Always Me

by Walker, Jo-Anna

  “I pray that never happens to us. I couldn’t even imagine what they’re going through.” Keisha’s voice broke on a sob.

  “I know, love,” Garrith said quietly.

  Before I could hear any more, Sebastian pulled me into my office and shut the door behind us. “Sebastian.”

  He didn’t respond. He pushed me up against the back of the door and crashed his mouth to mine, shoving his tongue between my lips.

  I moaned and grabbed the waist band of his jeans, pulling him against me.

  Our tongues danced and dueled frantically, roughly moving against the other. His hands massaged my body, kneading, pressing into me hard and fast. He released my mouth, kissed along my jaw and down my neck. Lifting his head, he rested it against my forehead, breathing deeply.

  “What was that for?” I asked quietly, panting.

  He smiled and cupped my cheek, running his thumb over my lips. “I was trying to distract you, even if it was just for a moment.”

  I sighed and leaned against his hand. “I’m sorry for freaking out.”

  He kissed my forehead and pulled me against him. “You have every right to freak out. Our son…” Sebastian swallowed. “He won’t hurt him.”

  I leaned back, looking up into his dark eyes. “How can you be so sure?”

  Sebastian ran his hands up and down my arms, trying to soothe me. “As sadistic as Jose is, he would never hurt a kid.”

  I was about to ask him how he knew that, but then I remembered that Jose had brought Sebastian into his care when he was a child. A flutter of relief floated through me, knowing that my baby boy wouldn’t be harmed by him, but until he was back in my arms, an inkling of doubt poked at me.

  “Sebastian, I need him…”

  He pulled me against him, squeezing me, like he thought I would disappear. If only he knew how much I loved him. There was no way he was getting rid of me that easily. Not then. Not ever.

  “I know, baby. I need him too. I’m so fucking sorry. For everything. For keeping secrets from you. For lying to you. For deserting you. I’m sorry for it all. I’m sorry for bringing Jose into your life, but there’s one thing I’m not fucking sorry about.”

  A hard lump formed in my throat at the deep emotion coating his voice. “Wha…what?”

  He pinched my chin and tilted my head to meet his dark glossy gaze. Cupping my cheeks with both hands, he placed a light kiss on my lips. It was the softest kiss he’d ever given me. His kisses were usually hard, demanding but that one poured love and passion.

  “I’m not sorry for meeting you.” He kissed my tears that had fallen freely.

  “I’m not sorry for kissing you.” Sebastian kissed my nose. “I’m not sorry for making love to you.”

  My eyes fluttered closed as he kissed my chin.

  I grabbed onto his wrists, gripping him tight like he was lifeline. If it wasn’t for him, I would lose it. Antonio needed me to stay strong. For him.

  “That’s more than one thing.”

  “I’m not sorry for falling in love with you,” he said, ignoring my comment.

  A sob escaped my lips.

  “I’m not sorry for protecting you or for giving you a son. My son. Our son.”

  “Ours,” I whispered and opened my eyes, meeting his dark stare.

  He smiled. “I love you, Tori, and I love Antonio. You will get him back.”

  “We will get him back.”

  A knock sounded, making me jump.

  “Sebastian, we have to go,” Garrith said from the other side of the closed door.

  Placing a firm kiss on my lips, Sebastian pulled me in for another hug. “Please know that I never meant for any of this shit to happen.”

  “Of course I know that. I would never blame you,” I said against his shirt.

  His tense body relaxed under my words. Here I was feeling sorry for myself when he was hurting just as bad as me. “I’m so sorry.”

  Sebastian squeezed harder. “I love you.”

  “I love you, Sebastian.” I felt more relaxed, but my nerves were still frazzled. I wouldn’t feel perfect until my baby boy was back in my arms.

  We left the office hand in hand as Garrith came up to us. Sympathy filled his deep blue gaze as he looked between us both.

  Fresh tears welled in my eyes, and I walked back into the living room, leaving Garrith and Sebastian to talk.

  I had never seen Sebastian so sweet and tender. I wanted to cherish that moment and have more of them. Please God, let him bring home our son safely.

