Sebastian Knight

9. Liliana

Sebastian smirked straps the key to my wrist, in shock I looked at him.

"Todo tuyo bebé." Was all he said.

(all yours baby)

"que? todo mio?" I gasped in delight staring at the hot pink 718 Boxster Style Edition.

(What? all mine)

I didn't realise I could grin so hard, Sebastian chuckled Rolling his eyes and opened the driver's door. I couldn't contain my giggle any longer before I climbed in, starting the car once he shut my door and I had my seatbelt on.

Immediately Sebastian ran to the other side and opened the door, he was also grinning as he jumped in quickly.

"Ansioso?" He asked with a wry smile.

I knew he was trying with me but I could tell help but smile wider, "Muy."

Slowly, I eased the car backwards and turned it in the driveway. I was proud that I didn't make a fool of myself and stall it, nothing worse than that. As I pressed my foot on the clutch, I noticed it was very sensitive to touch, being new and everything.

Carefully I navigated through the driveway, glancing at the review mirror every so often, to see two of the bodyguards, River and Fred climb into the black SUV.

"Only for safety baby," Sebastian replied as he knew what I was thinking. "I ordered extra detail being we are now officially on the news as the world's hottest couple from last night. You are my love and I need you protected at all times."

Nodding my head, I understood where he was coming from, growing up I knew we had a target on our backs with my dad working for Sebastian. Sebestian would always put extra detail on whenever I used to go out on my own or work a shift on my own. It's the little things he did for me, that got me attracted to him.

Until he was with another girl for a few years, her name was Tamara. He didn't tell me how it ended but I knew he was hurt, it's when I started to date Thomas. Go figure, double T's.

Lightly pressing my foot on the break before reapplying pressure to the accelerator, heading onto the main road. This is my first time driving one of these cares.

"You're sure about this?" I asked, nerves filling my core.

"Yes," Sebastian sighed. "It's my job to spoil you when I can and you've got a new car, that you need to learn to drive, if we ever want to go out."

Looking into the review mirror, a small smile crept onto my face as I began thinking what would happen if I lose River and Fred? Would they get mad? Would Sebastian get mad? It's only once right?

After debating for a while in my head, Sebastian looked at me as if he knew I was up to something, I needed to do this and the road was clear. Pressing my foot harder onto the accelerator, we shot forward causing him to lunge a little in his seat.

Shooting me a warning glare, "Careful! Slow down!" When I didn't, I heard his growl, "You are going to kill us both!"

Suddenly, Sebastian curses in spanish and struggles to pull his Iphone from the pocket of his jeans.

"What?" he snaps angrily at whoever it is on the other end of the line. "No." he says and glances behind us. "Yes. She is."

What? Briefly checking the rearview mirror, I can't see anything odd - there are just a few cars behind us. The SUV is about four cars back and we're all cruising at an even pace. Panic started to build inside me as I began to wonder what the hell was going on

"I see." Sebastian sighs long and hard and rubs his forehead with his fingers, tension radiates off him. Something's wrong.

"Yes . . . I don't know." He glances at me and lowers the phone from his ear. "We're fine. Keep going," he says calmly, smiling at me, but the smile doesn't touch his eyes.

Shit! Adrenaline spikes through my system. He picks the phone up again. I gulped knowing that something was seriously wrong.

"Okay on the 520. As soon as we hit it . . . Yes . . . I will."

He curses in spanish once again as he slots phone into the speaker cradle, putting it on hands-free.

"What's wrong, Sebastian?" My voice trembled.

"Just look where you're going, baby," he says softly.

Taking a deep breath I head for the on-ramp of the 520, that heads into town. When I glance over at Sebastian but he is staring straight ahead.

"I don't want you to panic," he says calmly. "But as soon as we're on the 520 proper, I want you to step on the gas. We're being followed."

Followed! Holy s**t. My heart lurches into my mouth, pounding, my scalp prickles and my throat constricts with panic. Followed by whom? Shaking my head, I looked gently into the review mirror, feeling my hands shake against the wheel of the car, sure enough, a dark Dodge I had seen earlier was still following us. I squint through the tinted windshield to see who's driving, but I see nothing.

