by Cynthia Eden
Actually…
There was a whole lot that Antony didn’t know.
Alyssa glanced over at Sebastian.
“We need to go back into my office,” he said. “Talk privately.” Without anyone else overhearing what was sure to be one hell of a conversation. He maneuvered toward Alyssa and Antony. When he was near her, Sebastian’s hand immediately lowered and curled around Alyssa’s side. He wanted her close because he wanted to protect her.
He also just wanted her.
Antony’s gaze flickered at the movement. Then his eyes narrowed. “Uh…” Antony began.
Sebastian strode toward his office with Alyssa. What they had to say could wait until two more minutes until they were away from the lingering guards.
Alyssa slid inside before him. Sebastian held the door open for Antony.
His friend passed him, but sent Sebastian a hard, warning glance. “I was only gone a few days.”
Sebastian inclined his head. “A whole lot can happen in a few days.” In fact, a man’s entire world could change in just a few days. Sebastian followed them into his office and shut the door behind him.
He pulled in a deep breath as he considered where to start. How to start. How to be tactful.
But…screw tactful. Tact had never been his strong suit, anyway.
Alyssa stood uncertainly near his desk, and Antony was already crowding in around her.
“You were shot at?” Antony’s face showed his worry.
She bit her lower lip. Cast a glance at Sebastian. “He saved me. Literally carried me away from the scene, threw me in his limo, and rushed me back to his place.”
Sebastian saw Antony’s shoulders tense. But he turned his head toward Sebastian and said, “Thank you. I owe you.”
Yeah…about that… “You really don’t.” He strode forward. Deliberately put his body right next to Alyssa’s. His shoulder brushed hers.
The move was to show that he was aligning himself with Alyssa.
Or…to show…she’s mine.
“I can’t believe someone went after her.” Antony hauled a shaking hand through his hair. “I mean, that’s crazy. There’s no reason for anyone to ever try and hurt—”
“I know, Antony,” Alyssa cut in. Her voice was flat.
“Uh, know what?” He took off his glasses. Polished them on his shirt. A typical move that he used to buy time in uncomfortable situations. Sebastian had seen him pull that move over and over again.
Sorry, bro. This situation is about to get a whole lot more uncomfortable for us all.
“I know about your side business.”
Antony kept polishing his glasses.
“About the work that you do for the government?”
Antony popped the glasses back on. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She surged toward him. “I had no idea you were such a good liar.”
Antony’s mouth opened.
Sebastian cleared his throat. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. “I told her.”
Antony gaped at him as if Sebastian had lost his mind. “Excuse me?”
“I told her,” he repeated. “Her life was on the line. Alyssa deserved the truth.”
“Alyssa…” Antony began, his voice halting and careful. “Look, it’s not what you must be thinking—”
“I’m thinking that you’re a spy,” she responded crisply. Her thumb jerked toward Sebastian. “So is he. I’m thinking that you’ve both been keeping secrets from me for years, but it’s time for all the secrets to end.”
“Okay,” Antony mumbled. “So maybe the situation is what you’re thinking.” He blew out a breath. “There was no need to pull you into that world. It was too dangerous for you. You couldn’t handle—”
“Don’t tell me what I can handle,” she cut through his words. “I’m not some kid any longer, and you don’t get to decide what happens in my life.”
Antony’s gaze swept over her. “No, you’re definitely not the kid who used to tail after me.” He nodded. “Okay, I’m a spy. But you can’t tell anyone, understand? You can’t blow my cover and I—”
“It’s not like I’m going to broadcast it on the evening news,” she huffed. “And, besides, I’m pretty sure your cover is blown. At least, that’s…wait, isn’t that what you told Sebastian? That’s what started this whole mess. Your cover was blown so you told him to protect me.”
