After I stormed inside and Dean followed me, I apologized for what I said and tried to talk to him, but he wasn’t having it. His focus was Sebastien and he wanted his head on a spike. He felt betrayed by both of us, not so much that he wasn’t invited since he was in rehab, but the fact that neither one of us thought it was necessary that my only relative wasn’t notified of the biggest event in my life.
I had left him fuming downstairs and I went upstairs to rest. My stomach felt more settled and I drifted off to sleep. Suddenly, I heard something break. It sounded like a table shattering. I flew out of bed and got to the top of the stairs and Dean and Sebastien were fighting below.
I raced down the stairs and tried to pull Dean off Sebastien. Even though six weeks had passed since his accident, Sebastien’s shoulder still needed time to heal the last thing he needed was to be in a fight.
“Dean, get off of him! Stop it!”
Sebastian had kicked Dean, and I moved out of the way just in time for Dean to fly backwards and hit his back against the sofa.
As Sebastien marched towards Dean, I placed myself between him and Sebastien.
“Sebastien! Please, stop this!” I pleaded.
It didn’t seem as though Sebastien heard anything I said until I placed my hand on his chest and he froze. Then he looked down at me. I could see the bruise starting to form on the right side of his face.
Dean stood up and the men stood still.
“Fighting is not going to solve anything. Can we please sit and discuss this?”
Sebastien nodded and focused on me. “How are you feeling?”
I sighed. “I’d feel much better if the two most important men in my life were sitting and not glaring at each other as though they want to kill each other.”
Without a word, Sebastien took my hand in his and lead me to the sofa where, he sat. Dean sat in the armchair opposite us.
“Somebody needs to start talking. Why the fuck didn’t anyone tell me about the marriage, and why are there videos of Delilah dancing like a fucking porn star on the internet?” Dean asked through clenched teeth.
I opened my mouth to speak but Sebastien stopped me. “So, you come into my house to attack me in my home wanting answers? Answers to what? Why you couldn’t protect your sister? Answers to why you decided to not only smuggle drugs for Hawthorne but started to use, knowing damn well you owed that son of a bitch money? Or do you want answers as to why the fuck you decided to hide away in rehab while your younger sister had to face Hawthorne alone until I came into the picture?”
When Dean didn’t say anything, Sebastien continued. I knew he was pissed although he tried to control himself.
“A few months ago, Delilah came to work for me. One night her place was trashed and she told me about your dealings with Hawthorne. Because you weren’t available, they came after her.”
I saw the look of horror on Dean’s face as he looked at me.
“They made her quit the job she loved so much and made her work for them, stripping for rich bastards to pay off your debt. She didn’t do it because she wanted to, she did it because she was protecting your name. Now hers is being dragged through the mud. The fact that you think your sister did it because she wanted to shows how little you think of her. But we were able to get the videos that were posted online removed.”
“You did?”
Sebastien turned and looked at me. “Yes, we did. I’ll tell you everything when we’re alone.”
I nodded as Sebastien turned back to Dean. “As for the wedding part. Delilah and I came up with an agreement. I’d pay off the loan…”
“And I’d pay Sebastien back…”
“I’d pay off the loan, protect her secret and we’d get married to deter Hawthorne from coming after her. He, however, has continued to come after her, but he’s at the end of his rope. My brothers and I are making sure of that.”
Dean leaned forward his elbows on his knees and he rubbed his hands over his face.
“Delilah, I’m sorry that you went through all of this because of me, because of my stupid mistake. I promised Mom and Dad that I’d look out for you, and I’ve been doing a terrible job at it.”
I moved from Sebastien’s side and pulled Dean to his feet.
“You’re the best brother a girl could ask for. You’ve always looked out for me and you’ve been my only friend for so long. Yes, you made a mistake, but we all do. Mom and Dad would be happy that you agreed to go to rehab and get your life back on track. The only way you’ll be terrible at looking out for me is if you choose to give up.”
Dean pulled me into a hug and I wrapped my arms around his waist. When we pulled apart, he smiled as he sat back down, and I went back to Sebastien’s side.