"Keep your eyes on the road, baby," Sebastian says gently, not in the truculent tone he normally uses where my driving is concerned.

I mentally slap myself to subdue the dread that's threatening to swamp me. Suppose whoever's following us is armed? Armed and after Sebastian. I know he would have targets on his back being who he is, that wasn't a surprise but for someone follow me.

I have to keep Sebastian safe. I wanted to drive this car, and I wanted to drive it fast. Well, here's my chance. I grip the steering wheel and take a final glance in my rearview mirror. The Dodge is closing on us.

I slow right down, ignoring Sebastian's sudden panicked glance at me, and time my entrance on to the 520 so that the Dodge has to slow and stop to wait for a gap in the traffic. I drop a gear and floor it. The porsche shoots forward, slamming us both into the backs of our seats. The speedometer whips up to 100 miles per hour.

"How do we know we're being followed?" My voice is a breathy, squeaky, whisper.

"The Dodge behind us has false license plates."

How does he know that?

There is no way he knew that. I signal as we approach the 520 from the on-ramp. It's late afternoon, and although the rain has stopped, the roadway is wet. Fortunately, the traffic is reasonably light.

I shrug. "Who could it be?" I suggest, not taking my eyes off the road.

Sebastian sighed, "I'm unsure baby, but in my line of work. There are targets."

"Could it be Thomas?" I shivered thinking it could be my ex.

Sebastian shot me a look, "I'm not sure. I don't want to speculate who it will be, because you will lose your mind."

I weave between the two lines of traffic like a black counter in a game of checkers, effectively jumping the cars and trucks. We're so close to the lake on this bridge, it's as if we're driving on the water.

I studiously ignore the angry, disapproving looks from other drivers. Sebastian clutches his hands together in his lap, keeping as still as possible, and in spite of my fevered thoughts, I wonder vaguely if he's doing it so he doesn't distract me. I knew fire was burning inside of him. The fact that someone was following us through the streets and I am unable to speed up so fast.

Steady, baby," Sebastian says calmly, though I'm sure he's anything but calm.

"Good girl," he breathes in encouragement. He glances behind him.

"I can't see the Dodge." I felt my stomach drop.

"We're right behind the dodge, Liliana." Deigo's voice comes through the hands-free. "He's trying to catch up with you, sir. We're going to try and come alongside, put ourselves between your car and the Dodge."

Unsub? What does that mean?

"Good. Liliana is doing well. At this rate, provided the traffic remains light - and from what I can see it is - we'll be off the bridge in a few minutes." I could hear the pride in his voice as he spoke to deigo.

"Boss."

We flash past the bridge control tower, and I know we're half way across Theberton. When I check my speed, I'm still doing 100.

"You're doing really well, Liliana," Sebastian murmurs again as he gazes out the back of the porsche.

For a fleeting moment, his tone reminds me of our first encounter when we first met about 4 years ago, my dad had given me the job at the bar. Sebastian was always sweet to me, always winking at me whenever he came in.

"Where am I headed?" I ask, moderately calmer.

I have the feel of the car now. It's a joy to drive, so quiet and easy to handle it's hard to believe how fast we are going. Driving at this speed in this car is easy. He picked out a great car for me.

"Liliana, I need you to head for I-5 and then south. We want to see if the Dodge follows you all the way," Deigo says over the hands-free.

The traffic lights on the bridge are green - thank heavens - and I race onward. I glance nervously at Sebastian, and he smiles reassuringly. Then his face falls.

"Mierda!" he swears softly.

There is a line of traffic ahead as we come off the bridge and I have to slow. Glancing anxiously in the mirror once more, I think I spot the Dodge.

"Ten or so cars back?"

"Yeah, I see it," Sebastian says, peering through the narrow rear window. "I wonder who the joder es?"

(F**k it is)

"Me too. Do we know if it's a man driving?" I blurt out toward the cradled iPhone.

"Unfortunately not, Liliana. Could be a man or woman. The tint is too dark." Deigo spoke.

"Could it be Thomas?" I asked looking over towards Sebastian.

He shook his head, "We can't speculate who it is. Once we are able to get a picture we will."

Let's discuss this when we're home. Concentrate on what you're doing."

