chapter 5
1475 Words
Dangerous Comfort
Sleep never came easily that night.
Not in a house that felt more like a fortress.
Not after everything Sebastian had told me.
And definitely not with the knowledge that someone out there wanted me silent.
I stood near the massive bedroom window, staring into the darkness outside. The estate was quiet, surrounded by tall trees and guarded gates, but the silence didn’t comfort me.
It felt like the calm before something terrible.
I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to steady the thoughts racing through my mind.
Liam lied to me.
Someone murdered him.
And now I was trapped inside the world he tried so hard to keep hidden.
A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.
Before I could answer, the door opened slightly.
Sebastian stepped inside.
My pulse betrayed me instantly.
He had changed out of his suit, wearing dark pants and a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up slightly. Somehow, he looked even more dangerous without the sharp business appearance.
More real.
More human.
And that was worse.
“You should be asleep,” he said.
I let out a quiet laugh. “You say that like sleep is actually possible.”
His gaze moved toward the window.
“You’re overthinking.”
“I think I’ve earned the right to.”
Silence settled between us again.
It was strange how quiet moments with him never felt empty.
They felt heavy.
Like every look carried words neither of us wanted to say aloud.
“I had security increase patrol around the property,” Sebastian said after a moment.
“You really think someone would come here?”
“Yes.”
The certainty in his voice sent a chill through me.
I turned fully toward him. “How can you sound so calm about this?”
“Because panic gets people killed.”
I frowned slightly.
“And being emotionless keeps people alive?”
Something shifted in his expression.
Small.
Almost invisible.
“You think I’m emotionless?”
“Aren’t you?”
For a moment, he didn’t answer.
Then he walked farther into the room.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like he was approaching something fragile.
“You see control,” he said quietly. “Not the reason behind it.”
My heartbeat slowed strangely.
Because for the first time…
There was something personal in his voice.
Something real.
“Then tell me the reason,” I said softly.
His jaw tightened slightly.
“That’s not a story with a good ending.”
“Neither is mine.”
That made him pause.
His eyes met mine fully now, and the intensity in them almost made me look away.
Almost.
“I learned a long time ago,” he said quietly, “that caring about people gives enemies something to use against you.”
The words landed heavier than they should have.
Because they didn’t sound like a lesson.
They sounded like experience.
Painful experience.
“What happened to you?” I asked before I could stop myself.
For the first time since meeting him…
Sebastian looked away first.
And somehow, that affected me more than anything else.
“That’s not important.”
“It is if I’m supposed to trust you.”
A bitter smile touched his lips.
“You shouldn’t trust me, Olivia.”
“Yet you keep protecting me.”
His gaze snapped back to mine instantly.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Warmer.
Dangerously warmer.
“Do you know what your problem is?” he asked quietly.
I crossed my arms. “I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”
“You still believe people can be saved.”
I swallowed hard.
“And you don’t?”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Too firmly.
Like he had already buried that hope a long time ago.
I looked down briefly, trying to ignore the strange ache building in my chest.
Because beneath all his control…
There was loneliness.
I could feel it.
Even if he tried to hide it.
“You loved him,” Sebastian said suddenly.
The words caught me off guard.
“Liam.”
I nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
“And despite everything you found out… part of you still does.”
I opened my mouth to deny it.
But couldn’t.
Because love doesn’t disappear instantly.
Even after betrayal.
Even after death.
It lingers.
Painfully.
“I hate that,” I whispered.
Sebastian’s expression softened slightly.
“Human emotions are rarely convenient.”
I looked at him carefully.
“And what about yours?”
A dangerous question.
I knew it immediately.
So did he.
The air between us tightened.
“You ask too many questions,” he said quietly.
“And you avoid too many answers.”
For one long second, neither of us moved.
Then his phone rang sharply, breaking the moment.
The softness disappeared from his face instantly.
Control returned.
Cold. Sharp. Untouchable.
He answered quickly.
“Yes.”
Silence.
Then his expression darkened.
“When?”
Another pause.
“I’m coming.”
The call ended.
“What happened?” I asked immediately.
Sebastian slipped the phone back into his pocket.
“One of my men found something.”
My stomach tightened.
“What kind of something?”
His eyes locked onto mine.
“A witness.”
The word hit me like electricity.
“A witness to Liam’s accident?”
“Maybe.”
“Then let’s go.”
“No.”
The answer came instantly.
Firm.
Final.
I stared at him. “Excuse me?”
“It’s dangerous.”
“I’m already in danger.”
“And I’m trying to keep you alive.”
Frustration flared inside me.
“You don’t get to decide what I can handle.”
His jaw tightened slightly.
“And you don’t understand the kind of people we’re dealing with.”
“Then help me understand!”
My voice echoed louder than I intended.
Silence followed.
Heavy silence.
Then Sebastian moved closer.
Close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him.
“You want honesty?” he asked quietly.
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
His eyes darkened.
“If something happens to you under my protection…”
His voice lowered slightly.
“I will never forgive myself.”
My breath caught instantly.
The words wrapped around my chest in a way they shouldn’t have.
Because they sounded real.
Too real.
And suddenly, the space between us felt dangerous for an entirely different reason.
Before I could respond—
A loud crash shattered the silence downstairs.
Both of us froze.
Then another crash followed.
Glass breaking.
My heart jumped violently.
Sebastian’s entire expression changed in a second.
Protective.
Deadly.
“Stay behind me,” he ordered.
Fear surged through me as voices echoed faintly from downstairs.
Someone was inside the house.
Sebastian reached into a nearby drawer quickly and pulled out a handgun.
My stomach dropped.
“Oh my God—”
“Olivia.”
His voice was calm but sharp.
“Look at me.”
I did.
And somehow, that steadied me slightly.
“No matter what happens,” he said quietly, “you stay close to me. Understand?”
I nodded quickly.
Another loud sound echoed through the house.
Closer this time.
My pulse thundered painfully.
Sebastian moved toward the bedroom door carefully, every movement controlled.
Focused.
Dangerous.
And for the first time…
I saw exactly who he really was.
Not just a businessman.
Not just a powerful man.
A survivor.
Someone used to violence.
Someone who expected danger.
The hallway outside was dark.
Silent.
Too silent.
Sebastian held one arm slightly behind him, keeping me close as he moved forward.
I could barely breathe.
Then—
Footsteps.
Fast.
Coming toward us.
Everything happened at once.
A masked man appeared at the end of the hallway.
Sebastian reacted instantly.
He shoved me backward just as a gunshot exploded through the air.
I screamed.
The sound deafened me.
Sebastian fired back immediately.
The masked man disappeared around the corner.
“Stay here!” Sebastian ordered.
But before I could respond, another figure appeared behind us.
My eyes widened in horror.
“Sebastian—!”
The attacker grabbed me violently.
I gasped as cold metal pressed against my throat.
“Drop the gun,” the masked man growled.
Sebastian froze instantly.
And the look on his face—
It wasn’t fear for himself.
It was fear for me.
Real fear.
“Let her go,” Sebastian said dangerously.
The man laughed harshly.
“You should’ve stayed out of this, Blackwood.”
My entire body trembled.
The blade pressed harder against my skin.
Then the attacker whispered near my ear—
“You were never supposed to survive this.”
Terror flooded through me.
Sebastian’s eyes locked onto mine.
Steady.
Focused.
Like he was silently telling me not to panic.
And then suddenly—
Everything exploded into chaos again.
- Writer