Antony gave a grim shake of his head. “I didn’t contact him. My cover wasn’t blown. That’s what I was saying to Sebastian a few minutes ago. I never sent him a text. I never warned him that you were in danger. I never asked him to protect you.” He advanced toward Sebastian. Gave him a weary smile. “But, damn, man I am grateful to you. I am so glad that you were there for my sister. So glad that I can always count on you to do the right thing with her.”
Oh, yeah, this was going to turn bad very, very soon. “About that…” Sebastian began.
Antony clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You carried her to safety? You brought her into your house?”
“He’s been giving me twenty-four, seven protection,” Alyssa murmured. Did her cheeks pinken? It looked as if they did.
Antony smiled at him. “Above and beyond. That’s what you do. Go above and beyond. You are the best friend I’ve ever had, and you have no idea how grateful I am to you. Thank you for everything that you did for Alyssa. I’m sure she appreciated all that you did.”
Her cheeks didn’t just pinken. They went pure red.
“I think she liked some parts more than others.”
Her head whipped toward Sebastian. Her eyes flared.
“I’m sure of it,” Sebastian added softly. “The highpoints are burned in my memory.” A highpoint…his mouth between her legs and her coming for him.
“That’s great,” her brother said.
Um, probably not so great for him.
Antony backed away. “But you don’t have to worry any longer. I’m here. I’ll take care of her.” Another nod. “Alyssa, until we can figure this out, you can stay with me. I’ve got security to match the setup at Sebastian’s place. I’ll contact my handler, and we’ll figure this out in no time.” He seemed utterly confident.
Alyssa frowned at him. “Dex has no idea what’s going on.”
Antony blinked. “You’ve already met Dex?”
“Yes, and he doesn’t know who is after me, either.”
Sebastian rolled back his shoulders. “He’s working on it.”
“Working on it?” A furrow appeared between Antony’s brows. “Hell, if he thought my cover was blown, I’m surprised I didn’t find him camped out in this office with you.”
Sebastian was a bit surprised by that, too. “I’m sure he’s watching things.” Dex always did.
But he didn’t think Dex was the only one watching. The perp had played him, all along. This had never been about Antony.
It was about me.
Me and Alyssa.
“If I’d had any idea this was going on, I would have come back sooner,” Antony told Alyssa. “You know that, don’t you? I’d never leave you in danger.”
“You haven’t heard anything?” She tilted her head to the right and studied him. “Haven’t seen anything on social media? Didn’t catch any of the news stories?”
“I had some soul-searching to do. When I go dark, I go dark.”
“The timing of that is too coincidental.” Sebastian’s body was tense. This couldn’t be overlooked. “In order for this to all work, our bad guy had to know that you were going to be out of touch.”
Antony stiffened. “I didn’t tell anyone what I was planning.”
“He used your phone. How the hell did he get your phone?”
Antony’s brows furrowed. “Told you, I left it in my office. But…when I got here tonight, I looked for it. It wasn’t in my desk. Someone took it. At the time, I thought maybe you had snagged it, but, hell, guess not, huh?”
“Definitely not.” Every red flag was flying. �
��He knew you were dark. He counted on that to work this whole situation. He wanted me with Alyssa. He wanted me close to her.” Maybe that shooting outside of the theater…hell, he’d thought that they’d gotten lucky and the shooter had missed her but… “What if he intended to miss?” Sebastian demanded as he thought this scenario through to its end point.
Antony’s brows rose. “You need to back up because I am not following where you’re leading right now.”
“Alyssa was shot at outside the Langley Theater. I thought he missed her. Maybe he didn’t. Maybe the guy hit exactly where he wanted to hit.”
Alyssa shifted closer to him. “And my house? When he left that message on my wall?”
“Whoa!” Antony threw up a hand. “What message? Could you please catch me up all the way?”
Sebastian considered the message that had been left. “I thought he’d missed you. That he’d gone to your house in an attempt to get to you, but he could have left that message just to scare you and to make sure that you stayed with me.”
“Why?” Alyssa’s confusion was clear to see. “Why would he want me with you?”
