Page 97 of Last Man Standing

“You’re right about the imbalance between us. You were absolutely correct about me knowing your secrets and vulnerabilities. Even if I know my intentions, even if I never intend to use that imbalance against you, you can’t know that for sure, which makes your uncertainty valid. Your fear is reasonable.”

“But Sebastion⁠—”

I take her under my arm again and force her to walk. “You can’t really see it from here, but about fifty feet ahead and around to the left, there’s another set of stairs like those we just used, except they take you to a security center underneath the ground.”

“Stop,” she groans. “Please, Sebastion. I don’t want to know this stuff.”

Which is precisely why I need to tell you.

“The security center controls this entire property. It houses the hard drives that store everything the cameras catch, as well as the codes and overrides for the external gates. Inside the main house, only family is allowed. Like I said,” I drop my gaze and study her tear-filled eyes. “That means family has access to everything, but external doors are security pad locked, or come with a human guard twenty-four hours a day. We have men in the security center around the clock, four men at a time, six-hour shifts, no exceptions. Beneath that is a bomb shelter accessible only to family.” I lower my voice, since it’s not polite to let the men monitoring those cameras know, in the event of a mass fucking war, that shelter isn’t for them. “This entire property is riddled with tunnels, which is kinda ironic after spending years inside Richard’s home, since I guess that’s a defensive strategy that runs in our DNA. Except, our tunnels are better. They make more sense, and they’re fortified to withstand an attack.” I point toward the mountains a ten-minute walk from here. “Remote controlled explosives are planted front and back.”

Fearful, Scarlett’s eyes drop to the ground.

“They won’t go off accidentally. They’re accessible to the four men in the security center, but only with two-factor permissions and a family member’s codes. Same as the men in the towers. Or they’re available to family. Single-factor detonation.”

“Oh good.” Trembling, she casts her eyes back to the mountains. “So if I decided on a whim to go for a walk alone, which your mother would know via the cameras and lookouts, she could detonate the ground I walk on without even needing your dad or brothers to give her a second code.” She gulps. “And you still think exploring is a good idea?”

“Stop.” I take her hands and bring them to my lips. “She will not blow you up, Scarlett. I promise.”

“It doesn’t matter what you promise! Because it’s not like I can put all my pieces back together and come after you with my ‘I told you so!’ speech. I won’t even be able to throw my dismembered arm at your face, since I’ll be, ya know, dead!”

I press a smiling kiss to the peaks of her knuckles. “You forgot you’re staying inside my home. You even have my phone.” I search her eyes and wait for understanding to hit. “You have the big red button too, Princess. I’m trusting you not to use it. Now, come on.” I start forward again. “We’re on the clock and you’re wasting my time.”

“The more time I waste, the fewer state secrets you can give away!” She attempts to pull me back. To dig her heels into the ground and slow us down. So I turn and sweep her up instead. I thrill in her yelped squeal, and I enjoy the fear in a soldier’s eyes when he inevitably looks this way, gets caught, and turns so fuckin’ fast, he’s gonna spend his weekend with a chiropractor.

“Sebastion!” Scarlett pounds heavy fists against my back and kicks her legs in the space in front of my head. “Put me down!”

I time my steps and slap her ass with a resounding crack the instant we’re not within camera range, then I drag her down and meet her glassy eyes. Not crying anymore. Now she just wants to fuck. “I need you to stop screeching.” I stop inside the medical wing and send men scrambling. Because they know they don’t get to see this. “We’re in a sacred space right now. People are trying to rest. And I wanna introduce you to someone.”

“Sebastion—”

“Shush.” I set her back on her feet and pinch her lips closed, then I lead her through another doorway, then a third. Finally, I bring her to Uncle Bas’ door and enjoy the heady thump of my heart when I find him sitting up and watching.

Waiting.

He has access to the big red button and security cameras, too.

“You look like a million bucks, Unc.” I take Scarlett’s hand and drag her around the bed. If I let her go, I risk the scorch marks she’ll leave on the carpet on her way out. Instead, I hold on tight, and when we’re close enough, I fold at my hips and rest my forehead on his. One beat. Two. Three. Pulling back, I search his clear eyes and peek at the IV tube snaking into his port. “They put cocaine in your bag today? Found a cure? You gonna clock back in on shift soon, or what?”

“Might take the weekend first,” he chuckles. But then his chuckle turns to a cough that shatters the early bloom of hope inside my chest. He tilts a little to the side and glances past me to a shaking Scarlett.

He always was the flirt. Always punched higher than his face warranted.

“Hey there.” His lips curl into his patented ‘I’m the cool uncle with a long roster of enthusiastic babes constantly blowing up my phone’ smile.

I’m pretty sure he had someone special once upon a time… until he didn’t. He never said what happened to her, and I’m not brave enough to force the subject. These days, he prefers to flirt with everyone else’s girl. Which, I suppose, is where the rest of us get it.

Bas’ eyes sparkle with playfulness. “You gonna introduce your friend, boy? Or will you make me pull out my expert-level moves? You unlock that door, I can’t guarantee it’ll be your hand she’s holding in the end.”

“Jesus.” Shaking my head, I gently tug her forward and drape my arm across her back, anchoring my hand on her hip to keep her here with me. “Scarlett Castro, this is Bastion Conroy. Uncle Bas. My mom and daddy named me after him, since we’re both really fuckin’ cool.” Grinning, I look to Bas. “Uncle Bas, this is Scarlett. She’s a little skittish around overly enthusiastic dudes whose main personality traits are arrogance and ego.”

“Odd.” He looks her up and down, smirking. “Since that would surely exclude you.”

“It does, I promise. She hates me.” Swallowing, I look down at Scarlett and hope for a miracle. Please don’t be rude. Please don’t run away. Please don’t hurt his feelings. “Princess. I’d like you to meet my favorite uncle in the entire world.”

Shaky and unsure, she stumbles forward and trades my hand for his. “Hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Aw, he lies,” he chuckles. “You walk straight toward the arrogant egotists, don’t you, Ms. Castro? Bodes well for my boy.” He doesn’t pull her in, though he would have not so long ago. He doesn’t press a kiss to her hand, though I know it’s his thing when he wants to charm a lady. Instead, he studies her, just as she studies him. “Scarlett. Forgive me for being so forward, but you are very beautiful.”