Chapter Fifteen
Sebastian stared down at the reports on his desk. Aiden sat across from him, watching him silently.
“This is all we got?”
Aiden nodded. “Yeah. We have three possible suspects. Or rather, three companies who would benefit if Fenrir’s Food R and D division were to shut down. But without knowing what she’s working on, we can’t pinpoint who would directly benefit from Dr. Cross’ death.”
“I’m working on finding out.”
“Is that the angle you’re working with her?”
Sebastian’s fists slammed down on the arms of the table. “Watch your mouth,” he growled.
“Hey, hey.” Aiden raised his hands in surrender. “Jesus, Sebastian, calm down! What’s the matter with you? Sleeping with a client, really? Why does she have your fucking panties in a twist?”
Sebastian let out a breath and fell back down in his chair. He rubbed his face with his hands. “Damn if I know, Aiden.” He looked out the large windows behind his desk, staring at the view of midtown Manhattan from his office. He could see the tall, black tower that was Fenrir Corporation’s headquarters spiraling high into the sky and wondered what Jade was doing now.
“Sebastian,” Aiden said in a serious voice, shaking Sebastian out of his reverie. “Look, I’m your friend. Do you need to talk? Have you been having nightmares about Afghanistan again?”
Sebastian shook his head. “I’m fine. I just need sleep.” He was tempted to grab the bottle locked in his liquor cabinet, but knew he couldn’t. Jade’s life depended on him, and he had to keep his head clear.
“Well, what do you want us to do?”
“Grant said to just keep to the same security plan,” Sebastian instructed.
“Are you going to be with her tonight?” Aiden asked. “I just need to know so I can fix the rotation schedule.”
“I don’t…no,” he decided. “But I want hourly reports on Jade’s movements.”
“And what about finding out who’s trying to kill her? Anderson still not budging?”
He shook his head. “He keeps evading the question, but he knows something. I don’t want to push him too much or we might lose this contract.”
“We don’t need it,” Aiden pointed out. “As is, we already need to expand to meet demand.”
Sebastian huffed. Yes, there was always demand for war somewhere in the world. “Still, Fenrir’s a big client and local, too.”
“Fine,” Aiden shrugged. “You’re the boss.” The other man got up from the chair. “See you later, Sebastian.”
He gave Aiden a nod and then turned back to his window. Late summer storm clouds were rolling from the distance, painting the sky a dark gray. He sat there for what seemed like hours, watching the clouds come closer and closer.
Jade. Last night, they had been so close. He had her in his arms, ready to lose himself in her. And then the threat came back. Aiden had called him, saying Grant Anderson was looking for Jade. There was a breach at Fenrir and one of their employees was killed in the break-in. Anger and fear replaced lust, and The Beast was roaring at him to protect Jade and destroy anything and anyone who wanted her dead.
Even now, the rage was there, simmering under the surface. Working all night trying to find out who was trying to harm her was the only thing that kept the animal at bay. After dropping Jade off at her place, he went straight to the office. He summoned his most trusted employees, putting them to task. He also called in as many favors as he could, trying to find out as much information about Fenrir Corporation, but came up with nothing, at least nothing they didn’t know already. Short of hacking into their personnel files, he couldn’t find the answers, and it was driving him crazy.
Sebastian stood up from the desk and took off his suit jacket. He needed to do something to blow off some steam. He changed into his gym clothes and headed to the basement level of Creed Security Headquarters.
He spent the rest of the day in Creed Security’s basement training rooms. He lifted weights, sparred with his employees, and even emptied a few rounds in the target range. It was a good distraction, and his muscles were sore and aching by the time he hit the showers, but it didn’t help calm the fury building up inside him. He needed Jade. Needed to know where she was and that she was safe. He glanced at his phone several times throughout the day, but according to the hourly reports he was getting, she stayed put at work.
He went back up to his office to use his private shower, blasting the water up as high as he could take it. It felt good on his tired muscles, soothing and relaxing him. He shut off the tap as the steam hung thick around him, the white clouds quickly sucking out of the tiny stall when he opened the shower door. He put on a fresh white shirt from his closet, shrugged his jeans on and towel-dried his hair.
Sebastian picked up his phone then opened latest message. Still no movement and it was already 7 p.m. A strange ache gnawed at him and the questions blasted into his brain. Why wasn’t Jade on the way home? What did she do all day? Has she eaten? The thought of Jade hungry and alone set off his protective instincts. Fucking hell, he was acting like some mother hen.
