SCARRED HEARTS

CHAPTER 22: UNRAVELING THREADS

Lila spent the night tossing and turning, her mind unable to settle. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the figure in the hallway—the one Sebastian had gone after. Whoever it was had slipped away too quickly, leaving her with more questions than answers. It wasn't just the figure itself that unsettled her; it was the way Sebastian had reacted. His usual confidence had been replaced by something else. Worry, maybe? Or was it fear?

She couldn't stop herself from running over every detail in her mind. She'd known that Sebastian was a man of many layers, but there was a tension in the air that night, one that felt heavier than anything she'd experienced with him before. Lila wasn't naive—she'd heard rumors about his connections, his power—but she hadn't truly understood the weight of it until that moment.

The next morning, she called in sick to the bar, unable to shake the feeling of being watched. It was the first time in weeks that she didn't feel like going in, and somehow, she didn't mind. She needed a break from the chaos in her head. From Sebastian.

Still, she found herself at his penthouse later that evening, unable to stay away for long. The door swung open at the soft knock, and Sebastian greeted her with a look that wasn't entirely welcoming. His eyes were tired, his jaw tight, and the usual cocky smirk was nowhere to be found.

"I didn't expect you to come by today," he said, his voice low but not unkind.

Lila shrugged. "I needed some air. I wanted to talk."

He nodded, stepping aside to let her in. "I'm listening."

They settled into the living room, the silence between them thick with unspoken words. Lila hesitated, wondering how to broach the topic that had been gnawing at her. "I want to know who was in the hall last night."

Sebastian's posture stiffened, his eyes narrowing. "Lila, you don't need to worry about that."

"Don't tell me not to worry," she shot back, her voice sharper than she intended. "I'm not stupid. I know something's going on."

He looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "You're right. But it's not something you need to get involved in."

"I don't care about that," Lila said, standing up and facing him. "I care about you. If there's something going on, I need to know."

Sebastian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Lila, there are things in my life that you don't understand. Things I've been trying to protect you from."

Her heart pounded, the vulnerability in his voice striking her in a way that words couldn't. She crossed the room, standing in front of him. "I don't need protection, Sebastian. What I need is the truth."

For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, finally, he spoke, his voice barely a whisper. "You want the truth? The truth is, there are people who want to hurt me. People who will stop at nothing to tear down everything I've built. And if they think you're in my life... they'll use you to get to me."

Lila's breath caught, the weight of his words settling like a stone in her stomach. She hadn't expected this. "Who are these people?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"I can't tell you," Sebastian said, his eyes filled with regret. "Not yet. But I'm doing everything I can to keep you safe."

Lila took a step back, her mind racing. She didn't know what to say. This wasn't just about a relationship anymore. This was about a world she didn't belong to, a world where danger was always lurking in the shadows.

"You don't have to do this alone," she said quietly, her voice breaking as she met his gaze. "Let me help you."

His eyes softened for a moment, the hard edges of his demeanor faltering. But then he shook his head, stepping away from her. "You don't know what you're asking, Lila. I'm not the kind of man who can offer you safety."

Lila's chest tightened. "I'm not asking for safety. I'm asking for honesty. If you care about me, Sebastian—if you really care—then you'll let me in. You won't push me away like this."

He was silent for a long time, staring at her as though trying to decide whether to trust her with the truth. Finally, he spoke, his voice rough. "You think you can handle it? This life? The people who are willing to do anything to get what they want?"

"I've been through worse," she replied, her words firm. "I'm not afraid of the truth. I'm afraid of losing you."

A flicker of emotion crossed Sebastian's face, something raw and vulnerable that he quickly masked. He stepped toward her, his expression hardening once again. "I won't let anything happen to you," he said, his voice low, almost as if he were convincing himself more than her. "But if you really want to be a part of this—of my world—you have to understand that there are no guarantees. No safety nets."

Lila swallowed hard, the weight of his words pressing down on her chest. She had always prided herself on her independence, her ability to face challenges head-on. But this—this was different. She wasn't sure what to make of it, or how far she was willing to go to stay by his side.

"I'm not going anywhere," she said finally, her voice steady. "But you have to promise me one thing, Sebastian."

"What's that?"

"That no matter how dark it gets, no matter how much you try to push me away, you won't shut me out."

He stared at her for a moment, his face a mask of indecision. Then, in one fluid motion, he stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. The kiss he placed on her forehead was gentle, almost tender, as though he were trying to convey all the things he couldn't say.

"I won't shut you out, Lila. I swear."

But even as he said the words, the shadow of danger still hung over them, a constant reminder that their love would never be easy. And as Lila closed her eyes, her heart heavy with uncertainty, she couldn't shake the feeling that the storm was only just beginning.