Sebastian: The Complete Series (41 page)

“That’s so sweet of you. That’s possibly the sweetest thing any mental murderer has ever said to me.”

“Aww, and I thought I was your first.” He loosened the strapping on my arms and I instantly tried to move them, but the position and how tight they’d been secured made them slow and heavy, pins and needles running through them when I shifted slightly. “As I thought, you’ve gone numb.” He moved my arms upwards, hooking the other end of the cuffs to the headboard and stepping back to look at me. “Very nice. A little bruised and beaten, but still so stunning. You have such a beautiful body, Sebastian. I’m really glad I decided to film this for later. I’ll enjoy watching these after you’re gone.”

“Ah, happy memories. You should share them. You could make a ton of money on some of those dodgy websites.”

“Thanks for the advice. I’ll take it into consideration.” He turned again, walking to the table and retrieving a bottle of water. “Here, drink this.”

“Is it drugged?”

“What do you think?”

“I think… yes.”

“You're correct.” He grinned at me. “Just drink it. It’s not like you’re missing out on anything by lying still for a few hours.”

“I really hate you.”

“Aww, I thought we were becoming friends.” He watched as I took the straw into my mouth and sucked.

When I released the half empty bottle, I looked up and smiled. “I’m guessing you don’t have many friends if you treat them like this.”

“You’re right, I have very few.”

“But you do have some?” The look of shock on my face was over-enhanced and he chuckled.

“Not really. Maybe one.”

“Did he ever really know you?”

Leo leaned against the wall and lifted a brow. “Who?”

“Robert?”

“Yes, he knew me in almost every way, not this side obviously, but in every other way, yes.”

“This isn’t his fault,” I whispered out as my eyes began to close.

“I never said it was, pet. Maybe that’s for you, huh?”

“I love Robert. That won’t change.” My eyes closed as I felt his hands running over my back.

Leo leaned over me, his chest connecting with my shivering flesh. “I don’t want it to change. I want you to love him. It will hurt more if you do. And I want him to love you. I want him to ache, I want him to mourn you, and I want to be there to comfort him through it all.”

“Sicko. I hope the devil repeatedly shoves a pineapple up your arse for the rest of eternity when you die.”

S
oft touches disturbed me from my drug induced sleep. I was groggy first thing in the morning anyway, so add a cocktail of drugs to the mix and you had one bad ass temper and a stubborn need to stay in bed. Apparently, the situation of being held captive against my will hadn’t changed that particular little thing of mine, and I nudged off the hand from my shoulder with a soft growl. I needed coffee. Like, shit loads of it. A tanker with a tube directly connected to my mouth. And bacon. Bacon would be good. I could eat it while I watched morning TV and came round.

Everything was wrong in my mind. Nothing seemed to make sense. Not that it could
ever
make sense, but I tried. I always try.

“Sebastian.” A soft voice far away in the back of my mind eased through the clouds in my brain and I tried to shake off the heavy need to close my eyes again. “Baby…”

Something warm and heavy was laid over my back and I managed to find some comfort in the fact I was no longer naked and left to lay in the chilly temperature. “Don’t call me that,” I slurred out, trying and failing to move further under the warmth of whatever it was covering me.

Voices, not one, but two came from inside the room, and deep inside I panicked. The sick fuck had brought a friend to join in the fun. Trying hard, I managed to open one eye. It was bright, like
really
bright. It hurt after spending God knows how long in the dark and I was forced to close it with a whine.

“The light… It’s too much for him.”

I heard movement from further away. “Better?”

“Sebastian?” Gentle touches caressed my cheek, making me want to lean in and welcome them. “Please wake up.”

“There’s no signal on my phone. I have to go back up.”

“Hurry.”

I knew these voices. I knew the men with me. More soft touches made me stronger. I had to see who was there. With a Herculean effort, my eyes opened and there he was, staring right back at me, face so close to mine I could shift an inch and kiss him. “Robert.”

“Seb… Jesus Christ, Seb.” Robert leaned into me, pressing his face to mine, hot tears raining down on my face.

