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Shit!
“I-I forgot something in my office. I just need to get it, then I’ll leave,” I blurted out, my voice cracking on the last few words.
Sebastien took a step back and slowly scanned me from head to toe. I shifted uncomfortably under his unnerving gaze. I needed to get away from him. There was no way I could stay here anymore. Maybe I could find a cheap motel to spend the night.
I turned quickly and began to walk in the direction I had just come from. I had only taken a few steps before Sebastien suddenly grabbed my wrist. I jerked to a stop and instinctively turned to face him. A blinding pain shot through my injured shoulder, and I gasped as my other hand shot up to it, my vision blurring with tears.
Sebastien swore under his breath and dropped his hand as though I had burned him. Without warning, he scooped me into his arms like I weighed nothing more than a rag doll. My skin grew hot and my pulse quickened as he briskly made his way to his office. The moment he placed me on the sofa, I missed the security of his arms. I watched as he walked back to the door and locked it.Shit.
Chapter 9 - Sebastien
My words stuck in my throat as I looked down at Delilah. Her eyes were red and puffy, her shoulder was obviously injured, she had a red mark on her forehead, and her fucking heel was broken. She was looking down at her lap, and I could see her shaking from here. What the hell happened to her when she left here?
My jaw tightened as I felt anger building up inside me. Rex had called and said she ran out of the apartment building and sped off. They had followed her back here but had no idea what happened inside the apartment.
If someone had put their filthy hands on her, I’d make sure they’d disappear without a trace. I wanted nothing more than to hold her in my arms, but I needed to know what happened. I stalked over to my desk, leaned against it, and folded my arms. My eyes never left Delilah, who sat quietly on the sofa.
When I spoke, it almost came out like a growl. “Ms. Malone, what happened? Did someone hurt you at your apartment?”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. Her silence was beginning to frustrate me.
“Ms. Malone, look at me,” I demanded.
She opened her eyes, and her head snapped in my direction.
My eyes narrowed. “Tell me what happened.”
“I’m fine,” she whispered.
“Dammit, Delilah!” I roared.
She flinched, her eyes widened with fear. I immediately regretted startling her more than she already was shaken and forced myself to calm down.
I softened my voice as I continued, “Stop being so stubborn. Tell me what happened. I know you’re not fine.”
“I-I fell down the stairs at my apartment. It was an accident.”
She bit her lower lip nervously and refused to look at me. I knew she was holding back something; her tell was unmistakable. Whether we were arguing or a client snapped at her and she wanted to say something, she’d bite her lip in an attempt to stop the words from spilling over.
I needed to get Delilah to a doctor to check her shoulder and head. I didn’t have time for her to wait until she was good and ready to tell me what the fuck happened. I knew I had to pull the truth from her by any means necessary.
I took Delilah’s handbag and the elbow of her good arm, steered her towards the door and unlocked it. Once she was outside my office, I handed back her belongings. She looked confused and terrified, but I had to remind myself that this was for her own good.
“Since you’refineand your tumble down the stairs was an accident, I suggest you go to the ER and get your shoulder checked so you can report to work on Monday morning. I have a lot of work to get done. See yourself out, and rest assured if I see you on my premises, I’ll have one of the guards escort you out. Good night, Ms. Malone.”
“No! You can’t throw me out! I have nowhere else to go! They’ll find me and drag me back! Please, don’t let them drag me back,” she shrieked, her eyes darting around wildly in a full-blown panic attack as she grabbed the front of my shirt.
They? Them?
Warning signals went off in my head.
God! I hated myself for doing this to her, but it needed to be done.
“Tell me everything that happened,” I bit out.
Slowly, she removed her hands from the front of my shirt as she attempted to straighten up. But her response never came. Her eyes rolled back, and her body went limp.
Shit!