Page 21

Sebastian asked, “Is your mother safe?”
He’ll definitely ask about my mom because he loves her.
“She’s fine.” I hold back my anger and smile softly. You can’t make someone love you, Aria.
I clean all of his wounds by rubbing the cloth over his chest. I put the cloth on the bullet hole when I got there. “Keep it there,” I said to Sebastian. Sebastian put his hand on his hurt hand.
“I have to kidnap you,” Sebastian said as I tried to clean up the mess I had made. I turned around, confused. “They won’t just let me go willingly especially since your little fiancé knows about us.” Sebastian grunted.
“No, he can’t. I’ve never told anyone.” I said in shock, “That’s not possible.”
“Well, he knows.” Sebastian held his side in pain. My stomach was a mess. What if he tells my dad or, even worse, my mum?
“How are you going to kidnap me when you can barely stand up?” I ask softly.
Sebastian said, “You need to call Caleb.” It felt like Sebastian hit me with a lot of bricks all at once. What can I say to Caleb after everything that happened?
“I can’t.” I shook my head yes, very dramatically.
“There’s no other choice, Aria. I’ll die,” Sebastian said in pain. I gently put my hand on his shoulder and rubbed my thumb against his skin to try to calm him down. Sebastian mumbled, “Caleb has a sister—your best friend. Call her to pick us up.”
“Sebastian, she can hardly kill a fly, let alone f*****g humans!” I’m angry, tired, and worried. Maya can’t help, and there’s no way she can even pick up a gun. It could be dangerous and deadly to involve Maya.
Sebastian said, “Call her. You think she doesn’t know anything because her brother is very trained.”
“Okay,” I said, annoyed. Sebastian nodded right away when I said, “I’ll be right back.”
I ran back up the stairs and into my room, where I forgot Henry would be. Henry was reading a book on our bed when I walked into the room. I took my hair down from the bun and acted more relaxed. I picked up my phone from the nightstand.
Henry asked, “Where were you at?” as he turned the page in his book. I made up a story in my head. I’m not very good at lying, so let’s see how this goes.
“I am with my mom,” I said, putting my hands on my hips and leaning on one foot. Before looking at Henry, who had put down his book, I looked around the room.
Henry smiled and said, “Can I get a kiss, love?” I won’t deny that I’ve grown to love Henry, but it’ll never be the same as the love I have for Sebastian. His smirk has always been charming.
I nodded and went around the bed to his side. I put my hands behind his neck and he kisses me softly on the lips. Henry always kisses me with all the love he has, and this kiss is soft and warm like the others. I pulled away a little and rested my forehead on his to try to catch my breath.
Henry whispers, “I love you, Aria.” My hands went back to his cheeks, and I pulled our faces apart to look deeply into his eyes.
His eyes told a great story about love and need. With Henry, it was so easy; I didn’t have to sneak around or hide. I wouldn’t be hurting anyone.
“I love you too,” I said before I left.
I had to keep a straight face, but I was really scared on the inside. Henry made it a lot easier for me to choose. I went into the kitchen and called the person who has hurt me so much and left me with scars that will last a lifetime.
“Caleb, Sebastian needs your help,” I said on the phone. “I need you to come to my dad’s house. Come in from the back, where the basement is.” Caleb has been here before, so he knows where everything is.
“On my way.”
I put down the phone. When I realised I hadn’t taken any air earlier on the phone, I took a breath. His voice didn’t change; it sounded the same. I thought he would be more surprised, maybe even happy, but it sounded like he was done with me. I calmed down before going back down to the basement. Sebastian was lying on the floor.
“I told him that Caleb was coming to get you.” I lifted his head up and felt torn between love and hate.
“You mean us,” he said. I looked at him, and his eyes were boring holes in my face.
I shook my head and said, “Just you.”
“They won’t let me go unless I have a hostage.”
“Yes, they will. They’re sleeping, so you just need to stay away from my mom and me.” I said while biting my lips. “You can’t marry my mum. If you do, my dad will kill you.”
I said, “He still loves her.”
Sebastian grunted, “What about you? What if I choose you?” Even though he was in a lot of pain, he still tried to sit up. I put my hand on his chest and pushed him back down to the floor.
“You can’t, I can’t. You love my mom and she loves you. I love Henry, I choose him.” I said with confidence, even though I knew I was lying to him and myself. The truth is that I want Sebastian in every way possible.
Sebastian asked, “You love him?” in a deeper, meaner voice.
“Of course I do; he’s never hurt me or made me feel bad.”
There was a knock, and it came from the wall. I quickly got up and opened the door. I pulled it back. Caleb’s face came into view again, and there was my other weakness. Caleb’s eyes moved down my body until they landed on my tattoo. I quickly pulled down my pyjama shorts. I crossed my arms over my chest and stepped aside to let him in.
“Boss.” Caleb tried to talk to Sebastian, but he pushed him away.
“Get me the hell out of here. I’m fine.”
Caleb puts Sebastian’s arm around his shoulders and lifts him up. Caleb began to walk outside, and I quickly followed him. Sebastian stopped Caleb when we arrived at the car and used all his strength to get closer to me.
“Sebastian, you should lay down—” I tried to say before he cut me off.
Sebastian says, “I can’t leave without a hostage. I won’t get your mum back and pay back for this blood.” “I love your mom and want to marry her. I won’t leave here without any hope of getting her back, but your life is everything to those men inside.” He catches me off guard, and I start to back away from him before he can grab me. “With you as a hostage, your dad and Henry will surely hand her over.” My heart was racing. Was that all he cared about? Revenge is a bitch.
Sebastian yells, “Get her, Caleb!”
I looked at Caleb, and he looked lost. Caleb didn’t listen when I shook my head.
“Sorry, Aria.” Caleb lunges at me, and I kick him in the balls. I started to run, but Caleb grabbed my ankle and pulled me back. I fell forward, and everything started to blur when I tried to get up.
“I think I fell,” I mumbled as I fell back down, but before I could touch the floor again, a pair of hands grabbed me.
“F**k”