Page 79 of Rum & Coke

After I finished my third drink, I leaned close to Melony and spoke into her ear over the loud music. “I’m going to go find a bathroom. Are you okay if we leave?”

“Sure. I’ll get us an Uber.”

I didn’t realize I’d lived in my own bubble until I saw everyone around me snorting coke, but it was easier that way because I had Colt and my priority was him. The problem with that was I was oblivious to my surroundings most of the time. If one’s head was stuck in the ground so to speak, how could they see what was about to happen?

As I walked down the hall in search of a bathroom, a thought popped into my head. I wanted to see what Sebastian’s bathroom looked like in comparison to Mark’s. If it was better, I could tell Vinny, and we could make a list of what we’d want in a bathroom. I couldn’t believe I was thinking about us having a list of wants for a house. We’d barely started dating, but it was fun to think about all the possibilities because I really liked Vinny, maybe even loved him. I knew that not only did I want to fall asleep in his arms each night, but I also wanted the dinners, the TV time, thealonetime.

Opening doors, none of them were what I’d consider the master bedroom or bath. So, I kept walking until I got to the end of the hall. There was no way one of the bedrooms I’d seen was the master. They were on the smaller side, and this house wasn’t small by any means. There was one more door to try, so I did. It opened, and just down a short hall were more stairs. That was when I remembered this was a three-story house, so it made sense that the master would be on the top floor.

I hurried up the stairs so I could get a quick look at the bathroom before I was caught, except when I got to the top, I stopped dead in my tracks, my eyes widening in instant fear. Sebastian had a gun pointed at a guy who was sitting bound to a chair in front of a dark wood desk. Sebastian’s friends stood behind him, Mateo behind them, and a few other guys I didn’t recognize.

“Please just give me one more chance,” the guy in the chair begged.

“No,” Sebastian simply stated and then I heard a loud pop.

I screamed.

Sebastian’s gaze met mine, and I turned around, running back down the stairs as fast as I could go in my heels.

“Get her!” I heard from behind me.

Before I could get to the door that led to the second floor hall, a hand wrapped around my arm and yanked me back against a hard body. I screamed, only for it to be muffled as a hand went over my mouth. Tears pricked my eye as I struggled and struggled and struggled to break free, my clutch falling to the floor.

“Let me go,” I mumbled against the hand, kicking my legs as I tried to get away. I heard a chair drag against the floor behind me, and then I was thrown down onto it. Mateo rested his hand on my shoulder, keeping me in place. “Please?” I begged, looking at Sebastian as tears ran down my cheeks.

He closed his eyes briefly and shook his head slowly. “Fucking hell, Tessa.”

“I thought her name was Scarlett?” Tony asked.

“Stage name,” Sebastian clarified. “Tessa here is my angel.”

“Your angel?” Xavier asked.

“My pure, sweet Tessa.” Sebastian ran his hand over my cheek, and I swallowed.

“Please just let me go,” I begged again, looking up into his dark blue eyes.

“I can’t do that,” Sebastian answered and stepped back, running his hands through his perfectly styled hair, and began to pace.

“Why not?” I looked at the dead body next to me. “I won’t tell anyone. You know that.”

Sebastian moved in front of me and bent at the knees. “While that may be true, I can’t take the chance. Murder will cost me more than a drug charge, Tessa Baby.”

My stomach coiled at the name. “Please? Melony and I will just leave. I won’t tell her or anyone.”

He stood and looked at Mateo. “Get rid of Melony.”

“No!” I screamed.

“I’m not going to kill her, Tessa,” Sebastian stated, and then looked back at Mateo. “Get her in a car and have her leave.”

I kept my mouth shut, hoping and praying she wouldn’t question why she was leaving without me. Hoping and praying she’d actually leave and hoping and praying I wasn’t a dead woman.

Mateo left, and Tony took his place, placing a hand on my shoulder. His grip was firmer as he pressed down, actually restraining me. Mateo had simply placed his hand on my shoulder. This was harder, and I didn’t like it. I didn’t like any of it, and I just wanted to go home and wake up from the nightmare.

“Please!” I begged again. “Just let me go.”

“I can’t do that,” Sebastian repeated and started to pace again. “But I’m not exactly sure what to do with you.”