle. In fact, I’m ashamed. I left the old me behind. I’m a different person now. You know I’d never do anything to hurt you.”
“I know,” I say quickly, feeling it’s important for him to know that.
Still, the man in front of me is seemingly not a good man.
Except he’s a good man to me.
What a head fuck.
“I need to think,” I say, glancing up at him. “I’m going to go home for a little while, Sylar.”
“I don’t want you to go,” he says quickly, expression going blank. “Stay, Brielle. Talk to me. We can work this out.”
“I just need a little time to myself,” I say, taking a deep breath.
I need to think.
“I don’t like you being there alone,” he says, shaking his head.
“It’s down the road, and I’m not asking you,” I say, and call for Snoop. I pack my stuff and grab my dog. Sylar carries my suitcase to the car, looking as miserable as I’ve ever seen him. I brought it here with some of my stuff, seeing as I’m usually here more than I am home.
“I should have known,” he says, talking to himself. “There is no redemption for what I’ve done. This is exactly why I stayed away from people, especially women, until you.”
I don’t know what to say to that. My heart is breaking for him, for his pain and for what he’s done, but also because I don’t know how to fix this.
So I don’t.
I leave it, and I go home.
Alone.
*****
“He’s miserable,” Christina says, studying me. “So he killed a few criminals? It’s not like he hurt any women or children.” She pauses. “And he hasn’t. I know because I asked him yesterday.”
I throw a pillow at her head and bury my own in the remaining one on my bed. “I’m miserable too. And this is the man I chose to be the father of my kid. Oh my God.”
I’m feeling sorry for myself. I don’t want to get out of bed and face reality.
“You didn’t actually choose him,” she points out. “The baby was an accident.”
“I’m going to kill you.”
“That would require you leaving your bed, and hopefully showering,” she replies, sniffing. “So the man has a past, Bree. But is that what you’re going to go by? He’s been nothing but amazing to you, and to me. If I saw a man mistreat you, I’d be the first to tell you to leave, but Sylar is perfect for you. I’ve never seen you happier.” She pauses. “I mean except for right now.”
“How am I meant to forget something like this, Christina?” I ask her, lifting my head and looking into her eyes.
“You decide if you can live without him or not,” she says, coming to my bed and wrapping her arm around my shoulder. “I’m with you no matter what you choose. But I don’t think you should walk away. You’re having his baby. What are you going to do, not let him see the baby because of the man he used to be? If I were you, I’d be going by how you know him, the man he is now.”
Would I keep him away from his baby?
No, I don’t think I could do that.
It hits me that never once did it cross my mind that he wouldn’t be a good father, that he would hurt our baby.
He would protect our kid with everything he has.
Just like he would me.
*****
“When are you going to put my brother out of his misery?” Sebastian asks as he sits down on my couch.
“Nice to see you too,” I mutter, handing him a mug of hot coffee. He’s been back for two days and he’s already been here several times, checking up on me and harassing me.
Just the way a brother should.
Whilst trying to clear my head, I decided to pay them a visit and tell them about the pregnancy. They were surprised, but happy. They probably thought they’d never be lucky enough to have any grandkids. When they asked about the father, I smiled, and told them he’s still in the picture. They want to meet him. I told them maybe they could, soon.
At the moment I don’t really know what’s going to happen, so I tried to keep it as vague as possible.
“I don’t know how to get past this,” I tell him. “It’s not a small thing, Sebastian.”
“You know he saved me, right?” he says, studying me.
“What do you mean?” I pull my blanket up higher.
“He told our uncle he would do as he wanted if he let me and Spencer go. He sacrificed himself, his morals, everything he was, so that we wouldn’t have to do anything like that. Only our uncle’s deal was only to let me go, not Spencer. I wasn’t cut out to be a fighter like they were. I was a nerd growing up, and they knew I wouldn’t survive going through our uncle’s training. He saved me, Bree. The deal he made allowed me to go to medical school, to be exempt from our uncle’s merciless training techniques and methods. Sylar sacrificed himself for me, and so did Spencer.”
I process his words. “And then you lost contact?”
Sebastian looks down into his coffee, like it suddenly holds all the answers. “I wanted to turn my back on everything. We didn’t have a good life after our parents died. We didn’t have a childhood. Sylar had it the worst, but I just… wanted a new life. A fresh start. So like an asshole, I stopped keeping in contact with them. I turned my back on them, after they saved me.”
“Wow,” I say, amazed at Sylar’s strength. Everything he does, it’s for the people he cares about. He’s the least selfish person I know. While I may not ever understand what he’s done and what he’s been through, I do know who he is now. I know he loves me, I know he treats me like I deserve, and I know I was born to love him too. It hits me that it’s enough. He’s done bad things, but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad man, not in my eyes. He’s been nothing but good to me.
