Free Bound by Vengeance by Adriana Noir Page A

I’m so proud of you,” Sebastian praised, offering up his knuckles for a light fist bump.
    “My dad says he’s gonna give me twenty bucks.”
    “Did he now? I’ll tell you what,” Sebastian said, leaning down until their faces were on the same level. “Bring those grades through to your next report card, and I’ll double your money. Forty bucks an A.”
    “Really?”
    Sebastian nodded. “Really.”
    “ Awesome !”
    “Way to motivate my kid, Baas,” Josh said, laughing as he rounded into the kitchen with Monique at his side. “I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into. That boy’s gifted. He’ll suck your wallet clean.”
    Sebastian shrugged. “It’s well worth it to ensure he has a good future.”
    Empathy and understanding flickered across Josh’s face, easing the hard planes and sharp angles of his features. “You don’t have to do that, you know. You don’t have anything to make up for, Baas. Not to him. Not to anyone. Aiden’s fine. Kids are resilient.”
    “I’m aware of that,” Sebastian stated quietly. “I’m doing it becaus e I want to.”
    Taylor watched him track the little boy’s movements as Aiden wandered into the recessed morning room. He clambered up on the barista chair and emptied his book bag on the table to start his homework. A quiet sigh emanated from Sebastian and h e swung his focus to his sister. Deep lines crept across his forehead as he clamped his eyes shut. A gambit of emotions played across his handsome face, the changes so rapid they were dizzying. Pain flickered to doubt and anger before determination took over, and he set his shoulders. Her brow furrowed with confusion.
    He rested a hip against the island. His jaw jutted with the harsh purse of his lips as he trailed a finger over the granite countertop. “Monique, I need a moment alone with you in my study.”
    His sister paled, her wide green eyes darting to Josh. He wrapped his arm around the blonde and murmured something into her ear before pressing a kiss against her temple. Whatever he said eased some of her worry and she nodded. Taylor frowned. The weight of the world seemed to fall over Sebastian as he turned to lead the way. Swallowing, she looked to his partner, hoping for reassurance or answers.
    Josh shrugged. “Family stuff,” he muttered. “You might want to do everyone a favor though and pour a round of d rinks, kid.”
     
    Sebastian shut the door behind him and plowed his hands through his hair. His sister lingered hesitantly in the corner. Her slender hands twisted nervously in front of her in a gesture that reminded him of Taylor whenever she was scared. Blowing out a deep breath, he hung his head and rubbed at the tension creeping into the back of his neck. There was no easy way to do this. Despite doing everything he could, in some small way, he still felt like he was letting his sister down. It was a bitter pill to swallow after he’d spent his entire life trying to protect her from everything from their ill-tempered father to the perils of his job. One of those he’d succeeded quite well at, the other not so much.
    He sat, draping a thigh over the corner of hi s mahogany desk. With a sweep of his arm, he gestured to the leather office chair. “Please,” he said, “have a seat.”
    Her teeth sank into the swell of her lower lip. Monique’s eyes flew up to his, pleading, as she eased into the chair. “I’m sorry I didn’t a sk Josh about coming over first. It won’t happen again.”
    “Shh, Monique. No. This has nothing to do with that. I told you I forgive you.” Letting his head fall back, he studied the rich crown molding spanning the ceiling and sighed. “Dane’s parents aren’t l etting this go. If you fight them, they will take the issue to court and use whatever ammunition they have to win custody of Mia. If they talk about us, about Josh, about Dane and what he used to do—about SKALS, the outcome will be very bad for a lot of people. Very bad. You know