"But it might just be some random car."

"I'm not taking any risks. Not where you're concerned," Sebastian snaps.

He replaces the iPhone in its cradle so we're back in contact with our security team .

Oh s**t. I don't want to rattle Sebastian right now . . . later maybe. I hold my tongue. Fortunately, the traffic is thinning a little. I am able to speed over the Mount Ivan intersection toward the I-5, weaving through the cars again.

"What if we get stopped by the cops?" I ask.

"That would be a good thing."

"Not for my license."

"Don't worry about that," he says. Unexpectedly, I hear humor in his voice.

I put my foot down again, and hit 110. Boy, thus car can move. I love it - she's so easy. I touch eighty-five. I don't think I have ever driven this fast.

"He's cleared the traffic and picked up speed." Deigo's disembodied voice is calm and informative. "He's doing ninety."

Shit! Faster! I press down on the gas and the car purrs to 115 miles per hour as we approach the I-5 intersection.

"Keep it up, Liliana," Sebastian murmurs, gently soothing my thigh.

I slow momentarily as we glide onto the I-5. The interstate is fairly quiet, and I'm able to cross straight over to the fast lane in a split second. As I put my foot down, the glorious prosche zooms forward, and we tear down the left lane, lesser mortals pulling over to let us pass. If I wasn't so frightened, I might really enjoy this.

"He's hit one hundred miles per hour, sir."

"Stay with him, Deigo," Sebastian barks.

A truck lurches into the fast lane - s**t! - and I have to slam on the brakes.

"maldito idiota!" Sebastian curses the driver as we lurch forward in our seats.

I am grateful for our seatbelts.

"Go around him, baby," Sebastian says through clenched teeth.

I check my mirrors and cut right across three lanes. We speed past the slower vehicles and then cut back to the fast lane.

"Nice move, baby," Sebastian murmurs appreciatively. "Where are the policías when you need them?"

"I don't want a ticket, Sebastian," I mutter, concentrating on the highway ahead. "Have you had a speeding ticket driving this?"

"No," he says, but glancing quickly at him, I can see his smirk.

"Have you been stopped?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

"Charm, baby. It all comes down to charm. Now concentrate. Where's the Dodge, Deigo?"

"He's just hit one hundred and ten, sir." Deigo says.

Holy f**k! My heart leaps once more into my mouth. Can I drive any faster? I push my foot down once more and streak past the traffic.

"Flash the headlights," Sebastian orders when a Ford Mustang won't move

.

"But that would make me an estúpida."

"So be an estúpido!" he snaps.

Jeez. Okay! "Um, where are the headlights?"

"The indicator. Pull it toward you."

I do it, and the Mustang moves aside though not before the driver waves his finger at me in a none-too-complimentary manner. I zoom past him.

"He's the estúpido," Christian says under his breath, then barks at me, "Get off on Stewart."

"We're taking the Stewart St. exit," Sebastian says to Deigo.

"Head straight to Escala, boss."

I slow, check my mirrors, signal, then move with surprising ease across four lanes of the highway and down the off-ramp. Merging onto Stewart Street, we head south. The street is quiet, with few vehicles.

Where is everyone?

"We've been damned lucky with the traffic. But that means the Dodge has, too. Don't slow down, Liliana. Get us home."

"I can't remember the way," I mutter, panicked by the fact the Dodge is still on our tail.

"Head south on Stewart. Keep going until I tell you when."

Sebastian sounds anxious again. I zoom past three blocks but the lights change to yellow on Yale Avenue.

"Run them, baby," Sebastian shouts.

I jump so hard I floor the gas pedal, throwing us both back in our seats, speeding through the now red light.

"He's taking Stewart," Deigo says.

"Stay with him, Deigo."

A quick glance and I can see Sebastian glaring at me as if I'm crazy.

"Eyes on the road!" he snaps.

"The unsub is heading down Stewart, sir. He's really picking up speed," Deigo spoke

"Go, Liliana. Less of the f*****g chitchat," Sebastian growled.

"We're stopped at the first light on Stewart." Deigo informs us.

"Baby - quick - in here," Sebastian shouts, pointing to a parking lot on the south side of Boren.