Edge of Obsession (SKALS #3)

by Noir, Adriana

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good girl,” he murmured, kissing the top of her head. “Your vitamins are on the counter. Take one and clean yourself up. I want to take you out and grab some real dessert.”

  “That sounds wonderful,” she said, grinning.

  He winked in agreement. Slinging her shirt over her shoulder, Taylor blew a kiss in his direction and sauntered into the kitchen. There was no mistaking the weight of Sebastian’s stare as it tracked her every step, making sure she complied. Despite his gentleness and play, there was a veiled tension seething below the surface, a reluctance that she couldn’t quite place. She twisted the cap off a bottle of water and downed one of the horse-sized pills with a wince. Satisfied, Sebastian finished tying off his pants and headed for the stairs.

  Taylor set her drink aside and followed behind with a mute shake of her head. Did he really think she wouldn’t take care of their baby? Or was he just searching for a way to feel more in control. She couldn’t help but wonder how his day had gone or what had been said, but it wasn’t likely that was information he was going to share. Combing her fingers through her bedraggled hair, she sighed. In the end, it didn’t matter. He hadn’t taken his frustrations out at home, and for him, that was a huge step. It gave her hope. Not just for today, but for the future as well. Maybe, despite it all, things really were going to be okay.

  Traffic lights shimmered off the damp asphalt, casting the downtown sector into colorful prisms. Pulling Taylor closer to his side, Sebastian scanned their surroundings. Golden streetlights glowed overhead, lending the historic brick buildings lining the streets extra warmth and charm. It was a beautiful spring evening despite the previous storm. The rich smell of damp earth and blacktop rose around them as they wandered the sidewalks hand in hand. Returning his attention to Taylor, he smiled. Even clad in a simple light blue halter dress, she was stunning. The cool, fresh air had helped bring some much needed color back to her cheeks, and an innocent joy radiated from her as she peered up at him.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” she teased.

  Laughing quietly, he shook his head. “I was thinking it would be safer to dress you in a potato sack from now on.”

  Taylor rolled her eyes. “You are impossibly jealous, Agent Baas.”

  “I’m not jealous, sweetheart. I am just protective of what is mine.”

  “So you’re greedy?”

  He paused outside the diner and turned to face her. “Is there a reason why I shouldn’t have you all to myself, Taylor?”

  She swung her big grey eyes up to his with an adamant shake of her head. “No, Sebastian. Not at all.”

  “Good to know,” he said, fighting to keep his amusement hidden. Leaning down, he issued a husky whisper against her ear. “I will never share you with another man. You would do well to remember that, darling. I would hate to have to prove that point to you again.”

  “You have nothing to worry about, Seb. No one else could ever measure up to you. You have completely ruined me for other men.”

  Winking, he kissed the pouty swell of her lips. “That was my plan.”

  Releasing his hold on her, he opened the glass door and ushered Taylor inside. A musty aroma with an undercurrent of grease replaced the fresh air from outside. Sebastian squelched a grimace, his studious gaze raking over the small cluster of rounded tables and padded booths, doing a quick assessment of their occupants. The staff was already starting to wipe things down for the evening, and not many customers remained. An elderly couple sat sharing a plate of crumb cake. Withered and bent with milky irises, neither one of them posed any threat. A pudgy, middle-aged man glanced up from the evening paper, his beady brown eyes barely flickering their way before he took another sip of his coffee and resumed skimming the headlines. On the far side of the diner, a young mother struggled to keep her chattering toddler in his seat.

  Confident in their safety, Sebastian steered Taylor toward an intimate booth in the back where he could continue to monitor the diner’s comings and goings. She pressed close to his side, content to share in the space and the warmth radiating between them. A pained wince crossed his face as he plucked the lacquered menu from its holder only to find it stuck to his fingers with grime. Taylor snickered quietly beside him and pulled a bottle of hand sanitizer from her purse.

  “Thank you,” he said, squeezing a liberal amount onto his palm. “You would think they would clean these things once in a while.”

