23

Fear bit into my skin.

My blood boiled when I turned to look at him.

Sebastian wasn't looking at me. He remained focused on the man behind me, who I didn't think had gotten an invitation from him.

This version of Sebastian is a hard-line and intimidating presence that burns if someone steps too close. I couldn't help but realize that the hands he used to defend me with heat were also hands that might have hurt others.

I passed him and headed out, but something made my feet stop at the corner, the tension thick enough to suffocate. I leaned against the wall next to the door, peeking out.

"You have five seconds to explain how you got in here."

Kennan's laughter sounded low. "Straight to business, then?" His tone turned tense. "Very well. I turned on the front camera and used a nice credit card maneuver."

"There are two chain locks on that door."

"What can I say? Maybe you should have used three."

Silence fills my ears, and I can tell Sebastian isn't amused. "If you want to leave here w