Because when I’m with you, when I’m focused on you, I’m distracted. I make mistakes. Shit. Like when he’d immediately rushed out of the press conference.
When he freaking showed the world what mattered most to him.
He was the one who was screwed.
“Why is he trying to distract me?” Sebastian mumbled, half to himself. “What does he want?”
“We’ll figure this out,” Antony assured him. “And you won’t be distracted again.” He reached for Alyssa’s hand and tugged her toward him. “I’ll be taking over Alyssa’s security until this mess is sorted out. You don’t have to worry. I’ve got her now.” He turned for the door and pulled Alyssa with him. “Let’s get out of here. I don’t like the idea that someone could be watching us. We’ll sleep on things tonight and start fresh tomorrow.”
Sebastian stared at Antony’s back. The guy thought he was just going to take Alyssa away from him? “That’s not happening.”
Antony looked back at him. “Excuse me? Sorry?”
“You’re not taking Alyssa.” Not when I just got her.
“Uh, sure I am.” Antony laughed. “She’s my sister, man. Thanks for looking after her, but I’ve got her now.”
Alyssa stared at Sebastian. He couldn’t read the expression in her eyes, and he damn well wished that he could.
“Come on,” Antony urged her. “Let’s go, Alyssa.”
Over my dead body. Sebastian lunged forward even as—
“No,” Alyssa said. Her voice was firm and clear, and it seemed to cut through the room like a knife.
Antony swung toward her. “What?”
“You’re both acting like this isn’t my decision.” She lifted their joined hands. “You’re literally trying to pull me after you.”
“I’m trying to keep you safe and—”
“Sebastian has been doing a stellar job of that so far.”
“But he doesn’t have to do it anymore! You don’t have to be a burden to him and—”
“She is never a burden,” Sebastian barked.
Antony’s gaze suddenly narrowed on him.
Sebastian caught the flash of suspicion in his friend’s gaze.
“She,” Alyssa fired pointedly, “can also make decisions for herself. And I’m going to spend the night with Sebastian. That’s my choice.”
I’m going to spend the night with Sebastian.
“I’m staying with him,” she added simply.
Antony laughed. “But he has a life to get back to living! I’m sure the ladies in his life don’t appreciate having to share space with you over at his place.”
Alyssa’s expression tightened.
“Alyssa doesn’t share me with anyone.” Keep it up, Antony. You’re about to piss me off. I’ll only be grateful to see that you’re alive for so long. “I’m living my life just fine with her. Alyssa’s choice.” That was what it came down to for him. “You heard her. She wants me.”
And there it was. He saw it. The flicker of Antony’s lashes. The flash of realization.
Antony never forgot anything. He was much like Sebastian in that regard. Every word he’d ever read, every conversation he’d ever heard…
All on constant replay in his mind.
So Sebastian knew that Antony would remember their long ago conversation about Alyssa and the one stipulation that Sebastian had made.
“You sonofabitch,” Antony breathed.
Alyssa pulled her hand from his. “Why are you calling him names? Sebastian saved me!”
“No.” Antony’s hands fisted. “He just took what he wanted.” He lunged toward Sebastian.
Alyssa stepped into his path and shoved against her brother’s chest. “What are you doing? Are you crazy?” Her voice rose.
Antony’s face darkened as he glowered over her shoulder at Sebastian. “I told you! It was the one condition, and you knew it!” His voice was loud. Too loud.
“You need to calm down,” Alyssa snapped back. “Take a breath. Take twenty of them!”
Footsteps rushed outside of the office.
“I am calm!” Antony bellowed.
“Doesn’t sound that way to me,” Sebastian said. He crossed his arms over his chest. Propped his hip on the desk. Waited.
He figured that he had a swing or two coming his way. He’d take them.
For her, I’d take just about anything.
“Do not tell me,” Antony blasted, “that this jerk brought you in his home, saying he’d protect you—”
A fist pounded against the door. “Everything okay in there?” Ella called.
