Page 107 of A Wild Darkness

“I thought that was your muffled shot I heard through the door.” His eyes go straight to Pete with a single bullet hole in his head. Crimson splattered pillowcase beneath him. “The crew is around the corner. Why don’t you take the SUV back to the chateau? I’ll catch a ride with the guys.”

Sebastian releases me. “Yeah. No need to keep up appearances with transportation now since Silas knows we’ll all be out tonight anyway.”

Hayden tosses the keys to Sebastian, who catches them with one hand. As I walk past Hayden, he gives me a friendly pat. “You killed it tonight. You and your sister are something else.”

And somehow, his gesture makes me proud, like I’ve done something no one else could do. Sure, I didn’t kill Pete or Larry myself, but I helped. I was part of something bigger than myself.

I turn to Sebastian only to find his expression still hardened from earlier. His energy has suddenly shifted, and I can’t tell why. I thought I did what I was supposed to do?

Did I do something wrong?

I don’t have to ponder long over what happened before Sebastian hooks an arm around me and directs me out of the motel room, but I can sense a rigidity in his body.

“Let’s go, Stevie.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

STEVIE

Sebastian didn’t say a word to me on the car ride back to the chateau. And I didn’t want to mention his behavior regarding Pete, because my mind was also distracted. Still buzzing from the adrenaline rush, I can’t help but replay how the veins in Sebastian’s arms bulged as he strangled Larry or how he walked right up to Pete and shot him in the head without hesitation.

It’s one thing when someone tells you about their darkness, but it’s a completely different thing to witness it firsthand. I should be more shocked by what I saw. Any normal person would be, right? But I’m not, and I can’t explain why. Sure, it’s overwhelming, but the way I’m handling it—or lack thereof—is what makes me question my own morals. I should be running as far away from Sebastian and his crew as I can, but he pulls me in.

The door slams behind us as we enter our room at the chateau. It startles me. We have to talk about this, because I can’t stand the silence between us.

“Sebastian?” I say his name softly. I hate feeling this way around him.

He walks into the bedroom, leaving the door open.

I follow close behind him and use a firmer tone this time. “Sebastian.”

Without answering, he pulls off his shirt and tosses it into the corner of the room. My heart flutters at the sight of his chest, tattooed ink covering the entirety of it.

“Sebastian!” I yell, even though he’s only a few feet from me.

His head whips around, his features tight but troubled. “Yes, Stevie?”

“Can we talk about this?”

“Talk about what?”

Him killing Pete? Or freaking out about Pete’s lips touching mine for less than a millisecond?

“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Everything that happened tonight?”

“Sure.” He clasps his hands behind his neck in exasperation. “You did well. I’m proud of you for getting the job done. The way I feel right now has nothing to do with you.”

“I don’t believe you,” I bite back. “What’s wrong?”

Sebastian walks over to the dresser, gripping the edge. “It doesn’t matter.”

I hate seeing him upset, but I’m realizing he’s conflicted about us.

“It does to me.”

He remains silent.

“Sebastian?” I approach him, gently resting my hands on both his shoulders. His skin is hot and tingles through my fingertips. “Talk to me.”