“You can’t stay here, it’s not safe.You need to leave.I have a place you can go.You don’t need to be here.”
“I need to see,” Paisley whispers.“I need to know if it’shim.”
I reach for her arm when she goes to stand on the wooden crate that is placed next to a stack of them.All of them are turned upside down, like someone had previously tried to break in.
“No, this is crazy,” I hiss, keeping my voice low.“We should go.”
“Please,” she pleads, her hazel eyes imploring me to understand.“He could be up there.We could end this now.If we are wrong, and we call my brothers, we will be giving Sebastian more ammunition to use against us.”
I sigh, and keep a hold of her as she climbs onto the next set of crates.Because she’s right.We could end this.It would just be safer if we called her brothers first.As soon as she reaches the industrial bin, I have to let go.When her foot rests on the next bin, the one beneath the window that isn’t only whitewashed, but is covered in dirt and grime, the lid drops slightly, making a popping sound.Her eyes widen as she looks down to where I move, hiding beside the bin in case they look out.
“We need to go,” I mouth.
Because there’s no way they didn’t hear that.They might come to investigate, or worse, poke their heads out of one of the windows and see us.
She nods, and despite moving slowly, the lid makes another popping sound as she lowers herself until she’s sitting on the edge.I reach up and grip her by the waist, helping her down.The second her feet are on the ground, we are racing back down the alleyway, then squeezing through the gap.A woman pushing a toddler eyes us as we straighten.
“Thought it was a short cut,” I lie, taking Paisley’s hand as we race across the road to where my car is parked in a short-stay space.
“I think he was in there,” Paisley pants, leaning against the car.“Maybe we could go back?Maybe they didn’t hear us.”
I press my back against the car door, placing my hands to my knees.“It’s too risky.Let’s call Jaxon, let them look,” I plead.
“Okay, we can call him from in the car,” she promises, leaning into me.
“Going somewhere?”
I tense at the deep, male voice and stand up straighter.My gaze runs from the shiny, leather black shoes to the black, formal suit trousers, up to the white shirt and matching black blazer.A lump forms in my throat when I meet Sebastian’s ice-blue eyes that hold flecks of green.I slowly step in front of Paisley, wanting to protect her any way I can.
“I’m sorry, can I help you?”I question, snapping out of my daze.
He forces a smile.“Let’s not pretend you don’t know who I am.”He glances at Paisley.“Or where you just were.”
Paisley grips the hem of my top as she stands beside me.I lean into her, feigning a whisper to disguise the panic in my voice.“Is he talking to you or me?”
She shrugs, fiddling with the strap of the bag across her chest.“I don’t think so.I don’t know him, but then I’ve never been good at remembering names or faces.”
His jaw clenches as he straightens his jacket down his chest.“I’m Sebastian Black.I believe you know my father,” he grits out.“Let’s forgo the charade.”
Paisley clicks her fingers.“Oh, the paedophile, rapist and woman beater?”she gestures to his face.“I thought those eyes looked familiar.I’m surprised you don’t wear contacts.Change your name.Or hide it.Unless you like that association?”
“Fuck you,” he snaps, leaning in.“We both know you’ve been misinformed and those allegations aren’t true.”
Paisley surprises me by laughing, especially since I can feel her hand shaking on the hem of my top.“Okay, Sebastian.”
“So you concede?”he questions, his eyes lighting up.He turns to the man who stands a foot behind him.“Are you recording this?”
“Yes sir.”
“Why?Are you going to edit it later?”Paisley taunts in a sweet voice.
“Corroboration,” Sebastian replies smugly.
Two can play that game.Since my phone is still in my back pocket, I pull it out and hide it behind my bag.
Paisley snorts.“Okay, let’s cut the shit, Seb.You know your dad is a rapist.The younger the better, if the videos are any indication.Let’s not forget the other crimes he’s committed.You know it, I know it, and soon the entire world is going to know it.Your father is a sadistic child rapist, amongst other heinous crimes.So let’s not pretend or talk around the real issue here.”She leans forward, her lip curling.“Or...did you get more than your father’s facial features?Do you have the same tastes?”
“You little fucking—”