He’s been a man in a world of boys, a true love in a world of no fairy tales.
I can’t live without Sylar.
I stand up, my blanket falling on the floor, a new sense of determination washing over me.
I need to make things right.
“Where are you going?” Sebastian asks, but the gleam in his eyes tells me he already knows.
“I’m going to get my man.”
Chapter Twelve
“You’re here,” he says as he opens the door, those blue eyes taking me in like he’s never seen anything so special. I haven’t seen him in five days, but it feels like it’s been five years. I wrap my arms around him, my cheek against the soft material of his T-shirt, and breathe in his scent.
“Yes, I’m here. And thank you for giving me space and time to think.”
He didn’t push or press me. He waited patiently. I appreciate that.
H
e kisses the top of my head. “It feels so good having you back in my arms.”
I glance up at him. “I’m never going to leave them.”
His eyes widen. “You aren’t going to leave me? What about everything you heard? Brielle—”
“I know who you are now, Sylar, and that’s enough for me. I’m sorry I left you this week, but I needed to think. And I missed you so much. And—”
He cuts me off with a kiss.
It’s soft and sweet, like he’s thanking me for something.
For seeing him for who he truly is?
For being here?
I don’t know, but soon the kiss turns hungrier, and I’m lifted in his arms and being carried up the stairs to his bedroom.
“Finally!” Spencer calls out, but we both ignore him, too focused on each other.
No one else exists right now, no one.
The door is slammed and locked, and I’m placed on the bed in a sitting position. I slide my shoes off while he lifts my dress up and pulls my panties down, and then I lie back as he starts kissing up my bare thighs.
“I missed you,” he murmurs before he licks my pussy.
“I missed you too,” I say with a smile on my face, moaning when he runs his tongue along my clit a few times, then starts to lick my centre. He knows just how I like it, just how to drive me wild, and it’s not long before I’m coming. He doesn’t stop, tongue continuing to work its magic as wave after wave of pleasure hits me. I’m still in that sated state of ecstasy when he stands up, undresses, and lies back on the bed, flashing me a cheeky grin and biting his bottom lip. Taking his silent challenge, I remove my dress and my bra and straddle his body, kissing his lips as I take his length into my hand and stroke a few times before sliding him inside of me. I start to move, and he tilts his pelvis so it’s easier for me to grind my clit on him. He reaches up to play with my breasts, squeezing playfully before lifting his head to take one into his mouth, and then the other. I start to move faster, grinding my hips up and down until Sylar gently rolls me onto my back, making sure not to put any weight on me, and starts to thrust into me.
He looks into my eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I say, then curse under my breath as another orgasm hits me.
This time Sylar joins me, his teeth clenching as he finishes inside me.
We face each other and cuddle for a long time afterwards, just looking into each other’s eyes.
“You have no idea how happy I am you came back,” he whispers, kissing my lips softly. “And if you didn’t, I was going to come and get you anyway.”
I smile against his lips.
“I’ll always come back,” I reply, deepening the kiss.
Sylar is my home.
*****
“How was your first day at the hospital?” I ask Sebastian, checking out his fancy doctor clothes.
“It went well,” he says, nodding. “The most beautiful woman came in.”
“On day one? Pretty sure that’s frowned upon,” I say, grinning. “Did you check her past medical history? Do doctors do that?”
“Dodgy ones do,” Sylar says as he walks into the room, smirking.
“I’ll have you know that I’m an utmost professional,” Sebastian says, lifting his chin.
“You totally checked, didn’t you?”
“Well, I was curious about her!” he says, throwing his hands up. “I just wanted to see her name and age, etcetera, not any other details.”
“Like whether she’s had an STD?” I suggest, chuckling at my own comment.
“I’ll have you know she’s STD free,” he says, huffing. “Once was a close call, but it was a false positive.”
Sylar and I share a look, then burst into laughter.
Sebastian glances at each of us, then stalks out of the room.
“Can I take you out for dinner tonight?” Sylar asks, giving me a quick kiss.
“STD talk make you hungry?” I joke, taking a bite out of my green apple.
He shakes his head at me.
“Sure, dinner sounds good, actually. I’ve been craving a thick, juicy steak for a while now.”
“Why didn’t you say something? You know I would have gotten whatever you wanted straight away,” he says, frowning because I’m not acting like a pregnant diva.
“It’s fine.” I roll my eyes.
It’s nice having someone to fuss over me, but I don’t need it.
He told me what happened with Jack, even though I could tell he didn’t want to.
They handed him in to the police, and now he’s back in prison. I think they did the right thing, because Jack isn’t loyal to anyone except himself. If the body they buried is ever found, I think they should pin it on Jack, too. I mean, he is the one who did it, and I’m not letting any of my boys go down for a crime they didn’t commit.
