Three

CHAPTER THREE

Aurora’S POV

I looked at Roman, hoping his reaction would somehow prove that I was wrong, but the look on his face only made the fear inside me worse.

He was staring at Sebestian as though he had just seen a dead man walk through the door.

Romanslowly stepped forward. “Who let you out, Sebestian?”

Sebestian’s eyes moved to him. A faint, cold smile appeared on his lips. “So, my dear brother doesn’t want me out.”

Roman’s jaw tightened. “Answer me.”

“Why?” Sebestian tilted his head slightly. “Fraud, illegal transactions, and everything else you accused me of were enough to get me fourteen years in prison, weren’t they?”

Roman’s face hardened. “You were convicted.”

“And yet I’m standing here.” His voice remained calm, but something about it made the room feel colder. Sebestian took another step forward. “Go and ask the court why I was released.”

Roman’s hands tightened at his sides. “You think being released changes anything?”

“No.” Sebestian looked around the living room before his eyes returned to Roman. “It changes everything.”

Romanscoffed. “Even if you are released, there is nothing here for you anymore.” He gestured toward the house. “The company is mine. The properties are mine. Everything you lost is gone. You should be grateful that you are free and go somewhere else to start your pathetic life.”

For the first time, Sebestian’s expression changed, the faint smile disappeared.

He looked directly into Roman’s eyes. “You should go back to the place my mother picked you from.”

Romanwent still Sebestian’s voice dropped.

“Because it is time for you to hand over everything, Vic.”

The silence that followed was heavy Romanstared at him.

“You have been gone for seven years.”

“I know.”

“Seven years is a long time.” Romangave a cold laugh, as though he had finally regained his confidence. “The companies are doing well without you. The properties have grown in value. Everything you left behind has moved on.”

Sebestian stared at him for several seconds.

Then he smiled, It was not a warm smile, It was the kind of smile that made the back of my neck grow cold.

“Then you have spent seven years making my things more valuable for me.”

Roman’s expression changed.

Sebestian stepped closer.

“You should have stolen less, Vic.”

Roman’s face tightened. “I built everything you see.”

“No.” Sebestian’s voice was quiet. “You occupied it.” He paused, his eyes never leaving Roman’s face.

“There’s a difference.”

Roman opened his mouth, but Sebestian continued before he could speak.

“Enjoy your last few days of pretending.”

The words were so calm that they frightened me more than if he had shouted.

“I didn’t spend seven years in prison learning how to lose.”

Roman’s face had gone completely stiff. I barely heard the rest of what they were saying, my  mind was somewhere else.

I could still remember last night, I could remember reaching for the man’s face, I could remember the strange smoothness of his skinc I could remember the voice that had warned me.

You don’t know what you are asking for.

I looked at Sebestian again, he  was standing only a few steps away from me now.

The more I looked at him, the more uncomfortable I became.

His height, his voice, his  eyes.

There was something about him that made my heart beat faster.

I quickly looked away, I did not want anyone to notice how nervous I was.

Especially Roman.

He knew nothing about last night.

He had no idea that while he had been sitting here with Vivianne, I had been with another man.

And if that man was really Sebestian…

I didn’t even want to finish the thought.

My fingers slowly moved toward my pocket.

The watch was still there.

I could feel its weight against my hand.

Then Sebestian suddenly looked at me.

Our eyes met.

I froze.

He studied my face for a moment, almost as though he was trying to remember something.

My heart began pounding.

Then his gaze moved slightly over my face before returning to my eyes.

“Is there something on my face?”

I quickly shook my head. “No.”

I didn’t know what to say furthbermove 

Romanlooked between us, completely unaware of the storm inside my head. He  deep inside, a terrifying possibility was already taking shape.

And for the first time since Sebestian walked through that door, I was no longer afraid of what he might do to Roman.

I was afraid of what he might remember about me.