I could be like them. But I am not.
My shoulders square a little and my spine straightens, “Didn’t realize one was required in this present age.”
She huffs a laugh that is filled with no humor, “Such a shame.”
“What’s that?”
“That your mother was right about you,” She sighs, “And I had such high hopes for you, Willow. I thought you would prove her wrong but you’re just like the tart your daddy ran off with.”
My brows shoot up, “Excuse me?”
“She tried so hard, God rest her soul, and she still failed. You should be ashamed of yourself, no ring, no husband, and a bastard child growing in your belly.”
“Don’t fucking talk about my child like that,” I snap, seeing red, “You have no right.”
“It’s merely the truth, honey,” Georgia smiles. “Perhaps you’ll keep your figure, it’ll be the only thing going for you after that baby is born.”
I open my mouth, the retort at the tip of my tongue but it halts the moment I see the barrel of a gun press firmly against Georgia’s temple. My eyes widen as they flick to Sebastian, his face a mask of quiet rage.
“The fuck did you just say?” Sebastian growls, the anger in his tone sending a chill down my spine. “I have killed people for less,” He warns her, never taking his eyes off the side of her face, his body still, finger poised on the trigger.
It doesn’t matter that we are in a store full of people or that there are cameras everywhere, his focus is on the woman in front of me who has gone the shade of paper, her eyes rounded, and lips parted. Fear twists that hateful expression that was on her face just moments ago.
“Bast,” I try, my voice soft as if talking to an animal, “It’s okay.”
“It isnotokay,” He softens his tone when he speaks to me but doesn’t take his burning green eyes off the woman. “That’s my child growing inside of her. She is mine. My woman. She will be my wife, and even if that wasn’t the case, she is a fucking beautiful woman who deserves some goddamned respect. Apologize.”
“Sebastian,” I try again.
“Apologize!” He booms.
“I-I’m sorry!” Georgia stutters out, her voice shaking.
“That wasn’t a very convincing apology,” Sebastian continues, pressing the gun into her head harder, “It would be such a shame to ruin all this pretty furniture, but I’ll paint it fucking red if I have to.”
I swallow, my heart in my throat.
Georgia opens her mouth again to speak but Bast stops her, “On your knees and apologize. Beg her for forgiveness. Beg her for your life. Atone for everything you and that witch of a mother did to her. Now.”
People are staring now, some in morbid curiosity, others in downright terror but Sebastian doesn’t give a shit.
“Apologize!” Sebastian roars.
A small cry spills from Georgia’s lips as she drops to her knees in front of me.
“I’m sorry. Please, I’m sorry.” She rambles, tears running down her cheeks, leaving black tracks from her mascara, “Please, I’ll do anything.”
“Kiss her feet.” Sebastian says flatly.
My eyes widen, “Bast.”
His eyes finally lift to mine, the rage in them quietening some, “Enough,” I whisper. “It’s enough.”
His nostrils flare and his fingers continue to flex and twitch around the gun. He would do it, kill her right here, right now, he would do it to fix the wrongs committed but it doesn’t fix anything. Nothing changes what they did, what my mother did and at some point, I have to let it go.
Is it that easy? Of course not, but if I don’t take that first step forward, I’ll never get out of the past.
I place my hand on Sebastian’s arm, and while he remains facing Georgia, he flicks his eyes to me. I see the anger burning there, burning for me, but he has to let it go too.
