He took his tiny cup of espresso, drained it one sip, and set it down on the counter. “I’ll be back later. Kayla, you’re free to stay as long as you wish. Help yourself to anything you want. I’m going to have someone stop by your apartment to collect your things. It’s not safe for you to stay there until this matter is resolved.”
She nodded. “I understand. Thank you. Where’s Willa?”
“She’s with Max.”
Kayla nodded again. She’d call her as soon as she had her phone. After Lucian had left, she helped herself to a bottle of water from his fridge.
“Baby, sit down,” said Sebastian gently, pulling out a chair for her at the table. “We need to talk.”
She bit her lip as she took in his serious, determined expression, his brow furrowed, his jaw tight. Her mouth felt suddenly dry and she cracked the lid off of the bottle of water, taking a long sip. This wasn’t the Bastian of last night who’d held her as she’d fallen asleep. This wasn’t the Bastian who sent her goofy texts or encouraged her to stand up to her asshole boss. There was something different about him, something off.
She hesitated slightly before sitting down in the chair he’d offered her, mentally shoring up her defenses for whatever was coming, because based on the look of determined resignation on his face, she wasn’t going to like it.
He reached out and took her hand, weaving his much larger fingers between hers. “Kayla, I’m so sorry about what happened last night. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you, and I’m sorry that you got dragged into my mess. I’m sorry for how scared you must’ve been, and I’m sorry you were hurt. This is my fault and I take full responsibility for it all. Not just what happened last night, but everything. Borrowing money from someone as dangerous as Coldhurst. The disaster my life was. It’s all on me, and I fucking hate the fact that you’re the one who paid the price.” His nostrils flared and he sucked in a breath.
“I’m not angry at you, if that’s what this is about. I know how hard you’ve worked to turn your life around. I know you’re not that man anymore.” She wasn’t just trying to placate him; she meant every word. She’d seen him at his worst, and he wasn’t that guy anymore. He’d changed—for the better.
“But that doesn’t change the fact that because of your connection to me, your life was in danger last night.”
She squeezed his fingers. “You weren’t the one who pointed a gun at me, Bastian.”
“No, but it happened because of me and what I did. And I can’t let it happen again.”
Her apprehension started to give way to dread, her stomach churning. “So you’ll take care of your debts and we’ll put this behind us,” she said carefully, watching his face for any information as to what he was thinking.
He shook his head. “No. It’s not that simple, baby. I have to clean this up. Alone.”
“What do you mean, alone?”
“I mean I can’t be with you, Kayla. My life is too much of a mess and far too dangerous. I refuse to put you in danger ever again.”
She pulled her hand away and hugged herself, suddenly feeling cold. Her eyes burned as realization dawned. “Are you breaking up with me?”
He shoved a hand through his hair, his expression so full of pain that her heart broke for both of them. “I love you too damn much to risk putting you in that kind of danger ever again. You deserve so much better than that. Than me.” His voice was like gravel, rough and raw.
She shook her head. “You love me, so you’re ending things?” Her heart was full to the point of bursting at the knowledge that he loved her. Bursting and breaking, all at the same time.
“You could’ve died because of me. I can’t…” He looked away, a muscle in his jaw jumping. “It’s over. I have to let you go.”
“Please don’t do this,” she whispered. Her heart beat so hard and so fast she could feel it beneath her trembling breast. “Please.”
“This is for the best. Once you’re over the shock of what happened, you’ll see that.”
Desperate anger clawed at her. There had to be another solution besides losing him. Losing what they had. “What I see is a man so intent on punishing himself that he’s hurting someone he loves in the process.”
He shook his head, sadness and regret etched across his handsome face. “You’re right. I am punishing myself, but I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m setting you free, Kayla. I can’t give you the life you deserve. I’ve fucked up too big and too long to think I could ever—” His voice broke and he looked away, his eyes bright. “We can’t be together.”
Anger burst through her, making her eyes burn and her throat tight. “Sebastian Prescott, you listen to me and you listen good. You made me fall in love with you, so if you think I’m going to just walk away from you because of this, you don’t know me at all.”
“I’m not giving you a say in this, Kayla. I’m sorry.”
She reached out for him, her hand landing on his forearm. “I don’t want you to be sorry. I want you to stay.”
He pulled his arm away, his hand curling into a fist so tight his knuckles were white. “That’s no longer an option. I’m sorry, Kayla. I’m so fucking sorry.”
It was the anguished expression on his face that did her in. She started to cry, tears streaming down her face as she tried to breathe through the pain of her heart smashing into a thousand pieces. Her throat ached and her entire body felt heavy—too heavy. She slumped back in her chair, feeling entirely alone. Entirely adrift.
Sebastian stood, his face lined with grief and heartbreak. “Stay with Lucian. It’s safe here.” He started to walk away, to
