Chapter 7 His Saviour

Nate prepared a drink for Sebastian while they relaxed in the suite. “What a day! I’m exhausted.”

Sebastian leaned back on the leather couch, relaxing with his eyes closed. “I am grateful to have the chance to repay the man who saved my father’s life. Not once, but many times.”

Nate chuckled, handed over the drink, and felt the weight of the deathly glare as he sat down across from Sebastian. “What?” he exclaimed.

“Why did you chuckle just now? Do I strike you as amusing?”

“It’s just… This is your first time opening up to me and explaining yourself. I’ve never seen you explain your stance to anyone.”

“Cause you think I’m interested in her. I just want you to shut the fuck up!”

“Sebastian, your dad has hired a food tester to sample the dishes before they reach you. That’s the full extent of security measures in place. Do you know why? Because he fears losing you.”

Sebastian’s eyes stayed fixed on him as he kept talking. “But what did you do? You took matters into your own hands and rescued her without waiting for backup. I’m curious why you felt the need to put yourself and me in danger by rushing into the lurking threat around us.”

“I just told you! What would you like me to tell you? She is Connor’s daughter. I had to save her. That’s all!” Sebastian fixed him with a stern gaze. “And pay attention to how you behave toward her! It’s uncalled for and impolite. What has she done?”

“She put you in danger!”

“Here we go again!” Sebastian sighed, exasperated, as Nate leaned forward to make his point.

“Stay away from Janet! She’s bringing out your rebellious side, and it’s a bad sign that you should be wary of.”

“Thanks for the heads up. Now I’d like to sleep, so show yourself out!”

Nate exhaled deeply and shook his head as Sebastian headed toward the bathroom to take a shower.

He stood under the warm cascade of the shower, water streaming down his muscular frame, washing away the grime and tension of the day. Each droplet seemed to carry away a fragment of his worries, but his mind drifted back to that fateful night in New Orleans two years ago.

The water traced the contours of his shoulders and back, mimicking the path of the rain that had poured down on the cobblestone streets that night. He could still feel the chill of the rain mixing with the heat of his blood as he fought to stay alive.

Nikolai’s betrayal struck unexpectedly, breaking the fragile peace treaty and leaving Sebastian exposed and injured.

As water streamed over his face, he closed his eyes, and her memory surfaced from the shadows. She had come like an angel amid the chaos. Sebastian smiled when he thought of Janet.

FLASHBACK

The night was dark, with the moon hidden behind thick clouds, casting an eerie shadow over the countryside. Sebastian’s breath came in ragged gasps as he sprinted down the dirt road, the sound of Nikolai’s goons growing fainter behind him. Just when he thought his legs would give out, a distant thumping reached his ears.

He skidded to a stop, his eyes sweeping the horizon until he saw the source. A farmhouse with windows glowing with colorful neon lights, bass music filling the night with energy. A party. Perfect.

Without a second thought, he veered off the road and sprinted toward the farmhouse. The closer he got, the louder the music became, drowning out the pounding of his heart. He could see people dancing, laughing, and making out.

He slipped through the gate into the throng of partygoers, barely noticed amid the revelry. Frantically scanning around, he looked for a safe spot to hide and make a call, but the house was teeming with people.

Sebastian headed to the poolside. Everyone was enjoying the party by the pool, so he slipped away to the garden. He made a phone call to Nate while keeping a careful eye on the people in his vicinity.

“I sent you my location. Need extraction. ASAP.”

“Yes, boss!”

“Also, don’t let Dad find out about this. Keep it secret!” He finished the conversation, leaning against the tree trunk with his eyes closed.

“But I know the secret!”

A cheerful and mischievous voice startled him, and as he opened his eyes, he saw a girl in a shimmering pink sequin short dress sitting on a tree branch.

“Hi!”

She waved her hand and took a sip from the champagne bottle she was holding.

“What are you doing up there?”

“This is my birthday. My party. Who the hell do you think you are to ask me?” She accidentally dropped the bottle, but he caught it.

“Oh, my goodness!” She put her hand on her chest and sighed. “That cost me almost a hundred and fifty dollars!”

Upon hearing her words, Sebastian quickly checked the bottle to make sure its contents were safe to drink. Feeling thirsty from all the running and escaping, he took a sip.

“Hey, give it back to me!” Janet yelled.

“Come down and get it!”

“Nope. I feel good here. Why don’t you join me here?” She patted the seat next to her. Sebastian looked around and noticed that everyone at the party was wasted. “Are you scared?”

Her voice drew his attention, making him look up. He squinted in the darkness to make out her figure until the full moon broke through the clouds, casting a bright glow on her silhouette.

Sebastian grasped the tree branch with one hand, hoisting himself up before passing her the bottle of champagne. As he climbed higher to sit beside her, he finally saw her. Amber eyes sparkled with mischief, her oval face framed by cascading golden hair and an undeniable charm that seemed to radiate from her very being.

The moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting a gentle glow on her features, making the moment feel almost magical. He couldn’t help but smile, feeling a sense of adventure and connection in the quiet treetop sanctuary.

Once again, she took a sip from the champagne bottle and stumbled. Sebastian gently grasped her arm. “Sorry, I am tipsy!” She giggled.

“It’s your birthday. Why are you up here by yourself? And how did you climb up with a champagne bottle?” He snatched the bottle from her hand and took a sip.

“I am bored. They are trying to hook me up with a guy, but I am not interested.”

