Page 29 of Trained In Sin

Seb

The rage is still burning in my chest as I guide Saphy into the restaurant, my hand protective at the small of her back. The confrontation with Phillips replays in my mind, his desperate aggression, the way he called her a whore, the complete inability to accept that she'd made her choice.

But it's his parting words that concern me most: "We'll see about that."

Not acceptance. Not defeat. A promise.

"Are you all right?" I ask as we're seated at my usual private table, noting how her hands shake slightly as she reaches for her wine glass.

"I think so." But she's lying. The encounter has shaken her more than she wants to admit. "I just... I never saw that side of him before. In three years, he never raised his voice to me, never called me names."

"People reveal their true nature under pressure." I reach across the table to cover her hand with mine. "You did nothing wrong, princess. You ended a relationship that wasn't making you happy. His reaction to that is his responsibility, not yours."

She nods, but I can see the guilt lingering in her eyes. The misplaced sense of responsibility that good people carry when bad people show their colours .

My phone buzzes discreetly. A text from Matthew. Security teams positioned. Full surveillance active. Phillips cancelled tonights meet.

Good. I'd called him during the drive to the restaurant, explaining the situation in terse sentences. Matthew understood immediately, Damon Phillips had just graduated from annoying ex-boyfriend to potential threat.

"Tell me about him," I say, keeping my voice gentle. "About your relationship. I need to understand what we're dealing with."

Saphy takes a sip of wine, gathering her thoughts. "He was... safe. Predictable. Everything happened according to his timeline, when we became official, when I met his friends, when we started talking about moving in together."

"His timeline?"

"He had this plan. We'd date, buy a house, get engaged, get married, have children. All very organised, very sensible." She pauses. "I thought I wanted that kind of security."

"But you didn't?"

"I thought I did. But looking back, I realize I never really had a choice in any of it. He'd present these decisions as if they were mutual, but they were really his plans that he expected me to go along with."

Control. Everything Phillips did was about control, just subtler than the rage we witnessed tonight.

"Did he ever show signs of anger before? Jealousy? "

"Not really. He was... possessive, I suppose, but in ways that seemed sweet at the time. He didn't like me going out without him, preferred when I spent time with his friends rather than mine. But he framed it as wanting to spend time together. The only friend I really had was Beth. Shit Seb, why didn’t I see this before?”

Classic isolation tactics. Slowly cutting her off from her support network, making himself the centre of her world.

The fact that she still has Beth suggests he wasn't entirely successful, but three years of that kind of manipulation explains why Saphy was drawn to my more honest brand of possession.

"What about his work? His background?"

"IT consulting. Freelance mostly, some corporate contracts. He was good with computers, security systems, that kind of thing." She frowns. "Actually, now that I think about it, he always said it was too boring to discuss."

My phone buzzes again. This time it's Danny. Preliminary background complete. Multiple red flags. Encrypted files detected on home system. Requesting permission for deep investigation.

I text back quickly. Granted. Priority one.

"Excuse me for one moment," I tell Saphy, stepping away from the table to call Matthew.

He answers immediately. "What do you need?"

"Danny is doing a full digital on Phillips. I’m done playing. Any updates your end?”

"The surveillance teams are reporting unusual activity. Phillips has been driving past Ms. Jenkins' building repeatedly since we left. He's also made several calls to unknown numbers. "

"Burner phones?"

"Possibly. Or contacts we haven't identified yet." Another pause. "There's something else. He's been using sophisticated counter surveillance techniques. Changing routes, doubling back, checking for tails. This isn't amateur hour."

The information settles like ice in my stomach. "What kind of IT consultant knows counter surveillance?"

"The kind with something to hide."

"Double the security around Saphy. I want eyes on her twenty-four seven, and I want a team ready to move if Phillips makes any direct approach."

"Already done. Should we pick him up for questioning?"

I consider it. Part of me wants Phillips brought to me immediately, wants to finish the conversation we started on the street. But patience will serve me better here.

"Not yet. Let him think he's operating freely while we gather intelligence. When we move, I want to know everything there is to know about him."

"Understood. Seb, could we put a team on Ms Jenkins’ friend Beth too? If Phillips escalates, it makes sense he’ll go after her friends.”