He sat down at his computer, trying to get some work done. But he couldn’t help but glance at his phone, waiting for the next report to come in. Finally, an hour later, the message came. Jade just left Fenrir and got into a cab.
“Where the hell was she going?” he muttered to himself. He tapped the phone, calling Zac.
“Boss,” the young man answered. “We’re on her tail.”
“She’s not going home?”
“Negative, boss. She’s heading downtown.”
“Text me as soon as she gets to wherever she’s going.”
“Sure thing.”
Sebastian got up and paced around. Jade was deviating from her routine. Where was she going? Was she meeting someone? Jealousy gripped at him, and he had to sit down to calm himself. When his phone rang minutes later, he quickly answered.
“She got out in the Lower East Side. A club called White Elephant.”
“Send me the address,” he ordered. What was Jade up to?
***
The White Elephant was an unassuming music club off Houston Street on the Lower East Side. The outside looked like any typical New York bar, sandwiched between a bodega and a dry cleaner. Zac was waiting outside by the time Sebastian pulled in.
“She’s still in there, boss,” Zac said, jerking his thumb towards the door.
“Anyone follow her?”
“Just us.”
“Good,” he said, tossing him his keys.
Sebastian entered the club, his eyes scanning the area. The inside was dark, and the low ceilings made it feel even smaller than it looked. Various concert posters, pictures, and albums hung on the exposed brick walls. The bar took up a third of the room, and there were several tables and chairs set up around the stage. After noting all the exits, he turned his attention to the stage. A band was playing classic rock songs, and the crowd seemed to be enjoying the music. He spied Jade, sitting up front, her eyes fixed on the band as she swung her head side to side in rhythm with the song.
Seeing that she was safe, Sebastian relaxed. He walked over to the bar and ordered a beer, his eyes leaving Jade for only a second. What was she doing here?
As the band went straight into the next song, and Sebastian continued to nurse his beer, watching Jade, her attention focused solely on the stage. Did she know them? He shook his head. No one in the band looked younger than fifty. They were all older musicians, and based on the type of music they played, had been playing for a long time. Classic rock tunes, some bluegrass, a little country and southern rock. He actually enjoyed their music.
The set wound down, and the band leader announced their break. Jade got up from her chair and then walked up to the guitarist. The older man gave her a warm smile, removed his instrument, and then Jade launched herself into his arms.
“What the fuck?” Sebastian slammed the bottle down so hard the woman next to him jumped in surprise. She flashed him a dirty look, but he ignored her. Who the fuck was that man? He seethed, watching as Jade seemed to hold on to the older man tighter as he ruffled her hair affectionately. When they pulled away from each other, he sat down on one of the amps, and Jade planted herself beside him. They bent their heads together, chatting and laughing as the rest of the band came over to greet Jade.
Sebastian saw red. Who was this man? He didn’t like the way he sat so close or looked at Jade with familiarity.
Jade was in the middle of a conversation when she suddenly frowned, and then swung her head in his direction. Her mouth opened into a perfect “O,” her face a mask of shock.
The older man followed her gaze, his intense green eyes landing on Sebastian. Jade whispered something into the man’s ear, stood up, and strode over to him.
“Sebastian,” she said, her eyes wide with surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to keep an eye on you,” he stated. Her shoulders sank at his answer. Disappointment?
“Right.” She straightened her shoulders. “You didn’t have to come in here and check on me,” she said in a cool tone.
“Blue Sky,” a voice behind Jade called. “Everything okay?”
It was the old man, the guitarist. Sebastian took a closer look at the man. He was short, a couple of inches under 6 feet, but had a compact and stocky build. The man was maybe in his mid-fifties but looked good for his age, so he could have been older. His long, salt-and-pepper hair was pulled back in a ponytail and tattoos curled out from under the neckline and sleeves of his shirt.
“Who is this man, Blue Sky?” he asked, frowning at Sebastian.
“He’s my—”
“Sebastian,” he introduced himself.
“Your Sebastian?” His eyebrow raised at Jade.
“No!” Jade denied. “I mean, he’s not my…this is Sebastian. Fenrir hired him…his firm, I mean, to be my bodyguard.”
“Bodyguards?” The older man’s voice raised a notch. “Young lady, what’s going on?”
“Nothing!” Jade raised her hands defensively. “Nothing you have to worry about!”
“Nothing to worry about? Why wouldn’t I worry, I’m your father!”
“You’re her father?” Sebastian couldn’t stop himself. He looked at the man again, scanning his face. Now, he saw the similarities. The eyes were a shade darker, but it was the same shape as Jade’s, as were the nose and chin.
