Page 63 of Sebastian's Secret
“Sebastian will handle it,” she whispered with a smile.
She didn’t know how, or when, but knew that he would. Just like he had handled those idiots by the river. Her brow creased at the disconcerting memory.
How had he moved so fast?
Replaying the memory, she recalled how quickly Sebastian had dispatched the men who’d threatened them.
“He didn’t move that fast,” she decided eventually. “Couldn’t have.”
She must have imagined Sebastian’s superhuman speed in her fear, her adrenaline confusing her senses, and in his attempt to calm her later, he had played along with her line of questioning. It was the only explanation that made sense.
Excited anticipation swelled at the thought of him—whoever Sebastian was, she was so damn thankful that she was the woman he chose to spend time with. Emboldened, she slid her phone into her pocket, and checked to make sure she had packed her charger this time. Rebecca didn’t know when she planned to return to the house, so she had filled the small sports bag with as many outfits as she could. Satisfied, she grabbed the bag and flung it over her shoulder, leaving the same back route she had arrived.
She made it to the staff entrance when the noise of a car on the gravel drive drew her attention.
Shit!
Pulse accelerating, she peered toward the drive, pressing her back against the wall as she inched toward it. It couldn’t be Sebastian. He wouldn’t come up to the house to meet her, but who else would be arriving at this time of the day? Her mother would be out for the count, and she couldn’t remember the last time Oliver had been seen at this time, so that only left one person.
Drawing in a sharp breath, she froze, conscious of the frantic galloping of her heart. Straining her senses, she listened as car doors opened and closed, the humble mumbles of Jasper, her father’s personal butler, confirming her worst suspicions. Jonas was home!
“… wasn’t expecting you, sir.”
Rebecca held her breath as Jonas spoke.
“I don’t need your permission to come home early,” he growled.
“No, of course not, Mr. Monroe.”
She imagined Jasper’s apologetic expression. The spindly little man seemed to spend his entire existence being sorry for something.
“Please, come in. Let me take your case for you.”
“I’ll fucking take it,” her father spat, his voice louder as he presumably neared the lavish entrance. “Where’s my wife?”
Pressed into the brick, Rebecca held her breath. Please let him go in the front way, please let him go in the front way.
“I believe Mrs. Monroe is in the master bedroom, sir,” Jasper answered.
“Good!”
Jonas sounded close enough to reach out and grab her, though pinned against the wall, there was no way he would see her unless he took the side entrance usually reserved for the staff. Rebecca had to hope that a prick as arrogant as her father would never lower himself to use the hired help’s door.
“She can stay there. Oliver will be here soon and once he arrives, I do not want to be interrupted.”
Rebecca closed her eyes at her father’s harsh tone.
“Got it?”
“Y-yes, of course, sir,” Jasper stammered.
As their voices grew quieter, she pulled in a desperate breath and glanced left and right to check she was on her own. Thank fuck! She’d been granted a reprieve and was beyond grateful for it, but she’d also heard her father’s warning. Her brother was en route, and soon enough another Monroe would be there, cranking up the growing sense of dread. She had to get away and it had to be now.
Edging to the corner of the building, she stared warily around. Jonas was nowhere to be found.
This is it! The sentence echoed loudly in her head. Go now! Run!
For one prolonged moment, she was paralyzed with uncertainty. Her every instinct told her to move, to go and be happy with Sebastian, but another aspect understood her departure meant something more than just avoiding her odious father. As she had sensed when she hugged her mother, Rebecca was filled with a peculiar certainty that this would be the final time she fled the Monroe residence. Maybe it would be the last time she was there at all?