Page 33 of Born Free

“I don’t know if Sebastian is going to survive the first twenty-four hours of stepping foot back in Chicago,” I say, moving on to my next biggest worry. “The whole city now knows what he did. I don’t understand why he’s insisting on returning with us. He knows he doesn’t have a chance at getting me back. What’s the point?”

Roman shakes his head. “Honestly, I don’t get it either. I don’t know what his endgame is. But I promise you, one wrong move, and I’ll finish the Council’s sentencing.”

Which is death.

The Council’s actual sentence was that Sebastian was banished from the city, unless he was captured and returned to be punished for his crimes.

It was never said aloud what that punishment was.

But the rest of the Council was all in agreement as to what that punishment should be.

“And if Elena and Mason disagree with the deal between you two and want to see it finished immediately?”

Roman shakes his head once more. “They already agreed to the deal. They were part of the plan when Sebastian called and told us he was closer.”

I arch an eyebrow. “Wow. Elena’s going soft.”

“Only because it’s you,” he affirms. “She’s a savage, through and through.”

I let out a little disgusted sound. “Did you see the way she and Jon have been looking at each other? It’s so weird.”

Roman chuckles. “A little. But when you think about it, you’ve known Elena way longer than you’ve known Jon. He might biologically be your father, but you’ve still only known him for two months. And, he’s had twenty-nine years to grieve your mother. It might feel fast to you, but really, it’s not.”

I sigh. “I know. And they both deserve to be happy. I just… I’ll get used to it. Eventually.”

Roman places his lips to my forehead, letting them linger for a long moment. I take a deep breath in, and for the first time in my life, I feel like I have a partner. Someone who walks by my side as a complete equal. Who will help me through the hard parts of life, and who I can be a support and help to, as well.

There are two layovers before we make our final descent into Chicago. I make a deal with myself that I will not get nervous or scared or reckless. I will be calm. I will be confident. I will be smart, and we will all get through this crazy situation.

I hold my head high when the plane lands. Roman texts the rest of the Council that we’ve arrived. One reply after another comes in instantly.

Orlando has been looking for Roman, and he’s not pleased that he has disappeared.

“We take you home,” Roman says as we stand in the aisle, waiting to unload. “We act as if we did nothing wrong. I have no doubt Orlando will come to us within the hour.”

“You have your team watching him?” Sebastian asks from behind.

Roman nods. “All the House members are still in the city. Jay will be picking us up.”

“I’d like to make one quick stop before we go home,” I say, a sly smile pulling on my lips.

Forty minutes later, we pull up to the police station. Roman tells Jay to wait at the curb. And together, all three of us, walk in through the front doors.

“I’d like to speak to Superintendent Day,” I say to the man sitting at the desk.

“She’s busy,” he says in a bored tone. He doesn’t even take his eyes away from the screen in front of him, just continues typing away.

“She’ll want to see us,” I say, and I step around the desk and aim for where I know Teresa’s office is. The other officer yells after us, but vampires walk pretty damn quick when they want not to be stopped.

I knock twice on her door before I let myself in.

“Get out,” she growls without looking up at us, not realizing who has just walked in.

“Hmm, I don’t think so,” I say, folding my arms over my chest as I stop in the middle of her office, flanked by Roman on one side and Sebastian on the other. “Thought you needed to see this.”

Superintendent Day’s eyes are annoyed as she looks up, but when she sees Sebastian, they flare huge in surprise. “Dr. Vincent,” she says, shock and panic in her tone. She stands, though she stays put on her side of the desk.

“Hello, Teresa,” Sebastian says in that suave, cool way of his. Sebastian saved Teresa’s life after she was shot in the line of duty a few years ago. She developed a loyalty to him that set her on a savage path to prove I did something nefarious to him.

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