“Dean, why didn’t you come to me for help? Everything could’ve been avoided if you had done that the moment you lost your money and Hawthorne’s from a bad investment.”
Dean sighed. “I just thought I could figure it out on my own. I hadn’t expected things to escalate as quickly as they did.”
“Next time, come to me; we’ve known each other since we were eight. We’re like brothers. It hurt to know that you needed me, and you didn’t trust me enough to help you. And it’s not like I couldn’t afford to help you.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“When my brothers found out that I had been trying to deal with Hawthorne alone they were pissed. I have an amazing support team, but just like you, I wanted to do it alone. Wanted to prove that I could do it alone.”
“It’s a male ego thing,” I said.
Sebastien looked at me, “Oh, really? If I hadn’t pried the information from you, you wouldn’t have told me anything.”
I shrugged my shoulders, “The difference is I had no one to go to, no best friend, and Dean was in rehab,” I said. I turned to Dean. “I couldn’t tell you what Hawthorne was doing. I knew you would’ve left rehab, and I didn’t want that for you. I wanted you to finish, to be clean.”
“You’re right, I would’ve left,” Dean stated unapologetically.
“And probably gotten yourself killed and I would’ve never forgiven myself,” I said.
Dean nodded.
My stomach started to gurgle again, and I sighed. “Now that you guys are playing nice with each other, can I please go up to bed?”
“Dee, what’s wrong?” Dean asked, concerned.
“Allergic reaction to something I ate. I’ll be okay.”
“I’ve been such a bonehead. Since I got here, it’s been about me, me, me. Do you need me to get anything for you?” Dean asked.
"That’s my job, now,” Sebastien stated as he stood up from the sofa and pulled me to him. “If you need anything to eat or drink the kitchen is through there,” Sebastien pointed at the door that led to the kitchen. “I’ll order something for dinner. So, we’ll see you around six-thirty.”
“Sure.”
Sebastien and I made our way to our bedroom, and once we closed the door, he pulled me into a kiss, like he hadn’t seen me for years. I looked into his eyes, and he looked worried. I’d never seen him look like this.
“Sebastien, what’s going on?” I swallowed. “Did you tell us that the videos were taken down just to appease Dean?”
Sebastien cupped my face with both hands. “We’ve taken down the videos. And my brothers said they don’t see you any differently, just in case you try to get out of ever seeing them again.”
My stomach twisted. “Your brothers saw the videos?”
“Sweetheart, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Axel took one look and said you weren’t enjoying yourself and that the only opinions that mattered about the situation were my brothers', mine, Emily's, Lucy's, Mrs. Kensington's and, well, now Dean's. And we know the whole story, so we don’t give a fuck.”
“I’m sorry but having your brothers see me like that your words are doing little not to make me feel weirded out about it.”
Sebastien’s eyes were intense, before he sighed, “It’s my fault. Everything you and Dean went through, Eso being dead. It’s all my fault.”
“Sebastien, I don’t understand. How is this your fault?”
Sebastien led me to sofa in the room and we sat down before he told me everything from the time he and Dominic visited Obsidian to what happened at his office today.
Neither of us spoke for a few minutes.
“Sebastien, before that day you went with Dominic, you’d never met Obsidian? Didn’t kill his pet turtle? Give a rose to his crush? Nothing?”
Sebastien shook his head.
I placed my hand on his. “Sebastien, I don’t blame you for anything that power hungry piece of shit chose to do. None of it is your fault. I’m sorry about Eso and I’m sorry that he used your best friend to try to be your downfall. This could’ve turned out worse.”
“I know. I could’ve retaliated so Obsidian ruined not only my life but the lives of those around me. I know that even though the videos were taken down that people might still trash talk you. But trust me that we’ll get through this together, not just as husband and wife, but as a family. Leonardo is prepared to send out as many cease and desist letters as it takes if anyone wants to drag you online.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
“Sebastien?” I tilted my head.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Kiss me.” I placed my hand on his chest.
“My pleasure.”