“Only to seduce you!” Antony shouted.
The door flew open. Ella gaped in the doorway.
Alyssa put her hands on her hips. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Antony released a ragged breath. His shoulders sagged. “Thank Christ.” He waved his hand toward Sebastian. “Sorry, really, sorry, but this night has been crazy, and I don’t know what I was—”
“I seduced him,” Alyssa clarified. “Obviously.”
Antony surged for Sebastian with his fist swinging.
Sebastian waited for the blow.
But…
Alyssa tripped her brother. Antony went down, hard.
She put her hands on her hips. Glared at Sebastian. “Really? You were just going to sit there? Let him punch you?”
He could not drag his eyes off her. “Seemed like a plan at the time.”
Antony groaned. He pushed himself up.
“Why the hell would you do that?” Alyssa asked Sebastian.
“Because I figure you’re worth a broken nose or a busted lip.” He shrugged. “Actually, I think you might be worth just about anything.”
She didn’t respond.
“Ahem.” Ella’s voice was strained. “Everyone’s okay here, yes? I think you are. I’ll just back away.”
Antony made it to his feet. He pointed at Sebastian. “We had an agreement.”
“And that’s some BS.” Alyssa kept her body positioned between Sebastian and Antony.
She’s protecting me? He’d noticed that she seemed to do that a lot. Put herself between him and others. Hmm.
“Antony, you don’t get to make decisions about the men I see. About the men I might want to be involved with. If I want to be with Sebastian, I’m going to be with him.”
Sebastian straightened. A smile pulled at his lips. She wanted to be with him?
“If I want to be with a dozen men,” Alyssa blazed on, “I’ll be with them.”
He lost his smile. A dozen men? Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. “The hell you will.”
She ignored him and jabbed her brother in the chest. “You don’t run my life. I love you, but you don’t dictate who I sleep with, just like I don’t tell you who to see.” She removed her hand as her shoulders heaved. “Got it?”
Antony rubbed his chest, right on t
he spot where she’d jabbed him. “Got it.”
“Good. Now, it’s late, and I’m going to bed.” She marched for the door. Angry, fast steps. Alyssa wrenched open the door and fired a fast glance over her shoulder. “Coming?” Alyssa locked eyes with Sebastian.
He rose. “No way you’re leaving without me.”
“Good.” A firm nod.
He moved to follow her.
Antony slid into his path. “This isn’t over.”
Sebastian flashed his dimples at the other man. “Of course, it’s not. As I told your sister just a little while ago, things are just beginning.”
Antony’s face flushed.
Sebastian lowered his voice and warned, “Try to get between me and Alyssa again, and it will be your worst mistake.” He was done playing. “She came to me. She wants me. And like I said before…”
“She’s my sister!”
“I will take care of her.”
“No. You don’t take care of things. You amuse yourself with them, and then you toss them away.” Antony’s voice was low, rough. “I’ve seen you do it, time and time again. You like challenges, but when the challenge is over, you get bored. You can’t get bored with her. Don’t you see? You can’t hurt her!” Fury flashed on his face. “But you didn’t think about the consequences, did you? You took what you wanted, and now it’s too late.”
Sebastian stared into his friend’s eyes. “You’re right. Now it is too late.” Because he’d finally gotten what he wanted.
But Antony was wrong. Sebastian wasn’t going to get bored. He wasn’t going to hurt Alyssa.
And he had no plans to ever toss her away.
He wasn’t a damn fool.
Chapter Twelve
“That went well.” Alyssa rode the elevator down with Sebastian. Her brother had tried to lunge onto the elevator with them, but she’d shut the doors just in time. She needed some privacy with Sebastian, STAT.
“You think?” He lifted his brows.
“Oh, definitely.” Rage poured through her. “You know, especially that part where you just stood there and waited for Antony to punch you. Great moment. Highlight reel material.”
His lips twitched.
He thought this was funny? Her hand flew out, and she slammed the emergency stop button.