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Wells stepped out, shirtless. His gaze went from Royal to me, and then he grinned. “Thank fuck!” he said, then turned around to the room full of people. “I think we just got Sebastian back!” he shouted to the room.
I smirked and headed the rest of the way up the stairs, taking them two at a time with her in my arms. I was getting a second chance, and this time, I’d make sure she never had a reason to doubt me again.
In the darkness of our world, when you found your light, you didn’t fucking let it go.
•Thirty-Eight •
Bring it on, Boss.
Royal
I paused outside the restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas. Sebastian’s hand squeezed mine. He was with me. I could do this. Face her. The woman who’d left me at six months old, never looking back. No calls. Not even a birthday card. Nothing.
I hadn’t decided to do this because I wanted to know her. It was more of a need for closure. One I’d never had the chance to have. Sebastian hadn’t questioned it when I told him that I wanted to meet her. He asked me how, where, when and handled it all. He’d even made the contact with her. I just … I just couldn’t do that.
Some hurts were too deep. This was one that had been a part of me all my life. It was like finally looking under the bed to confront the monster hiding there—or at least, that was how I was looking at it.
My dad was currently in prison. When Blaise Hughes had handed over Merce to the Feds and all the proof they needed that he was the one behind the distribution of the laced drugs, Merce had listed everyone who had been involved. Merce’s father had been innocent in it all, but his reelection was going to take a hit. The family seemed happy about that and already knew who they intended to take his place. Although I was sure it was Merce who told the college about my sitting in on classes and writing papers for money, along with the illegal gambling ring and the pool hall he hadn’t tried to lie and include me in his drug trafficking. He did hand over my dad but there had been plenty proof of his involvement.
Grams was happily back in Haven House with her own suite. I visited her daily. I never had to worry about her well-being when I wasn’t there anymore.
“If you change your mind, we leave. Your choice, Ace,” Sebastian said beside me.
He’d been wonderful through all this.
I took a deep breath. “I’m ready. This is a door I need to close.”
He pressed a kiss to my temple. “Then, let’s do this,” he agreed.
Let’s. Us.I was part of anus. I wasn’t alone anymore.
He stepped up and opened the door to the restaurant, not letting my hand go. I walked inside, and he stayed close to my side. The warmth from his body was reassuring. I’d not relied on anyone since my Grams had started losing her memory. Now, I wondered how I had ever managed.
After I had told Sebastian I wanted to do this, I had also asked to see the picture he had of her. He had a couple. She had aged well, but she was no longer the younger woman in the only photo I’d seen of her.
Sebastian led me toward the far back right of the dining room, telling the server we were meeting someone when she asked if we would like a table.
I recognized Jill’s face from the photos as she stood up slowly. Her eyes were locked on me, and the emotion in her expression almost sent me turning and running out. She didn’t get to look at me like that. Like she cared. Like she … she felt something.
Sebastian’s hand tightened on mine again, as if he knew what I was thinking. If I left, he’d not question it and handle everything. But he had gone to all this trouble, and I was here. There was no turning back.
When we reached the table, no words came to me. What did I say to her? Why hadn’t I thought this out more? Planned this moment in my head?
“Jill,” Sebastian said in greeting. “I’m Sebastian Shephard. We spoke on the phone.” He turned to me then. “And this is Royal.”
The woman who had given birth to me stared at me anxiously. “You’re beautiful,” she said as a smile broke across her face.
Did I say thank you for that? No. That seemed stupid.
Finally, I pulled myself together and decided to treat her like I would any stranger.
“It’s nice to meet you, Jill,” I replied.
Sebastian pulled out a seat for me, and I took it as Jill sat back in hers.
“I was surprised when I got the call from, er, Sebastian,” she said with a small nod in his direction. “I’ve wanted to reach out to you, but I was scared that you’d reject me or that I’d cause drama in your life.”
Was she serious? Cause drama in my life?