  “Not everyone lives by your impeccable standards, Sebastian.”

  He snorted in agreement. “I really don’t think it’s asking too much.”

  They made their selections, and he drummed his fingers on the scarred tabletop as they waited for a server. His patience was all but gone by the time a harried looking blonde finally made her rounds.

  “Sorry about the wait. What can I get you?” she asked, swiping her bangs out of her eyes with the back of her arm.

  “I’ll take a cup of coffee and a slice of your peach pie.”

  “Make sure that’s decaf,” Sebastian corrected. “And I will have the same.”

  “You want the pie, too?” the waitress asked.

  “Yes, please.”

  He waited until the woman left before blinking at Taylor in exasperation. Smothering another giggle, she shrugged.

  “We can’t all be as smart or insightful as you either, Sebby,” she razzed. “Some of us are human, and therefore prone to bouts of stupidity.”

  “I have my fair share of flaws, sweetheart. We both know that.”

  “At least one of them has been dormant lately.”

  Laughing quietly, he lifted a brow. “Are you referring to my belt?”

  “Oh no, Sebastian. I wouldn’t dare. Last night was visit enough for me.”

  “Mmm. So you claim.”

  Her expression grew more serious as she toyed with her napkin. “Why did you change my order?”

  “For one, we don’t need you bouncing off the walls all night. For two, I don’t think caffeine is good for the baby,” he said, running a tender finger over her abdomen. “I could be wrong, but I seem to remember Monique cutting it out altogether when she was carrying Mia.”

  “I didn’t think about that. I don’t have the slightest idea what I’m doing here, Seb. I don’t know anything about having a kid. I mean other than how they are made…”

  His shoulders shook with his quiet laugh. “I think we have that aspect cornered quite well.” Taking her hand, he pressed a gentle kiss against the top. “We will get through this, Taylor. Everything is going to be okay. I’m going to dig around and see what I can do about getting you into a doctor next week. We’ll figure everything out. I promise. Just sit tight, baby.”

  The love and adoration in her eyes was humbling.

  “Okay.” Her face took on an impish gleam. “But I should probably warn you now—I am going to have a ridiculously long list of questions when I go.”

  Smiling, he caressed the high slope of her cheek. “I would expect nothing less, darling. Don’t think I won’t.”

  He glanced up when the waitress approached with their pie and topped off their mugs. Sebastian watched Taylor’s eyes drift shut as she slipped the first bite past her lips, her face a simple declaration of bliss. Everything about her was such a startling contrast to the world he knew. She wasn’t fueled by ulterior motives. All she longed for was acceptance and love. Spearing a piece of pie off his plate, he tried to remember if there was ever a time he’d felt the same. He’d wanted those things from his father, and tried like hell to get them, but part of him had known it was an unattainable dream. In the beginning, he loved the man, but in the end, he’d feared and respected him more. That disconnect laid the groundwork in many ways. It helped build the foundation of who he was today. He pondered that for a moment, his appetite waning.

  What would his own children grow up to be? Closing his eyes, he prayed they would take a different path. One that wouldn’t leave them as conflicted and broken. One that did
n’t put their lives and families in danger every goddamn day. If he had one hope, one dream, it would be for them to grow up happy, safe, and free to experience the life they chose.

  His thoughts came to a screeching halt when the bell over the door chimed. A gust of fresh air swept through the restaurant and, looking up, Sebastian froze. Instant tension snapped through his muscles, making them ache. His fists clenched and locked in time with his jaw. The sharp, pinched face staring back at him was one he knew all too well. He’d been seeing it everywhere for the past few weeks. The man bowed his head and tried to slip into a booth near the door, but it was too late. Sebastian tossed his fork on his plate and sprung to his feet. He’d had all he was going to take.

  Taylor scrambled across the padded booth and reached for his arm, pleading twisting her beautiful face. “Seb?”

  He wrenched away and halted her with a stern point. “Stay here. Don’t you dare move,” he warned, his voice breaking with fury.