  “Hey, Tori.”

  I turned to the sound of Brett’s voice. He was sitting at the kitchen table, his face full of concern and...guilt? I sat across from him. “Hi, Brett,” I said quietly.

  He reached across the table and grabbed my hands, rubbing a thumb back and forth over my skin. “I am so sorry.”

  Tears welled in my eyes, threatening to spill over. “Brett, I...”

  “Baby girl, I am so fucking sorry for the horrible things I said. I...I guess I’m just jealous.”

  My gaze snapped up to his, shocked as his admission tore through me. It must have taken a lot for him to tell me that he was jealous of Sebastian. I also wanted to rip him a new one for the shit he said to him. All of the lies he fed him. I almost lost him because of Brett, and now I might lose him again because of Jose. But I couldn’t deal with that now. “Brett, that’s not important. Right now I just want my boy back.”

  A warm hand landed on the back of my neck, running a thumb up and down the side. Brett’s features hardened and then he released me like he got caught doing something wrong.

  “Everything okay?” Sebastian asked from behind me. His tone was accusatory and aimed directly at Brett.

  “Yes, everything is fine.” I looked up at him when he didn’t respond. “Sebastian.”

  His gaze finally met mine and I silently pleaded with him to be nice. His lips turned up at the sides.

  I huffed, crossing my arms under my chest.

  “I was just apologizing to Tori,” Brett explained.

  Sebastian’s thumb stopped moving. “Apologizing for—”

  “Don’t you guys have to go?” Brett asked, interrupting him.

  I rose from the chair and grabbed Sebastian’s hand leading him away from Brett. I had to keep them as far apart of possible. “You have to stop with the jealousy. Both of you.”

  “Tell him that,” Brett snapped.

  “I will.” I led Sebastian down the hall and wrapped my arms around him. “I’m yours and he’s my friend, so stop. Please. Don’t ruin the tender moment we just shared.”

  He kissed my forehead. “I’m always tender with you.”

  I scoffed, nearly choking, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

  He smiled. He leaned down to my ear and gently bit it. “I enjoy making you laugh.”

  I sighed, trying to ignore the way my skin bloomed over his touch. I ran my hands down his chest and chewed my inner cheek. “Just…please…”

  Sebastian grabbed my chin, lifting my face to his before placing a kiss on my lips. “Mine.”

  My heart stuttered. “Yours, baby. Now stop being so territorial.”

  He chuckled and cupped my ass. “When this shit is all over…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but his dark eyes held many promises. Promises that I couldn’t wait to fulfill. For him. For me. For us.

  My skin heated. “Just bring me home our son and you can do whatever you want to me.” I whispered and swallowed past the hard lump.

  “Sebastian, it’s time,” Garrith said, coming up to us. Keisha stood beside him, her face blotchy from crying.

  Tears welled in my eyes.

  Sebastian grabbed my face in his hands and kissed me hard. “We’ll bring him home, baby. I promise you.”

  I nodded. “You come back to me too. I need you both.”

  He wrapped me in a strong hug, holding me tight. “I love you, Tori.”

  A sob escaped my lips. “I…I love you.”

  *** />
  “It’s been too long. What if something happened?” I cried. It felt like years since Sebastian and Garrith had left.

  “Tori, you’re going to drive yourself insane.” Keisha wrapped her arm around my shoulders.

  My breath hitched on a sob, and I leaned back against the couch. I couldn’t deal with this. Not knowing was tearing me apart.

  Brett grabbed my hand. “You have nothing be sorry over, but it’s only been a half an hour.”

  “Why haven’t they called or checked in?” I rose from the couch, needing to move around. I couldn’t sit there not knowing what was happening.

  “Why don’t you try to get some rest, Tor? You’ve had quite an emotional day,” Keisha suggested softly.

  I spun on her, ready to yell and scream and call her crazy for thinking I could sleep at a time like this, but then I saw the hurt on her face. It wasn’t just me that was in pain and had a chance of losing everything that I loved. She also loved Antonio, probably just as much as I did, and Garrith was with Sebastian. If we both lost them…I didn’t know what we would do.