“Robert.” I moved my head closer, kissing his cheek, tasting the salty remnants left by his tears. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”

“Where is he, baby? Where’s Leo?”

A shiver ran through my bones. They didn’t have him? He could be anywhere and we were still there. “I don’t know. We have to go.”

I moved more, noticing my arms were still cuffed and I couldn’t move.

“We will. Hey—” Robert stopped me from pulling my arms back. “You’re safe. I promise.”

Another voice was back in the room, and if I could, I would have turned to see him, but I knew just from the Scottish accent and the cold tone who it was. Jacob.

“The police and an ambulance are on their way. I checked around. I can’t see anyone up there.” He was closer now, and I shifted to Robert who wrapped his arms around me, kissing my neck, tears still making it onto my flesh. “How’s he doing? Have you seen any keys for these cuffs?”

“No.” Robert was holding me as tight as he could. “Maybe over there on the table.”

“Robert…”

“I’m here, baby. You’re safe. I won’t let him hurt you again.”

Jacob was standing beside Robert. I could make out his dark suit as he approached me. “I’m going to touch your wrists, Sebastian. These cuffs need to come off, but I don’t want to scare you. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

Jacob fiddled with the cuffs, slowly releasing one arm, then the other. “I’m just going to move them beside you now, is that alright?”

I nodded, my arms already aching as I flexed my muscles. I groaned as one was moved slowly, Robert shifting from me to allow it to be laid against my body on the bed. He was massaging it, making me grumble as the feeling came back into it. I drifted in and out, occasionally hearing them talking about me, hearing them worry about my condition.

Robert cursed loudly when they unlocked my ankles, wet blood from the scabs around them opening was trickling over my feet and I bit my lip, trying to keep the wail inside. I wanted to be strong for him. I could imagine what he felt when he saw me in such a state, and seeing me crying or begging for help would only make things worse for him. I’d rather die than make him hurt even more.

“It’s okay,” Jacob said calmly, a hint of sternness and coldness running through it, but his touch was so soft. “We’ve got you, Boy. It’s alright.” His warm palm ran over my cheek, cupping my face as he wiped my tears away with his thumb. “You’ve been so brave for so long. We need you to keep it up for a little longer, then you can relax.”

I nodded slowly, feeling Robert on the other side of me, his mouth on my neck as he kissed his special spot, getting as close to me as he could, sharing his warmth and comforting scent. I closed my eyes for a moment, the lull of the drugs still strong.

“He’s insane, you know,” I spoke quietly, not knowing if it was just inside my head or not, but hearing Jacob’s long grunt and feeling Robert’s arms tighten around me, I guessed I'd said it out loud.

“I know, baby. I can see that.”

“You don’t know…” My voice broke and I turned into his chest, the tears running from my eyes. “You don’t what he’s done. He killed Damien. He killed more, he told me. He was going to… I was next.”

Robert had me in his arms, my aching body against his as I was cradled carefully in his hold. “You're safe,” he growled out against me. “He won’t get past me. No one will.” He sat down on the lazy chair Leo liked to use, holding me in his arms as he rocked me gently. “I love you,” he whispered against my hair. “I swear he’ll pay for what he’s done to you, what he’s done to others.”

“Oh, he’ll pay alright.” Jacob was kneeling in front of us, tenderly investigating the welts in my skin from the numerous things I'd been tied up with. “What I wouldn’t do for two days with him and all these toys to play with.”

“You’re not like him, Jay.” Robert and Jacob shared a look before Jacob fisted his hands in his hair, standing up and staring off into the distance. “Don’t doubt yourself.”

The room filled with a sudden bright light, and the sound of the door hitting the wall made me jump. There was a moment of absolute silence, then all hell broke loose. I looked through the blinking flashes of light coming from the staircase and saw Jacob taking off after Leo, bounding up the stairs.

“Robert!” Jacob shouted down. “Bring up those cuffs or some rope.”

Robert eased me as quickly and as gently as he could onto the chair, my fingers gripping his jacket tightly as he reached over to grab a length of rope. “Stay here. Everything’s okay.” He untangled my fingers, already heading for the stairs.

“Robert, no!” I watched him run up the stairs three at a time, shouting out for me to stay put and not follow him.