  Not waiting for a response, he stalked across the restaurant in long, purposeful strides. The man glanced up as he approached, a brief show of apprehension flickering in his eyes. Sebastian wrenched him up out of his seat, his lips twisting on a snarl. His hands wrenched the other man’s shirt tight, cutting off his air supply as he slammed him against the wall. Somewhere behind them, a woman let out a frightened cry. A callous glint fueled the pale green of his eyes as he tightened his grip.

  “I don’t know what you are after or why you are following me, but if you come near me or my family again, you are dead,” Sebastian growled. He released the man with a brutal shove and leveled a finger at his face. “Consider yourself warned. I won’t repeat myself again.”

  Clearing his throat, the man smoothed the front of his shirt and caught his breath. “I admire your tenacity, Special Agent Baas, but you are in no position to be making threats.”

  A cold smile crawled across his face. “You have no idea what I am capable of or what lengths I will go through. If I see you in my town again, I’m going to gouge out your eyes and put a bullet in your skull.”

  The man weighed his warning with a light nod. “That may be true, but it won’t end your problems. I’m merely the beginning. Stop sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. Patrick James is dead. If you value your family as much as you claim, you will leave it that way.”

  Cocking his head, his eyes narrowed to scrutinizing slits. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

  “Consider me an ambassador.”

  “What I consider you is a man with a death wish.”

  “Call off the search and get your organization under control. Quit trying to bite the hand that feeds you. SKALS may be powerful, but this is one fight they won’t win.”

  Stunned, he pulled back. The fact that this man knew who they were lent him serious pause.

  “This is the only warning you and your team will get.”

  Fury jerked him out of his baffled daze. His eyes snapped to the other man’s and his cheeks jumped with a dangerous twitch. Leaning in close, a sinister smile curved his lips. “I'd think long and hard about who and what I am before you step in something you can't wipe off. Don't come near my family again.”

  “No war is without casualties,” the wiry man replied. He straightened his expensive silk suit and backed away. “Have a good night, Agent Baas.”

  Sebastian glared after him. Who the hell did the Ichabod Crane looking fuck think he was? His fingers curled around the pistol holstered at his hip. He didn’t like tamping down his aggression. He was trained to eliminate problems—and this man—whoever he was, was a very definite problem. It took effort not to blow the weasely little prick to smithereens. Plowing a hand through his hair, he glanced over his shoulder at Taylor. Her grey eyes were haunted and flooded with fear. His chest tightened. The bastard was damn lucky they were in a public place. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he cursed beneath his breath and made his way back to the booth, ignoring the curious stares he garnered from the other patrons along the way.

  Taylor shank back when he slid onto the seat beside her. A fact that didn’t sit well with him at all.

  “Finish your dessert,” he ordered stiffly.

  “Who was that guy?”

  “I don’t know, Taylor.”

  “If you don’t know, why did you go after him like that?”

  Letting his eyes drift shut, he squeezed his temples and struggled to keep his burgeoning temper under control. “It has to do with work, and I’m not getting into it right now. Eat.”

  The look she gave him was equal parts desperation and pleading. “Sebby…”

  Her voice was raw and questioning. Realizing she was only going to make herself sick if he forced the issue, he lowered his chin to his chest with a sigh. It wasn’t worth it. After pulling the wallet from his back pocket, he dropped a twenty on the table and offered her his hand. Her relief was palpable as he helped her stand. Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed the top of her head.

  “Don’t do this. Don’t get yourself all worked up. Everything is going to be okay.”

  “I just want to go home,” she whispered, burying her face into his chest.

  “Okay,” he soothed, rubbing slow circles against her back. “Whatever you want, baby.”

  Wrapping her fists in the front of his shirt, she peered up at him. “I didn’t mean to ruin our night.”

  “You didn’t, baby. It’s okay. I understand. I’m sorry work encroached on our personal time.”

  She gave a rueful shake of her head. “I have a bad feeling, Seb. I don’t know what it’s about or why I have it, but it scares the hell out of me.”

