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Sebastian
“You picked a hell of a time to fall in love.” Liam lowers himself into one of the armchairs in his living room.
My brother lives on the Lower East Side in a one bedroom with a view of the East River. It’s decorated with large pieces of leather furniture and reclaimed wood tables.
All of the artwork on the walls is personal to him.
There’s a framed drawing that our niece, Winter, did for his birthday. It’s nothing more than little scribbles from some brightly colored crayons. To Liam, it’s a masterpiece.
A series of photographs line the hallway to his bedroom and bathroom. Those are of our family. Of all my siblings, Liam is the most sentimental; his heart is the softest.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I bite back with a scowl.
“You’ve got a lot going on right now, Sebastian.” He leans forward to rest his forearms on his jean-covered thighs. “You just sold your place. Your partner quit and two of your best friends are getting married.”
I set my phone down on his coffee table. “What does any of that have to do with what I’m feeling for Matilda?”
He purses his lips. “It’s not uncommon for people to look for an anchor when their life is turbulent.”
“You think I’m using Matilda to find some sense of stability in my life?”
He holds up a hand to stop me from saying more. “I’ve known you for twenty-eight-years. This is the first time I’ve ever heard you express more than a passing interest in a woman.”
“This is the first time I’ve ever met anyone like her, Wolf.”
He pauses for a beat. “I want this for you. It seems fast, Sebastian. You haven’t known her that long.”
“It’s long enough to know she’s the one for me.” I close my eyes. “She’s always with me. I feel her with me now. There’s a feeling of peace inside of me that’s never been there before. I would lay down my life for this woman.”
“Does she feel the same way about you?” His tone softens.
I huff out a laugh. “I sure as hell hope so. We’ve been dancing around our feelings for weeks.”
“You’re joking?” He leans back and crosses his arms over his chest. “You told me you love her before you told her?”
I give him a slight smile. “I’ve never said those words to a woman before. I came here for a pep talk.”
“Here’s your pep talk.” He points a finger at me. “Tell her, Sebastian. Go find her and tell her how you feel.”
I look down at my hands. “I’ll do it tonight.”
I will. Tonight I’ll tell my beautiful Matilda that my heart belongs to her.
***
No. Just fuck no.
I stare down at the bouquet of flowers I’m holding.
Junior, the doorman at my building, shoved them into my hands as I was making my way to the elevator to go up to the apartment to make dinner for the woman I love.
They froze me in place.
Six black roses.
Six black fucking roses wrapped in red paper.
I look over the envelope addressed to Matilda. I don’t rip it open because of the slim chance that there’s a fingerprint or trace DNA evidence on it.
I already know what the message inside will read.
Detective Wolf can’t save you.
The same five words were written on a card tucked into a bouquet of dyed black roses sent to my parents’ apartment on Mother’s Day last year.
Another was sent to my sister’s store seven months ago.
“Who delivered these?” I turn to Junior. “Who?”
“I don’t know.” He points at the sidewalk outside the building. “It was two hours ago. I was helping Mrs. Henderson from 7A bring in her luggage. She just got back from Arizona. You’ll give them to Tilly, right?”
I shake my head in frustration. “What did the person who delivered them look like?”
“I never saw them.” He shrugs as he takes a measured step back. “I rode up with Mrs. Henderson to her apartment to help her with her stuff. They were on my desk when I got back.”
I glance over at the reception desk. “I need the security camera footage of the lobby. Get me the footage for that block of time.”
He huffs out a nervous laugh. “Those cameras are for show. The owner put them up to make the residents feel safe.”
“Fuck.”
“What’s the problem?” His head turns toward the elevator when it dings its arrival. “Tilly will probably know who they’re from. A few guys know she lives here, if you know what I mean.”
“No.” I inch toward him and straighten my shoulders. I know exactly what he means. Matilda had a life before me. She’s been with other men. I hate it, but it’s her past. It means nothing to me, but I’m not about to let this bastard speak about her with anything but respect. “What do you mean?”
His left eyelid twitches. “She likes to date, okay? She’s brought a handful of guys home. Let’s say she hasn’t been afraid to sow her oats. I haven’t noticed any new guys in weeks, but it’s hard to keep track.”
“Shut your mouth,” I seethe. “Shut your fucking mouth.”
He takes another step back, his hands shaking.
“Don’t you say another word about her.” I point my finger at him. “Do not speak about her or to her unless you’re saying hello or goodbye. Understood?”
He nods. “Understood.”
I leave him there as I turn around and walk out with the bouquet of flowers in my hand knowing that when I come back to this building my life won’t be the same.