“Well, steakhouse it is then,” he says, cupping my face with his hands. “We need to talk about baby names.”
I gave him a list earlier, and by the look on his face, he doesn’t seem overly impressed.
“You don’t like any of the names?” I ask, brow furrowing. “I thought I had some good ones in there.”
“You did,” he says, eyes dancing with humour. “I was kind of wondering if we could use my mom’s name as her middle name.” He pauses. “If she is a she.”
“What was your mom’s name?” I ask, feeling terrible that I don’t already know this. I definitely should know this.
“Christine,” he says, and waits for my reply.
“Close to Christina,” I say, beaming.
Two birds, one stone.
Wow, I really am a terrible human being.
“I veto Snow, though,” he says, wincing. “I don’t like that name. Ireland though, I do like.”
“Ireland Christine,” I say, nodding. “I think it sounds beautiful.”
“And if it’s a boy?”
“I feel like we should stick to the S theme your mom started,” I say, smiling. “How about Sage? Or Seth.”
“I like Sage,” he says, kissing my temple. “Be ready for dinner in an hour.”
“Okay,” I say, pulling him in for a deep, teasing kiss. One that I know he’ll be thinking about until we can get back home and finish what we’ve started.
“I knew you were trouble from the first time I laid my eyes on you,” he says against my lips.
“The best kind though, right?”
“The very best,” he whispers, grinning, and then disappears from the kitchen.
I take another bite out of my apple, smiling.
*****
I know something is up the second I walk into the restaurant and no one else is there. The place is covered in candles, and the setup is absolutely stunning. I turn in a circle, taking in the room before looking at Sylar, who is now down on one knee.
Oh my God.
“I never thought I was capable of loving someone and being loved until you came into my life,” he says, opening a velvet black box. “I love you so much, Brielle. Will you marry me and be mine forever?”
“Yes,” I nearly yell, allowing him to slide the ring on my finger. He stands up and I jump into his arms, kissing him and holding him as tightly as I possibly can. I look at the ring, how beautiful it is, and know Christina had a hand in helping Sylar choose it. It’s my dream ring, the one I’ve been wanting since I was a little girl. A pear-shaped diamond on a white gold band, it is absolutely amazing.
“It’s beautiful,” I say, emotion hitting me.
I’m going to be married.
To Sylar.
A man who came into my little coffee shop in a small, unimportant town and stole my heart away.
I never settled for the regular, the expected, and someone more perfect than I could imagine came into my life, and he’s staying here.
And then the waiter brings out my steak, and I can’t hold back my happy tears.
Epilogue
“I’ve never seen such a cute baby,” Sebastian s
ays again, glancing down at my daughter’s face. “And I’m a doctor.”
“No need to hog her,” Spencer says. “I don’t care who you are. I’m going to be her favourite uncle.”
Sebastian makes a scoffing noise. “Yeah, right. I’m the young, cool uncle. I don’t know what you are.”
“Her favourite,” Spencer says again, holding his arms out. “Now let me hold her again.”
I watch with amusement as the two argue, yet are so gentle every time they get to have her in their arms. Between the three brothers, her father and two uncles, I kind of feel sorry for her.
Dating is not going to be a fun time for her.
Christina comes back into the room, and Spencer hands her the baby, kissing the two of them on the forehead before leaving with Sebastian so the room isn’t too crowded.
“You made one cute loaf of bread,” Christina says, holding Ireland in her arms. “She is beautiful, Bree.”
“I know,” I say, smiling at the blue-eyed, dark-haired baby.
“How’s your vag feeling?” she probes, trying to lift up the covers.
“Can you not?” I groan, flashing her an evil look. “How do you think my vag is feeling? It just pushed out a loaf of bread, remember?”
“But what a perfect loaf,” she says, smiling down at Ireland. I can literally see her falling in love with her—the same way her dad did, followed by her uncles.
This girl is going to have everyone wrapped around her little finger, the world in her palm.
“Okay, give her back to me now,” Sylar says, scowling at Christina, making me laugh.
“Fine.”
Sylar takes his daughter into his arms and kisses her forehead. My heart melts, seeing him like this with her. I always knew he would be an amazing father, and I was right. Being a mother is unlike anything I’ve ever known. Love at first sight is a very, very real thing.
She is so worth the ice pad in my underwear.
“Did you call your parents?” Sylar asks me, even though his eyes don’t leave his daughter.
“Yes, they are on their way now.”
Ireland starts to fuss, so Sylar hands her back to me so I can feed her. He watches her with such an adoring look in his eyes, like he can’t believe that she’s here.
“I love you,” he says to me. “You’ve given me the best gift in the world. She is my heart, Brielle. I don’t know how to explain it.”
See No Evil: Part Two Page 7