Sebastian (Bowen Boys, #5)(12)

“I will go to your house, but I don’t really need to have my wound looked at. It will heal soon.” Which it would, as soon as she ate something. “If I say that I’ll go with you to see to your parents, you’ll bring me back here? You can’t lie to me.”

“Yes. You have my word.” He looked at her for a few seconds. “I can’t lie to you, can I? You never told me what you are.”

“No, I didn’t. And I don’t plan on it either. If you’d be so kind as to let me finish here, I’ll go with you, but I cannot stay. I do have a job and I need to work. Mr. Gunn was kind enough to give me one and I won’t leave him hanging.”

“Peter Gunn?” She nodded. “He’s a good man. I’m guessing that you know what he is, as well as my brother and me?”

“Yes. I know what all the paranormals are here and anywhere else I go.” She looked at Marc as he approached them again. “Do I need to fill out any paperwork?”

“No, you’re fine. I’ve taken care of everything for you. I might have to come by and see you sometime soon to fill out a statement, but until then, you’re free to go.”





Chapter 4


Sebastian was just pulling into the driveway of Khan’s house when his brother pulled in behind him. He was surprised to see Marc as well and a woman with them, but only nodded to them and asked to speak to Marc. When the other two went into the house, Sebastian looked at Marc.

“Who’s that? Never mind. I have enough problems right now.” Marc laughed. “I want you to do a background on that woman I was telling you about. She’s apparently talked Peter into her taking one of the apartments at the building I own.”

“I know.” Sebastian started to ask him how he knew when Marc nodded to the house. “That’s her, your tenant. She stopped a man from raping one of your other tenants today and was cut. Khan brought her back here so that Mom and Dad could see that she’s fine. Of course, she’s not but she said she’d heal.”

Sebastian started toward the house, then stopped. He’d made a scene with her and if he went in there now, he might again. He was debating on just leaving and coming back some other time when Marc slapped him on the back as he started for the house.

“What do you think they’re going to think of you if you just leave now?” He was right and Sebastian followed him to the steps. “But if I were you, I’d keep my mouth shut. She handled a man tonight without anything more than her hands. I’m pretty sure one panther isn’t going to cause her one bit of a problem. Not to mention Khan says she’s something powerful and makes him want to bow down before her.”

He paused before stepping onto the steps. Powerful? Christ, just what they needed, something in the house that made Khan nervous. He moved into the kitchen and noticed that the only people there were the cook and Khan. He asked if their parents were there.

“Mom is taking care of Ama’s cut. Monica is showing Dad what she was able to figure out for him on some search he was doing, and Bill and I were discussing the finer arts of a hamburger grilled on the grill or one in a pan. Which do you prefer?”

Sebastian sat down. His brother apparently knew all about his parents and his fight with Ama. He started to explain when the door opened and his mom walked in. Then a very beautiful woman came in behind her. Sebastian felt as if he had been hit with a two-by-four.

“Sebastian, sit down, you’re making her nervous.” He glanced at Khan when he whispered through his mind. “She’s ready to bolt and if she does, you’re going to be in more trouble now then you were just a few days ago. Sit the f*ck down.”

He sat down, but felt the need to stand when she smiled at them all. His mom nodded toward them all as she spoke. “Everyone, this is Amarizi Auburn. She’s the young lady that helped your father and me when we got our computers. She’s come to tell me that she’s okay, and she’s agreed to help us when she can next week.”

“So that explains the Amazing part. I remembered something about your first name but not how to say it. I think Ama suits better anyway.” Khan offered her a seat which she took, as far from him as she could get. “Would you like to stay for dinner? We’re having some sort of burgers. I just don’t know if they’re grilled or fried.”

“I can’t. I have to get back to work.” She glanced at Sebastian, then back at Khan. “Can you take me now? I have to get back there before five.”

Sebastian felt the low growl come up from his chest and spill from his mouth. Everyone turned to him as he stood. As soon as his mom stepped in front of Ama, he started forward.

“Don’t touch me.” The words were low, coming from Ama, but they only seemed to fuel him. “If you come any closer, I will hurt you.”

Sebastian hadn’t realized he’d been moving until he looked at his mom’s face. She looked furious and her cat moved along her skin. She would attack him if he moved to Ama. Taking a deep breath confirmed what his cat and his body were already telling him. Ama was his.

“I need to touch her.” His mom looked at Khan as he moved up behind Ama, and Sebastian felt the need to kill wash over him. “Khan, you have to move away from her. If you don’t, I’m going to kill you.”

Khan seemed to freeze in place but took a step back. “I didn’t know. I had no…Monica is coming. She’s not happy with you.”