  Frowning, he resisted the urge to agree. Peeling her hands free, he led her outside. An apprehensive feeling gripped him the moment they stepped through the doors. Another round of lightning flickered in the distance, and despite the empty streets, an uneasy prickle still crawled along his skin. His eyes narrowed as he pulled Taylor closer to his side. For a moment, he considered the wisdom in doing so. Any sudden shots meant for him would go through her as well. The thought struck him like a physical blow and he found himself hurrying to get her into the car.

  Taylor sat in silence for most of the way home. Her attention remained riveted on the passenger side window. She blinked against the onset of tears several times, her hands forming a protective cradle over her stomach. His forehead creased as a crushing wave of guilt slammed into him. She didn’t feel safe, and after the bullshit with Laychee, who could blame her? That fucker had destroyed them both in more ways than one.

  A dark scowl etched Sebastian’s face. Gripping the steering wheel with enough force to make the stiff leather creak, he resisted the urge to scream and pummel it until his hands bled. Laychee was just the beginning where his problems were concerned. Marx was riding his ass and chomping at the bit, just waiting for a chance to get Taylor out of the way—and God only knew what these other men were after. He’d promised her things would get better, not worse, but that was exactly where he feared things were heading.

  He steered the car up to the gate. After scanning his finger, he punched in the code and kept a close eye on the mirrors to make sure nothing slipped in behind them. Within seconds, Rupert had made his way out front and offered a polite nod as Sebastian steered the Benz past. He’d barely pulled the car to a stop within the darkened confines of the garage before Taylor popped the door open and bolted for the house. He stared after her for a moment, then everything hit. Unable to take anymore, he cursed, slamming his fist into the steering wheel and triggering the horn.

  Shaking the throb from his battered knuckles, he prowled through the shadows and came to a stop outside of the half bath. The ache in his chest surpassed the one in his hand as he spied Taylor hunched over the toilet, her slender body straining with her efforts not to heave. Shouldering his way inside, he crouched down behind her. She muttered something unintelligible into the bowl as he tucked her loose braid behind her and rubbed the small of her back.
>
  “I’m sorry I ran,” she said, sagging against him and turning to search his face. “I really thought I was going to get sick and I didn’t want to get sick in your car.”

  “I know,” he murmured, brushing her bangs out of the way. “It’s okay. I’m just glad you kept something down this time.”

  Standing, he pulled her with him and smoothed his palms over the outside of her arms. Her gaze flickered to his hand and widened.

  “Jesus, Seb, you’re bleeding…”

  “Shh. It’s nothing, baby. Let’s get you into bed.”

  He helped her wash up and tucked her between the sheets with a promise to join her soon before making his way back downstairs. The darkness in his study seemed pressing despite the glow from his monitor as he uploaded the photos he’d taken the night before. Leaning back in his chair, he tented his fingers beneath his chin and waited for the facial recognition hardware to finish its scan. A rapid gamut of faces and names flashed across the screen before settling on the one he was coming to know and hate.

  Sitting up, he tilted his head, his eyes narrowing into hooded slits.

  Frank Burrel had quite an impressive set of credentials to his name, including brief stints with the FBI and CIA. That much made sense, given the man’s demeanor. What didn’t was the dates. Burrel was inactive. His last term of service dated well over twenty years ago.

  Running a forefinger over his lips, Sebastian frowned. SKALS was founded after he left. How would a man with no apparent ties to the government know about them, much less have the balls to confront them? Furthermore, what was his interest in protecting Patrick James? By all accounts, his target didn’t start working for the FBI until well after Burrel’s departure and had only recently fallen off the grid. It just didn’t make sense. Biting the inside of his cheek, he studied the numbers and jotted down Burrel’s stats. Dread coiled in his gut as he typed in Marx’s information. It was a dangerous line to cross, but his instincts didn’t lie. Curiosity outweighed his reluctance and, holding his breath, Sebastian hit send.