SASHA’S POV
The soft glow of the television bathed the living room in hues of gold and blue as Sebastian and
I lounged on the plush sofa. It had been such a productive day. After weeks of planning, we’d finally launched my online business.
Sebastian had been surprisingly hands-on, guiding me through every detail, and now that the work was done, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
“I still can’t believe you knew how to design a website,” I teased, nudging his arm.
He smirked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “What, you thought I was just good at shooting guns and brooding in suits?”
“Well…” I trailed off playfully, earning a mock glare from him.
The credits of the movie we’d just finished rolled across the screen, but neither of us moved to switch it off. Instead, Sebastian reached for the remote and scrolled through our options.
“What next?” he asked.
“Something funny,” I said instantly. “I need to laugh after all the tension in that last movie.”
He chuckled, pulling me closer. “Funny it is, then. Let’s see…”
We eventually settled on a lighthearted comedy, and as the movie played, the house grew quieter.
Sebastian had given Roland and the rest of the staff the evening off, wanting us to have the house to ourselves.
It felt like a tiny slice of normalcy in our otherwise chaotic lives, and I cherished it.
The sound of laughter echoed as a particularly ridiculous scene played out on the screen. Sebastian’s deep chuckle rumbled in his chest, and I couldn’t help but join in.
“You’re laughing too hard,” I teased, leaning into him.
“Don’t act like you’re not enjoying it,” he shot back, his eyes glinting with mischief.
Just as another wave of laughter bubbled up, the sound of a loud crash shattered the moment.
The entire house shook as the main door was flung open with such force that the hinges gave way, sending the massive wooden structure crashing to the floor.
I gasped, my heart leaping to my throat.
“What the hell?” Sebastian muttered, his body instantly stiffening.
Before I could even process what was happening, he was on his feet. His movements were swift and instinctive, a side of him I hadn’t seen in weeks, dangerous, precise, and alert.
“Stay behind me,” he commanded, his voice low and firm.
“Sebastian”
“Now, Sasha,” he snapped, cutting me off as he reached under the couch and pulled out a sleek black handgun.
I froze, fear knotting in my stomach as I obeyed. My back pressed against the wall as Sebastian positioned himself between me and the broken doorway.
The sharp sound of his shoes against the hardwood floor seemed deafening in the eerie silence that followed.
I peeked out from behind him, my breath caught in my throat as a shadow emerged from the doorway.
A tall, broad-shouldered figure stepped inside,
His movements are slow but deliberate. The dim lighting obscured most of his features, but there was no mistaking the aura of power and authority that radiated from him.
“Who the hell are you?” Sebastian barked, his gun aimed steadily at the intruder.
The man stepped further into the room, his boots crunching over the splinters of wood scattered across the floor.
“Sebastian,” the man said, his voice deep and commanding.
I shivered at the sound, but Sebastian didn’t lower his weapon. Instead, his grip tightened, and his stance became even more rigid.
“Last chance. Who are you?”
The man finally stepped into the full light, and I caught my breath. His face was striking-sharp angles, piercing eyes, and a strong jaw. There was something eerily familiar about him, something that made me uneasy.
The intruder smirked, his gaze shifting from Sebastian to me.
“You don’t recognize me, son?”
Son?
My eyes darted to Sebastian, whose expression remained unreadable. But the way his hand faltered, just for a split second, told me everything I needed to know.
“Father,” Sebastian said, his voice laced with equal parts shock and venom.
Father?
I stared at the man in disbelief. This was Sebastian’s father? The man he never spoke about? The man I’d assumed was either dead or irrelevant?
The tension in the room was suffocating as the two men stared each other down. Sebastian didn’t lower his gun, and his father didn’t seem the least bit intimidated by it.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Sebastian finally demanded.
The older man crossed his arms, his gaze steady. “We need to talk.”
“Breaking down my door isn’t exactly the way to start a conversation,” Sebastian shot back, his voice cold.
His father shrugged. “I wasn’t sure you’d let me in otherwise.”
Sebastian let out a humourless laugh, his gun still trained on the man’s chest. “You’ve got that right.”
I pressed myself further against the wall, my mind racing. Who was this man? Why was he here? And why did he feel so…dangerous?
“Sasha,” Sebastian said without looking at me, his voice softer now. “Go upstairs.”
“No,” I said immediately.
He finally turned to face me, his eyes blazing. “Sasha. Go. Now.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but the look on his face stopped me. This wasn’t a request, it was an order.
Reluctantly, I nodded and started backing toward the staircase. But as I moved, I couldn’t help but glance back at the two men, their standoff far from over.
Whatever was about to happen, I had a feeling it was going to change everything.