Page 104 of Freeing Denver

“I’m trying to save her, too,” he snaps.

“Then use your head.” I return my attention to Sebastian. “We’ll tell you all you need to know. The most important thing is to be a prick. Act like everyone else in the room is an inconvenience. You’re better than them, especially Denver.”

“So basically, act like Ranger,” Lewis pipes up from the other corner. Sandy cackles, and Cal, who has remained quiet since arriving, fails to hide a smile behind his hand.

“It’d be a shame to bring Denver home and have to tell her you’re dead, Lewis,” Ranger says smoothly.

“God, I’ve known you ten minutes and even I know that threat is overused,” Sandy says. “So, we dress Sebastian up. He stomps into the place all high, mighty and evil-like, and then what?”

“He confirms to us that Denver is there,” I say. “Then we make our way in slowly. There are close to a hundred men working there at any one time, leading up to the property and around it. We’re not going in all guns blazing. We’re going to take our time, pick them off one by one, and once we’ve eliminated the men on the perimeter, we move into the house. We get Denver, we get Sebastian, we kill everybody else. If you think you can do this, Sebastian.”

He runs his hand down his face before gripping his jaw. His attention is fixed on the floor, his expression distant.

“Sebastian?” I prompt quietly. He looks at me. “Can you do this for her?”

I hate using him. I hate putting him in danger, especially considering what Wilder did to Sebastian’s brother and best friend. Denver wouldn’t want Sebastian anywhere near this, but I need someone in that house I can trust and who Denver will trust, too.

Sebastian nods. “Tell me what to do.”

Chapter 31

Denver

Sebastian watches me with a distant expression, his gaze traveling down me with total indifference. His blond hair is swept back and he’s clean shaven, cool blue eyes lacking his usual warmth. He isn’t the loving, kind Sebastian I met on that island. Not Ethan’s friend. Not my friend. He’s someone else entirely.

“Well, Sal?” Spider asks from the doorway. “Is she what you hoped?”

Sebastian arches a brow. “That’s like asking if I enjoy driving a car when I haven’t even kicked the tire yet.”

Even his voice is different. It’s detached, deeper.

Spider chuckles. “We have these taster meetings for a reason. Denver, be polite and greet Mr. Sinclair.”

Greet him? How?

What the fuck is going on?

My lips part as I look at Spider, and the sound of chair legs scraping against the floor has my eyes darting back to Sebastian. He’s pushed his chair away from the table and pats his thigh.

I rise on trembling legs and round the table, wetting my lips before sitting on Sebastian’s lap. He tugs me close, draping my legs over him, one arm around my hip.

“How far along is she?” Sebastian asks.

“Thirteen weeks,” Spider says. “Is that a problem?”

Sebastian shrugs. “No.” He runs the tip of his finger down my neck. “But I’d like to test her out before I pay.”

“Anything from the neck up is fine, but we’ve kept her untouched for a reason,” Spider says. “Any more than that and you pay extra.”

“Well then.” Sebastian’s fingers wrap around my neck, and he gently squeezes. “Point me to her bedroom.” He jerks his chin at the door, and I stand.

Sebastian slides his arm around my waist, and Kitrick is waiting in the lobby.

“Show them to Denver’s room,” Spider says. “Then give them privacy.”

Kitrick looks between us but nods.

We walk in silence. Kitrick leads the way, rolling his shoulders as if trying to work out the kinks. Sebastian’s grip on my hip is tight, but he releases me once Kitrick stops at my room and pushes the door open.