Page 50

50

SEBASTIAN

I resisted the urge to chase after Ella, but I was grateful I could still see her. Kip shifted from one foot to the other while the Pied Piper’s men trained their weapons on us. My instinct told me that if we didn’t attempt to run or fight, they wouldn’t shoot. I hadn’t driven out here to give Xavier over just to die.

The minutes seemed like eternity as I watched the Pied Piper and Ella talk. Although the headlights of the vehicles lit the area, I couldn’t see her face or expressions. Her body remained rigid and on high alert, but I told myself that Ella could handle him. She’d spent most of her career around cold, calculating criminals, not to mention the experience she’d gained handling Death and Xavier.

“Here she comes,” Kip said, his voice tight with concern.

I took a cautious step forward, eyeing the goons with the guns. Ella quickened her pace as she left the Pied Piper behind and hurried to me.

“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” she whispered as soon as she was within earshot.

“We’re going to leave, now,” I announced as I slowly led Ella and Kip to the vehicle.

“Let’s hope like hell they don’t start shooting as soon as we reach the van,” Kip muttered.

“They won’t. We’re safe to leave.”

I didn’t miss the fear that rode each of her words.

Once we were in the van, I drove away and left the Pied Piper and his minions behind us.

“I’ll keep an eye out to make sure we’re not being followed,” Kip said.

Ella remained quiet and slumped in her seat. A soft cry escaped her as she hid her face in her hands.

“Baby, it’s okay. You’re safe now.” I squeezed her knee. “Kip, did you leave anything important at the building we were at?”

“Nah. I gathered our duffle bags and burner phones while you were talking to Ella and before I grabbed Xavier.”

“Excellent. Thank you. Buckle up, we’re not going back there ever. We’re heading home.”

“We can go home?” Ella’s question was heavy yet hopeful.

I glanced over at her. “The Pied Piper gave Death his word that we were safe. What did he say to you?”

Her jaw clenched and unclenched, a single tear slipping down her cheek. “He reassured me that we would be taken care of.”

“And you believe him?” Kip’s words were clipped and distrustful.

“We don’t really have a choice,” she replied.

A spider crawled across the dashboard, and Ella jerked so violently she slammed her head against the window. I quickly smashed it and brushed it away.

She rubbed her head, visibly trembling. “I can still feel phantom legs crawling over my skin at night and hear the skittering sounds in my dreams. The rational part of me knows that I’m safe, but my body remembers each moment in that glass cage.”

My heart cracked wide open with her confession. I reached over and took her hand, my thumb gently rubbing the back of hers. “You have my word that you’re safe, babe. I’ll stay by your side every minute if I need to.”

She nodded and her shoulders relaxed a little.

Returning to our previous conversation, I said, “The Piper seems to have a large umbrella of protection, and Death agrees that we did the right thing.” The van bumped along the dirt road, and I looked into the rearview and side mirrors, but I didn’t see anyone else around.

“Kip, you see anyone tailing us?”

He shifted in his seat just enough to look around without being obvious. “Nope. Let’s go home. I’ll let you know if I see anything suspicious, but so far, so good. I’m going to call Ryan and put him on speaker. I need some proof that the Piper has the reach he says he does. Can’t believe a motherfucker like that.”

“Good idea,” I said.

Seconds later, Ryan’s phone rang.

“Hey, it’s Kip, Bass, and Ella. We’re driving back that way, but I need some information.”

Kip rattled off his questions about the Pied Piper having FBI and police influence to Ryan.

“I know the name really well. From what I’ve seen in law enforcement,” Ryan said, “the Pied Piper’s reputation is real. Cases go cold when he gets involved. Evidence vanishes. Witnesses change their stories. No one can prove anything, but every cop knows not to dig too deep when his name comes up. From my experience, you can believe him.”

“Thanks, man. We just needed to know if he was full of shit or not.”

“He’s for real. If you’re dealing with him, you guys need to watch your fucking back, though. He’s smart and scrupulous.”

“Thanks for the heads up,” I said.

“All right, we’ll catch you later. Thanks again,” Kip added.

“Later,” Ryan said before he hung up.

“At least we know,” Ella said, trying to get comfortable in her seat.

I turned right and the van rolled onto the pavement. “Five more hours until we reach Portland. I’ll hide the van, swap the plates out, then we’re homeward bound.”

“Thank you for taking us back. I miss the twins so much.” She sniffled and wiped the moisture from her cheek.

“When we’re at the penthouse, I’ll take care of the kids, you just get some rest. Maybe we can go forward and put the past behind us.”

“Yeah.” Her tone didn’t do anything to reassure me that it was possible, but I would move heaven and earth to make sure she felt safe enough to try.

The early morning sun peered over the horizon as “la di die” by Nessa Barrett and jxdn softly played through the car stereo. Ella had finally drifted off to sleep, and Kip’s snore reached me from the backseat. I was exhausted myself, but I was wired from the events of the last few weeks.

Something is off with my little lamb.

I didn’t disagree with Death, but I was probably overreacting. She’d been through hell, tortured mentally and emotionally, held captive, and met the man who had helped give birth to Death. She was strong, but no one could withstand that for long.

You’re not fucking na?ve enough to trust that the Pied Piper is out of our lives for good, right?

I stifled my laughter in order not to wake Ella. “I wasn’t born yesterday, asshole.”

Could have fooled me. You should have never let the Pied Piper talk to Ella. Whatever was said in that conversation fucked her up. I’m not sure you have what it takes to keep her and the kids safe.

I arched my brow. “You underestimate me.”

Maybe, but you also underestimate me and what I’m willing to do for my family.

I sighed, weary from the long night of driving. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Neither am I, so how is this going to work between us?

“I hate to admit it, but you come in handy at times. I don’t know that things would have turned out like they did if you hadn’t helped.”

Death’s surprise at my words bounced throughout my body.

I guess you’re okay yourself … sometimes. Well, Ella seems fond of you so that leaves me in a bit of a bind. If I kill you and take over, she might not forgive me.

I rubbed my chin before I replied. “Yeah, same. I’m beginning to think she really does love both of us. In my eyes, we have no choice but to make this work the best that we can.”

Silence was his only reply for a full minute.

He snarled. Agreed.

“Guess it’s settled then.”

Not quite. There’s something else.

The rest of the ride home was quiet except for the voice in my head. I parked the van and stared at my wife, overcome with gratitude for her. Not just any woman could put up with me, both sides. Yet here she was. She’d put her life on the line to save me and our children. I wasn’t sure it was possible to love someone as much as I did my beautiful Ella.