  Chapter 25

  I stared up at the ceiling in my bedroom. All I could think about was something happening to Garrith and Sebastian. Images played in my mind at them not making it to Antonio in time before Jose left for good. Or worse, Jose shooting my lover or my son. I didn’t know what Jose wanted with Antonio or what he wanted with me. He was sadistic and evil, and I wouldn’t put it past him to do anything to get what he desired. The thought of losing the two men I loved most, the only men I had ever loved, made me hyperventilate.

  I took a deep breath and stormed into the bathroom, shaking my head from the nightmarish things in my head. I stripped and ran a hot bath. I was about to step into the tub when a knock sounded on my bedroom door.

  “One second,” I yelled and shut off the water. I grabbed my housecoat and quickly put it on. “Okay, you can come in now.” I heard the door open. “Did you hear from Sebastian and Garrith?” I asked, walking out into my room, tightening the tie on my robe.

  “Why yes, I did, cochina.”

  That voice. My head snapped up and my lungs emptied in a whoosh. Jose Alvarez was standing in my bedroom. He was here. In the room that I shared with Sebastian. “What…what…” My throat went dry. This couldn’t be happening.

  Jose chuckled. A deep maniacal laugh.

  Oh God. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. My baby. “Where’s Antonio?”

  Jose’s gaze met mine as he walked around my room. “He’s safe.”

  Anger and fury tore through me. “Where the hell is he, Jose?”

  He smirked. “I’ve always loved your fiery personality.”

  “Where’s my son? What the hell did you do with him? Jose, please.” I didn’t want to beg him, knowing that that’s what he liked, but I didn’t care. I needed Antonio back. I would give Jose anything, including myself, as long as my baby was safe.

  “Don’t worry, cochina, I won’t hurt him. He’s our son. I would never do that.”

  My stomach dropped. His son? What the hell? Oh God, Jose was truly deranged. There was no way. Bile rose to my throat at the thought of getting pregnant by him. Disgust made my stomach churn. “He’s not…oh God…you really…”

  “Don’t you fucking dare say that he’s not my son. He’s mine. I’ve claimed him. You hear me? He’s mine now and so are you,” Jose screamed, his face turning a deep shade of maroon through his tanned skin. He sat in the chair at my desk and pulled out a gun, placing it on the table.

  Tears welled in my eyes and I wrapped my robe tighter around me. Where were Keisha and Brett? Where was the police that was supposedly watching my house? “Where did you leave Antonio?”

  Jose leaned back in the chair. “I told you, baby, he’s safe. Now why don’t you come over here so we can get reacquainted?”

  There was no fucking way. “No, I’m good.” I was going to stay as far away from him as possible for as long as I could. “Where are Keisha and Brett?”

  “They’re around.” He shrugged.

  I wasn’t up there for that long, was I? How could he get past everyone? “What did you do?”

  Jose sneered. “You know me well, puta, but I’m not telling you. Now if you want to know where our son is, you’ll have to come with me.”

  My stomach rolled with nausea and I had to swallow back vomit several times. “No fucking way. I’m not stupid, Jose.”

  “No, you aren’t, are you? But Sebastian sure is. I’m surprised he actually left you here by yourself.”

  “He didn’t.”

  Jose barked a laugh. “You think the police and Brett are going to keep me out? Come on now, cochina. You know me better than that.” Rising, he took a step toward me. I stepped back and my feet hit the wall.

  “Please Jose, just take what you want…” I swallowed past the bile. “…but please just give me back my son.”

  Jose placed his hands on either side of my head and leaned down, inhaling deeply. “God, you smell good.”

  I cringed and squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for him to do what he wanted. The motherly instinct in me said that I would do anything to protect my boy. As much as it would destroy me, I had to give in to Jose’s games. “Jose.”

  He licked up the side of my neck, making my skin crawl. “I love it when you say my name. The way it rolls off of your tongue.” He moaned and bit my neck.