Sebastian nodded his head.

“What are you running from?” Janet leaned forward suddenly and plucked a dry leaf from his hair. Her eyes fixated on the bright purple bruises marring his face. “Roughed up? Did you commit any crime?” She slightly sobered.

“No. It’s just that some goons are behind me.”

Janet gently brushed her thumb against the corner of his mouth. “Is this blood for real?” As she examined him, he shot her a look filled with ridicule. “You know you should get down now. You might fall and hurt yourself. Also, your friends are probably waiting for you.”

“No. No one really cares about me. They all want to party like there is no tomorrow. I’m sure they are unaware I’m missing from the party.” She chuckled and grabbed the bottle from him.

Sebastian stared at her. “Why do you think that?”

Janet suppressed a laugh and tried to take another sip, but Sebastian quickly grabbed the bottle from her. “No. That’s enough!”

“Come on, let me drink away this night.”

“Why are you so sad on your birthday?” he asked, finishing the bottle of champagne and casually tossing it away.

“Ever since Dad is gone, everything feels like a jumbled puzzle. I feel like I’ll never be able to bounce back from our grief. I hosted a house party to ward off any sadness on my birthday. Invited friends and their friends and their friends. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel isolated within the bustling crowd. I’m such a miserable person,” she twitched her mouth.

As she shared details of her life, Sebastian kept staring at her, his mind occasionally drifting to thoughts of his enemies. Still, he could discern that she was grieving the loss of her father.

“Do you think I’d ever find happiness?” She turned to him, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Happiness is deep within the confines of our heart,” he whispered in her ear. “Remind yourself of the love you hold for your father. Once you remind yourself that your love for him still resides in your heart, even if he is no longer with you, you will find him and your happiness again.”

Sebastian’s warm smile spread across his face, and she couldn’t help but mirror his expression. “Right now, you should head back to the party and make the most of it!”

“I don’t think I can climb down the tree,” she said, her voice filled with uncertainty.

Sebastian chuckled. “I’ve got you, don’t worry.” He said those words and hopped down from the tree. “Come on, jump!” He looked up.

“Are you sure? I’m s-scared!” she stammered.

“Trust me. Jump!”

“Hold me, okay?” she whispered uncertainly before leaping into his arms. Sebastian caught her effortlessly, his strong arms holding her firmly. Neon lights flickered overhead, illuminating their faces as they looked at each other, his hand resting on her waist.

Suddenly, a notification flashed on his phone, breaking the moment—it’s a message from Nate.

‘We are close.’

“I gotta go now.”

He released her, and she steadied herself by leaning against a tree before slipping into her high stilettos. Just as he was about to leave, he caught a glimpse of men searching the pool area, looking for him.

“Fuck!” he exclaimed.

“What happened?” Janet asked him, and he turned to her.

“Those men chasing me? They are here! Any place to hide?” He looked over his shoulder and saw them scouring the garden.

“They have guns!” Janet widened her eyes.

“Hurry!” he said to her. “They might also harm someone at your party!”

Janet bit her lower lip. “We can’t go inside the house now. They are everywhere.” Her words elicited a sigh from him.

“But I read a book last night. It was a trashy mafia romance. You know, the guy in the book was so handsome, just like you!” She laughed.

“How do you know he was handsome?”

“The writer described him as handsome, duh!” She rolled her eyes.

Sebastian nodded and glanced over his shoulder.

“So, the man was shot in the arm while running from his enemies when he bumped into a girl in the alley of the nightclub. He asked her for help to escape the goons.” Janet glanced anxiously at the men, their guns glinting in the distance behind Sebastian. “You know what she did to help him?”

“What?” Sebastian’s patience was wearing thin, and he shot her a glare in response to her incessant talking.

The man holding the gun turned his attention to the couple under the tree. He saw the broad, sturdy figure of a man in a white shirt, reminiscent of Sebastian. He moved a step forward but suddenly stopped when he caught them in the act.

Janet grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him toward her, pressing her lips to his in a passionate kiss against the tree.

Sebastian lifted her without breaking the kiss and turned them so his back was against the tree. He slowly lifted his eyes and watched those men retreat.

“Are they gone?” Janet whispered close to his lips.

He couldn’t resist being drawn back to her mesmerizing amber eyes. “No,” he kissed her once more, gripping her firmly as her intoxicating lavender scent overwhelmed his senses until a notification on his phone suddenly snapped him back to reality.

Breaking the kiss, he carefully lowered her back onto her feet, and she took in deep, ragged breaths.

“Nikolai’s men are gone. We’re waiting outside. Should I come in to get you?” Nate asked in a text.

Sebastian tore his eyes away from the glow of his cell phone screen and looked up at Janet. “You know I’d have stayed here and finished what we started. But you’re way too drunk, and I need to leave.”

Janet smiled in reply, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

As he walked past her, she caught a whiff of his cologne lingering in the air. Janet watched his retreating figure when he suddenly stopped and looked back at her. “May I have the birthday girl’s name?”

She chuckled. “Janet.”

“Happy birthday, Janet! And thank you for saving me. Now, don’t climb the tree again. Enjoy the party and life.”

FLASHBACK ENDS

Sebastian stepped out of the bathroom in a black bathrobe and noticed Nate was gone. He dried his hair with a towel, standing in front of the dresser and looking at himself in the mirror. The corner of his mouth twitched, a sharp reminder that he had recognized her.

But did she?