16
SEBASTIAN
She’s back.
The little spitfire wasted no time showing her spark. Ariah made sure her dad was going to be taken care of. Hell, she even ensured Sam, of all people, was going to be seen. The same Sam that’s tried to make her time in Edgewood miserable.
When they brought Samantha out, I began to second-guess her participation in this whole ordeal. She looked like hell ran over three times.
According to the reports, she was raped and beaten severely. It didn’t stop her from trying to paw all over Wes, though. He went to give instructions on transport, and her claws snaked out, grabbing for his vest. Wes jerked out of her reach.
She asked him to ride with her, and he declined. Then, she asked him to stay with her as they did the rape kit, and he again declined. Samantha immediately threw a fit, tossing the contents of her rape kit across the room and refusing to complete the exam or cooperate further with questioning.
Her actions after were questionable, but who am I to say how someone processes their trauma? Shit. I’m probably the poster boy for how not to handle it.
Vivian has fucking ruined me.
Once I reach my room, I strip and grab a quick shower. I need to go toLe Toucher— it’s been a fucked last few days, and I need relief.
As the water beats against my body, I lather my skin, remembering a time when I thought I’d spend my life with her. She was everything I wanted and thought I needed.
Now that I’m clear-headed, I see that I never looked at her the way Wyatt and Owen look at Ariah— like whether the sun rises or sets is determined by her happiness.
I’d say it was a bit strong for something so new, but neither of them is stupid. They don’t only think with their dicks, and for them to be so besotted with a girl, while uncharacteristic of their typical behavior, means she’s something special.
Turning the water off, I step from the shower, grab a towel to wrap around my waist, and make my way to my closet.
Once dressed, I grab my keys and head for my car.
Driving through the town, I look up once I approach theWelcome to Edgewoodsign and make my way to the interstate.
The tension in my spine immediately settles once I’m ten minutes outside of town. Coming home wasn’t supposed to bring back all of these memories, and it certainly wasn’t supposed to stir new ones.
The Selection is something I’m duty-bound to— I volunteered once things with Vivian didn’t work out. Without a Bradford, there would need to be another male heir from one of the original families.
I thought we’d pick some chick, marry her, and get her pregnant. Feelings were never part of my plan. Ariah was never part of my plan.
She still isn’t, but it’s hard not to watch her with Owen and Wyatt and want that feeling.
“That’s it. Right fucking there. Bastian never lets me take control.” I hear the familiar moan of my fiancée as I walk through my house to my bedroom.
“Goddammit, if I knew you fucked like this, I would’ve taken you up on your offer years ago,” Vivian shouts.
I grit my teeth, change gears and push down on the accelerator as the scene that haunts me plays across my mind, reminding me exactly why I can’t allow feelings anywhere in this arrangement.
Women are disposable. They are for my pleasure and nothing more. However, I can’t dispose of whoever we choose— I just won’t love them.
I exit the highway, driving on autopilot until the club comes into view.
Le Toucher is an updated French-styled chateau. The limestone structure stands three stories high and is over twenty-thousand square feet, where you can live out your every carnal sin, no matter how depraved.
I pull up to the gate, stopping when one of the guards approaches.
“Nice to see you again, Mr. Grant. It’s been quite some time. Matthieu will be happy to have you back, and so will the girls.
“Thank you, Trevor. I’m long overdue for a scene and a scotch,” I reply.
He smirks, raising his hand to signal to the control room to open the gate so I can get through. Then I drive up the long winding driveway, scan my card, and pull into the underground parking garage.