“Do it.” Though, I question Matthews real motive when it comes to Saphys friend.

I return to the table to find Saphy watching me with worried eyes.

"Business?" she asks .

"Something like that." I settle back into my chair, forcing my expression to remain calm. "Where were we?"

"You were asking about Damon." She studies my face. "This is about tonight, isn't it? About his threats."

There's no point in lying to her. "I don't like the way he reacted to seeing us together. Men who refuse to accept rejection can be unpredictable. Trust me.” I think back to when Saphy declined my first dinner invitation.

"You think he's dangerous?"

"I think he's angry and humiliated, which can be a dangerous combination." I reach for her hand again. "But I also think you're under my protection now. And I take that responsibility very seriously."

Something flickers in her eyes, relief, gratitude, something that might be trust. "Thank you."

We finish dinner with lighter conversation, but I can see the stress lingering beneath her composed surface. When I drive her home, I'm hyperaware of every car behind us, every shadow that might hide a threat.

"Will you come up?" she asks as we pull up to her building.

The invitation surprises me. "Are you sure?"

"I don't want to be alone tonight. Not after..." She gestures helplessly.

"Of course. "

I text security our location as we head upstairs, ensuring the teams know where we are. Inside her flat, Saphy moves restlessly, unable to settle.

"He knows where I live," she says suddenly. "He has keys."

"Did you ask for them back?"

"I forgot. In the heat of the moment, I forgot." She runs her hands through her hair. "God, what if he comes here? What if he thinks he can just walk in and…."

"Hey." I pull her into my arms, feeling the tension in her body. "Look at me."

Her eyes find mine, wide with worry.

"He's not getting near you. I promise."

"How can you promise that?"

"Because I have resources he doesn't. Because I have people watching him, watching you, watching every move he makes." I cup her face in my hands. "Because you're mine now, and I protect what's mine."

She melts into me then, all the stress and fear of the evening finally catching up with her. I hold her close, letting her take what comfort she needs while my mind races with plans and contingencies.

My phone vibrates with incoming messages, but I ignore them until Saphy pulls back.

"You should check that," she says. "It might be important. "

The first message is from Danny. Deep scan complete. Multiple encrypted partitions detected. Contents extremely concerning. Need to discuss immediately.

The second is from Matthew. Phillips made contact with three different private investigators tonight. All declined when they heard your name mentioned.

The third makes my blood run cold. Security cam footage shows Phillips circling building again. Currently parked two blocks south. Team maintaining distance.

"I need to step outside for a moment," I tell Saphy. "Lock the door behind me and don't open it for anyone except me."

"Sebastian, what's wrong?"

"Probably nothing. Just being cautious." I kiss her forehead. "I'll be right back."

In the hallway, I call Danny immediately.

"Tell me," I say without preamble.

"You're not going to like this." His voice is grim. "Phillips has been using his IT skills for more than just consulting. The encrypted files on his system contain illegal material, specifically, images and videos of children."

The words hit me like a physical blow. "How many files?"

"Thousands. Dating back several years. He's also been active in online forums dedicated to.

.. sharing such content." Danny's voice is carefully controlled.

"There's evidence he's been using his legitimate IT work to access systems where this material is stored, and possibly to identify potential victims. "

The fury that rises in me is unlike anything I've ever felt. Not just anger, volcanic rage that threatens to consume everything in its path. Saphy lived with this monster for three years. Shared a bed with him. Trusted him.

"Are we certain?"

"Completely. The digital forensics are conclusive. This isn't someone who stumbled across illegal content, this is someone who actively sought it out, collected it, and shared it with others. By the looks of some of the material, he was an active participant."

"Jesus Christ." I lean against the wall, trying to process what this means. "Does he have any history of direct contact with children?"

"Still investigating.”

I feel sick. This isn't just about Saphy leaving him, this is about a predator losing control of someone who might have seen too much, known too much.

"How much of this could Saphy have known?"

"He was careful about compartmentalizing. But living with someone for three years..." Danny trails off.

"She could have noticed things. Unexplained absences, secretive behaviour, locked computers."