“Eric. Eric Cross,” he introduced himself. His voice was smooth, and the accent was definitely all New York. “So you’re protecting my daughter? From what, exactly?”
Sebastian crossed his arms over his chest. “I’d like to know that, too,” he said, his eyes training on Jade.
“It’s a long story, Dad,” she sighed. “I’ll explain later.”
A look passed between father and daughter, then Eric Cross scowled at Jade. “You bet you will, young lady.”
“Yo, Eric!” Someone called. “We’re on in 5!”
He gave Jade a kiss on the cheek and then stared at Sebastian, pinning him with his gaze. “Stay a while, Sebastian. And let’s have a drink after this set.”
“He doesn’t have to stay,” Jade protested.
“Thank you, sir,” he said, his palms suddenly sweaty like some teenage boy. The last time he called someone “sir” was when he was in the Marines.
“Blue Sky, get him another beer and put it on my tab,” Eric said before heading back to the stage.
“Blue Sky?” Sebastian asked.
“It’s my middle name,” Jade said in an exasperated voice. “And yes, I’m very well aware of the irony. All the ironies.”
He chuckled and she sent him a glare. “Don’t say it—”
“Jade Blue Sky Cross.”
“That’s Dr. Jade Blue Sky Cross,” she corrected, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “He named me after his favorite song. Jade was my mother’s contribution. Apparently, she was in her Eastern Philosophy phase when I was born.”
“So, your dad’s a musician?”
“Yes, he’s been with his band since before I was born,” Jade explained as she signaled the bartender for two more beers.
“Are they famous?”
“They had one hit a couple of years ago, but I’m sure you’ve never heard of it. But they still tour,” she said. “What are you doing here?”
He looked down at her. What was he doing here? His mind raced back to the events of that 24 hours. Everything was going great, until that call. Before he could open his mouth, though, the band started their first song. Jade cocked her head, motioning for him to follow her to the table in front of the stage.
Sebastian took the seat next to her, relaxing as soon as they sat down. He listened to the band, but mostly he watched Jade. She seemed to be engrossed in the performance, her head bopping along with the music, mouthing along with the lyrics now and then.
A couple songs later, the band wrapped up, playing one last song before taking their bows.
“Great set, Dad,” Jade said, wrapping her arms around Eric.
“Thanks, baby,” he replied and sat down on the stool next to her. “So, Sebastian. You’re a personal bodyguard?”
“Yes, sir,” he said.
“Dad, he’s the CEO of the company,” Jade explained.
“How nice of you to give my daughter the personal touch.”
Jade choked on her beer, the liquid sputtering out her nose and mouth. With a quick apology, she wiped her face with a napkin from the dispenser on the table.
Eric gave her a curious look, but didn’t say anything. He took a sip of his beer and turned back to Sebastian. “Tell me more about your company, Sebastian.”
They chatted for a few more minutes, and Sebastian learned that Eric was from New York, but he toured with his band around the country year-round and sometimes outside of the US. Jade went to see them play every time they were in New York, though with the summer concert season winding down, he was going to be in town for a couple of weeks.
“Well, it’s time for this old timer to pack up and get some rest,” Eric said, getting up from his chair and extending his hand. “Sebastian, nice to meet you. Thank you for taking care of my daughter.”
“I’ll keep her safe, sir,” he replied, shaking the older man’s hand with a firm grip.
“You do that.” That one seemed to be a warning. “We’ll talk later,” he said to his daughter. She nodded and gave him a last hug before he rejoined his bandmates.
“I’m going to powder my nose,” Jade announced and stood up, then scurried to the bathrooms.
Sebastian sat there for a moment, wondering what he was going to do. He could wait for Jade, take her home, and just leave her be. Then spend more time trying to find out who was intent on killing her. He was still frustrated and angry she wouldn’t tell him who was out to get her.
The other option was to continue what they had started.
Making his decision, he chugged the last of the beer and followed Jade to the bathroom. The door to the ladies’ room opened, and before she could protest, Sebastian pushed Jade back inside the stall, trapped her against the sink and caught her lips with his.
She let out a small protesting shriek, which turned into a sensual moan. Soon, she was responding to his kiss. Sebastian perched her up on the sink and settled between her legs, his lips never leaving hers.
She pushed him away gently, her breathing heavy. “Sebastian,” she said. “As exciting as this is, I don’t want to lose my virginity in a dirty public toilet.”
He laughed, picked her up, and then set her down. “Don’t worry, darlin’. I told you your first time would be special, and I meant it.”