“I won’t let him get away, Seb. I can’t.”

I couldn’t bear him leaving me alone in that room, but then the sounds of furniture banging around and things smashing made me stop calling out, my hands going for my throat as I worried about Jacob alone with that madman.

More noise followed, and I slid to the edge of the chair, wrapping the blanket around me like a toga as my shaky legs took my weight for the first time. I fell against the wall, looking up the stairs, not knowing if I should call out or keep silent. The worry and nerves running through me made me feel like throwing up, but I had to see, I had to know Robert was okay. If Leo hurt them, if he stopped them somehow, I wouldn’t be waiting for him to come and play again. I would be up there, fighting it out with him like Robert and Jacob were doing.

I crawled up the dusty stone steps, hearing Leo growling out at both of them, listening to the sounds of a struggle happening above me as they fought. When I heard the sickening sound of punches being thrown and Leo falling silent, I paused, taking a much needed breath before peeking out over the steps above me and seeing Leo squirming underneath Jacob, arms bent behind him, nose bloodied and broken, glaring up at me as I emerged from my cave, blinking in the bright sunlight like a mole who’d never seen daylight before.

Jacob made quick work of the ropes around his arms, bending back his legs and hog tying him quicker than I could take in.

“Sebastian!” Robert leaned down and lifted me up as carefully as he could, already removing me from Leo’s sight and into another room.

I looked around myself, seeing we were in a pleasant sitting room decorated like my gran’s place, all floral and scatter cushions. It sung old lady, and both me and Robert took in a deep breath as we looked around. “Where are we?” I shifted in his arms, my body itching against the rough blanket I had wrapped around me.

“Not far from where he took you. Some old house I thought he’d sold years ago which his grandmother left him.” Robert laid me carefully on the sofa, the high pitched whine of the police or the ambulance making him breathe out.

I was so tired. The sofa was comfy and Robert’s kisses made me smile, drifting off again as loads of voices and noise filled the room. The more people the better. After being alone for so long, I felt safer hearing people around me, and knowing they were removing the nutter from the next room made me feel even better. They had him. I was safe. I closed my eyes, hearing Robert asking me to stay awake, but I was exhausted and in pain. Sleep was freeing for me.

B
efore I opened my eyes, I knew the telltale signs of a hospital. The constant beeping beside me and the low background noise of people moving about their business and chatting eased me. The crisp sheets, slightly too rough and rigid, scratched me as I shuffled a little. I moaned as my body rejected the movement. I ached everywhere.

“Hey.” Robert was beside me as I opened my eyes for the first time and I smiled at him before looking around and seeing I was in a private, sunny room painted a soft blue colour.

“You look tired.” I went to move my arm, wanting to touch him, but the wires attached to it made me pause.

“How do you feel? Do you need more pain relief?” He was looking at me, adjusting some of the wires, freeing my arm so he could pull my hand to his lips and kiss my knuckles.

“I’m okay… I think. I ache, but I’d rather be awake than doped up. He gave me a lot of shit which I don’t know the names of, but I was drugged up a lot.”

Robert sat beside me on the bed, running his fingers through my hair as he nodded solemnly. “I know. Maybe you don’t remember much, but I was there when you came round. I saw how bad you were.” He sighed before leaning down and kissing me. “I was so happy to see you awake, you have no idea.”

“I never thought I’d see you again.” I reached up, holding him to me and kissing his neck. “You found me.”

“I had help.” He laid me back down, holding my hands in his and just looking at me, soft amazement and sorrow in his eyes.

“Where is he?”

“Locked up. I don’t really know what’s going on. All I cared about was they had him and I had you.”

“That’s all I care about too.” I touched his cheek, running my fingertip down it and cupping his chin in my hand. “I love you.”

He smiled as he took my hand from him and kissed my palm. “I love you. Seb…” He broke off, chewing on that bottom lip and thinking hard, making me smile at his lost puppy dog look. “What do you remember about your time with him?”

“I know what he’s done to me, Robert.” I leaned up on one elbow, kissing his lips before pulling back and looking into his eyes. “I know.”