  I cried out at the sharp pain and pushed him. “What the hell? You sick…”

  He grabbed my wrists and spun me, pinning me against the wall with my hands behind my back. “You want your son back, you will do whatever I fucking want you to do.” He kissed my neck, pushing his lower body into me,

  I bit back a groan of disgust when I felt his erection pressing into my ass and breathed through my nose. I squeezed my eyes shut, taking deep breaths, when he started rocking his hips against me. Oh God. This was it. He was going to rape me. I had no doubt. Brett, Keisha, save me. Stop him.

  A rough hand travelled up the side of my leg under my bathrobe. It kneaded and massaged my flesh, pinching, pulling and bruising me. I shut off my brain. I didn’t move, nor did I make a sound as he continued molesting my lower body. A sob escaped my lips.

  His hand reached between my legs, and I bit back a whimper. Just when I thought he was going to continue, he jerked backward, releasing my hands. I turned and screamed. Sebastian had Jose pinned to the floor, punching him in the face. Sebastian never left. He didn’t leave me. He said he wouldn’t and he didn’t. A sob escaped my lips that he was there all along. Protecting me.

  The sound of bone cracking should have made me nauseated, but knowing that it was Jose getting what he deserved, it didn’t faze me.

  I had never seen Sebastian so wild before. His muscles bunched under his shirt as he continued beating the shit out of Jose. Jose tried fighting back, but something had happened with Sebastian in the last two years. He was bigger, stronger…deadlier. It would have been wise of Jose to leave us alone, but his sadistic obsession with me and my son probably cost him his life if not more. Knowing Sebastian, he wouldn’t let Jose get away easily. Killing him would be too quick.

  “Get out of here, Tori,” Sebastian said, gripping Jose’s shirt as he straddled the man’s chest.

  Jose laughed. “Why? You don’t want her seeing how much of a sadistic fuck you are?”

  Sebastian grabbed his jaw and leaned down, digging his fingers into his cheeks. He whispered something that I couldn’t make out, but Jose’s eyes widened. I never thought I would see the day where Jose was actually scared.

  Not wanting to see anymore, I left the room and headed downstairs to find Keisha and Brett. I was confused and terrified that this wasn’t quite over. Something felt off. This was too easy.

  The front door opened and a police officer walked in. Never having seen him before, I had no idea who he was. “Officer, you need to get upstairs.”

  His gaze met mine but he didn’t respond. He just closed the door
behind him and pulled his gun. And pointed it at me.

  My eyes widened as I stared at the barrel that was aimed in my direction. My heart raced hard as I took a step back. Icy fear gripped my spine, sending shivers racing down my back. “Please…what…what do you want?”

  The cop smirked and took a step towards me. “I came to collect.”

  I backed up, bumping into a hard body, and jumped. I looked up and saw Brett holding his head.

  “What the fuck man?” He glared at the officer, his green eyes cold with hatred.

  I tugged on Brett’s arm, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “Brett, we…we need to leave.”

  The cop smiled. “Not if I kill you first.”

  Chapter 26

  Oh God. “What…how…”

  The cop smiled. His perfect white teeth set in a tanned leathery face that made me think he spent too much time outdoors. “Jose owes me money, and the only way he’ll give me my money is if the job is done.”

  “What job?” Brett bit out.

  “Killing you.” The cop, if he could be called that,’ took a step toward us. He probably just had on the uniform, but who knew if he was an actual police officer or not? I wouldn’t have put it past Jose to hire some random guy and dress him up to look like the authority.

  “Why? What did we ever do to you?” I asked, holding on to Brett’s arm for dear life.

  “It’s all about money, baby.”

  “Whatever Jose’s paying you, I’ll double it,” Brett said.

  I gasped. He had that kind of money? “Brett.”

  The guy’s eyes widened and paused.

  “Richards, we got a situation,” a voice from his radio told him.

  Richards grabbed the radio. “Ten-four.” He looked between Brett and I. “You’re lucky.” And with that he left my house.

  Shock tore through me that he was an actual officer. I had heard about dirty cops before but never thought that I would come across one.

  “Well, that was fucked up,” Brett mumbled.

  “Where’s Keisha?” I realized I hadn’t seen her. “And where’s Malvado?”