Never Gonna Happen - Cynthia Eden Page 0,47

at outside the Langley Theater. I thought he missed her. Maybe he didn’t. Maybe the guy hit exactly where he wanted to hit.”

Alyssa shifted closer to him. “And my house? When he left that message on my wall?”

“Whoa!” Antony threw up a hand. “What message? Could you please catch me up all the way?”

Sebastian considered the message that had been left. “I thought he’d missed you. That he’d gone to your house in an attempt to get to you, but he could have left that message just to scare you and to make sure that you stayed with me.”

“Why?” Alyssa’s confusion was clear to see. “Why would he want me with you?”

Because when I’m with you, when I’m focused on you, I’m distracted. I make mistakes. Shit. Like when he’d immediately rushed out of the press conference.

When he freaking showed the world what mattered most to him.

He was the one who was screwed.

“Why is he trying to distract me?” Sebastian mumbled, half to himself. “What does he want?”

“We’ll figure this out,” Antony assured him. “And you won’t be distracted again.” He reached for Alyssa’s hand and tugged her toward him. “I’ll be taking over Alyssa’s security until this mess is sorted out. You don’t have to worry. I’ve got her now.” He turned for the door and pulled Alyssa with him. “Let’s get out of here. I don’t like the idea that someone could be watching us. We’ll sleep on things tonight and start fresh tomorrow.”

Sebastian stared at Antony’s back. The guy thought he was just going to take Alyssa away from him? “That’s not happening.”

Antony looked back at him. “Excuse me? Sorry?”

“You’re not taking Alyssa.” Not when I just got her.

“Uh, sure I am.” Antony laughed. “She’s my sister, man. Thanks for looking after her, but I’ve got her now.”

Alyssa stared at Sebastian. He couldn’t read the expression in her eyes, and he damn well wished that he could.

“Come on,” Antony urged her. “Let’s go, Alyssa.”

Over my dead body. Sebastian lunged forward even as—

“No,” Alyssa said. Her voice was firm and clear, and it seemed to cut through the room like a knife.

Antony swung toward her. “What?”

“You’re both acting like this isn’t my decision.” She lifted their joined hands. “You’re literally trying to pull me after you.”

“I’m trying to keep you safe and—”

“Sebastian has been doing a stellar job of that so far.”

“But he doesn’t have to do it anymore! You don’t have to be a burden to him and—”

“She is never a burden,” Sebastian barked.

Antony’s gaze suddenly narrowed on him.

Sebastian caught the flash of suspicion in his friend’s gaze.

“She,” Alyssa fired pointedly, “can also make decisions for herself. And I’m going to spend the night with Sebastian. That’s my choice.”

I’m going to spend the night with Sebastian.

“I’m staying with him,” she added simply.

Antony laughed. “But he has a life to get back to living! I’m sure the ladies in his life don’t appreciate having to share space with you over at his place.”

Alyssa’s expression tightened.

“Alyssa doesn’t share me with anyone.” Keep it up, Antony. You’re about to piss me off. I’ll only be grateful to see that you’re alive for so long. “I’m living my life just fine with her. Alyssa’s choice.” That was what it came down to for him. “You heard her. She wants me.”

And there it was. He saw it. The flicker of Antony’s lashes. The flash of realization.

Antony never forgot anything. He was much like Sebastian in that regard. Every word he’d ever read, every conversation he’d ever heard…

All on constant replay in his mind.

So Sebastian knew that Antony would remember their long ago conversation about Alyssa and the one stipulation that Sebastian had made.

“You sonofabitch,” Antony breathed.

Alyssa pulled her hand from his. “Why are you calling him names? Sebastian saved me!”

“No.” Antony’s hands fisted. “He just took what he wanted.” He lunged toward Sebastian.

Alyssa stepped into his path and shoved against her brother’s chest. “What are you doing? Are you crazy?” Her voice rose.

Antony’s face darkened as he glowered over her shoulder at Sebastian. “I told you! It was the one condition, and you knew it!” His voice was loud. Too loud.

“You need to calm down,” Alyssa snapped back. “Take a breath. Take twenty of them!”

Footsteps rushed outside of the office.

“I am calm!” Antony bellowed.

“Doesn’t sound that way to me,” Sebastian said. He crossed his arms over his chest. Propped his hip on the desk. Waited.

He figured that he had a swing or two coming his way. He’d take them.

For her, I’d take