Page 26 of Corrupted Memories
His gaze rises to meet mine. “That’s the problem, Gianna. I can’t trust you not to ask over the smallest of things.”
My heart is struggling to beat regularly while air barely pushes out of my lungs as he shifts closer to me.
“Do you trust I won’t hurt you?”
The lie is on the tip of my tongue, the one my mind is screaming at me to say even if I know it’s not true. Instead, any logic drains from me and I nod.
“Good. Then you don’t need a panic button, nor do I need to hurt your brother for attempting to take what’s mineagain.”
I grind my teeth, turn away to face the car window, and give him my back. His low laugh washes over me like a soft caress, hardening my nipples, and I fold my arms across my chest to hide my reaction. When we were younger, Sebastian was a serious guy, the laughs I pulled from him were few and far between. He usually only softened when it was the two of us, and his ever present frown would drop. Now it seems like he puts on a never-ending performance that I’m not sure I like.
“Did you want us to grab food before the flight? Or do you want to eat when we get home?”
I face him again, alarmed. “Flight? I didn’t know we were leaving the state.”
Sebastian stares at me incredulously. “I can’t stay in Jersey or New York. Chicago is my home.”
My heart twists at the thought of returning to Chicago. Our college hadn’t been far from the city and Sebastian took me whenever I wanted. When I ran from him, I never thought I’d return because Iknew that’s where his father’s business was. At least what I had assumed was his father’s business when we were younger.
“I thought your office was in Manhattan,” I say, confused. There’s nothing else I can say to counter it. It’s the only place I visited, and I’m not sure where he has been staying any other time.
“Yeah, an office space I don’t particularly enjoy being in.”
I frown. “Why?”
Sebastian’s lips pull up in a taunting grin. “The neighbors are not very friendly.”
“How many offices do you have? I thought your father’s business was in Chicago? And I assumed yours was in New York?” I ask, trying to calm the fear growing in my belly at being states away from my brother.
He mulls over the questions, staring through me as to poke at my curiosity. “It’s always been my business. Chicago and the UK. The New York office is simply… for federal requirements due to a very specific tax. My father invested when I was eighteen, but otherwise, he has his own things to handle.”
My mouth drops open. “Your business? But you were in college.”
His eyebrows raise. “And? You learn more from experience than you ever do in a classroom. I simply needed the piece of paper to display on the wall for some old hacks who like reassurance. And I grew fond of a pretty girl on campus who made my days less dull.”
The back of my eyes burn at his words and I go back to the window. I hold my breath to not give away how much my heart is racing. It’s been years, and I was sure most of my feelings have lessened, and yet a simple sentence has my head spinning.
“Don’t,” I whisper, twisting my fingers in my lap.
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t fucking say things like that,” I snap with a glare.
Sebastian narrows his gaze as Nico parks the car, climbing out to give us privacy. I glance out the windshield and realize we’re already at the airfield.
“Want to explain that little outburst?”
I roll my eyes with a sarcastic huff of laughter. “Don’t be obtuse. You know exactly what I mean.”
His cold fingers grip my chin, pulling my face to his. I shiver at his touch, hating how it burns all the way down my body before settling between my legs. “I wouldn’t ask if I knew.”
My tongue peeks out, licking at my dry lips and the tips of his fingers. His eyes drop to follow the movement and his hold tightens in warning.
“How many times did I ask you to tell me how you felt, Sebastian? How many years did I crave those three little words you refused to give? And now you’re saying things like that, as if your world spun around me…” I yank my head back, ripping away from his touch and rubbing at my jaw. “You’re a liar and I don’t want to hear it. I don’tdeserveto have my heart played with like that.”
I don’t wait for his response, climbing out the car and moving to stand next to Nico as I wrap my arms around myself, rubbing to keep warm from the cold night. Wind tunnels around us, whipping my long hair in different directions and across my face.
Nico puts out his cigarette, crushing it with his shoe, then moves a step closer to me. “Gianna, don’t push him.”
