The Bachelor Bargain (Secrets, Scandals, and Spies) by Michaels, Maddison (short books to read TXT) 📕

Seb pulled her into a sitting position and was yelling something at her, which she couldn’t quite hear beyond the ringing in her ears. She blinked, very grateful to see he appeared unharmed. Slowly, Livie glanced around the room. It was then that she caught sight of Clint lying on the floor, with a bullet hole in his forehead and a larger one in his chest. His eyes stared glassily up at the ceiling.

She turned away from him and caught sight of Lance.

He was standing, silhouetted in the doorway, with his rifle still in his hands but pointed at the floor. He was watching her and Sebastian, looking relieved.

“I thought you were both goners for a minute there,” Lance exclaimed, wiping the sweat from his brow.

“So did I,” Seb said with a hearty sigh as he helped Livie to her feet, before he turned around and faced Lance. “Are the men all right?” Seb asked, his eyes flicking though the back door to the forest beyond.

“Aye, they rounded up Clint’s three men hiding in the bushes and have them trussed up at the back. Two of the three have bullet holes in their legs, but they’ll survive.”

“Good. You might as well get them all back to the house,” Seb said. “And I suppose you’ll have to summon a local constable and inform them of what went on.”

“The police?” Lance appeared baffled.

“Yes, the police,” Seb confirmed. “I told you, Lance, fully legitimate is what we’re doing, so we’ll have to start reporting incidents like this.”

“How frequently do these sorts of things occur?” Livie asked, her gaze swinging between the two men and not particularly seeing any reassurance from either of them.

“Hopefully, not often, anymore,” Seb said. “Livie and I will be right behind you, Lance.”

Seb strolled over to where Lance was still standing and clapped a hand on his arm. “And thank you, my friend. I knew I could count on you. You’re one of the few men I do actually trust.”

Lance’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve always said you never trusted anyone fully.”

“I did used to say that.” Sebastian’s eyes flicked over to Livie’s. “But then a very wise person told me it was a sad life not to trust anyone. And I’ve been thinking about that since and realized I actually did trust two people completely with my life. You and Rowan.”

A slow grin spread across Lance’s face. “After all the shit we’ve been through since childhood, I sure as hell hope so! I’ll leave you two to follow.” Then Lance turned on his heel and strode out the door to presumably fetch the others and head back to the house. Leaving Livie alone with Seb and two dead bodies, but who was counting?

“Come on.” Sebastian walked over to her. “Where’d the bastard put your cane?”

Livie took in a deep breath, feeling safe and yet oddly vulnerable in his presence. “He threw it in the corner over there.”

Seb retrieved it, then handed it to her. “Let’s get you home.”

As they walked out of the lodge and into the forest, heading back to the house, Livie kept thinking about how grateful she was to have the whole ordeal behind her. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders, knowing that Clint and Lady Chilton were dead, and that Seb and she were actually safe.

Although they still had to bring Lord Chilton to justice for his part in it all, but she could think about that tomorrow. Now she was just happy to be safe and alive, with Sebastian.

Both of them were silent for several minutes, an awkwardness settling between them that had never been there before. Probably from her making a fool of herself the other day telling Seb she loved him.

“I was terrified when I returned and you were missing,” Sebastian said.

“You were?” A little seed of hope slowly blossomed. She didn’t like that he’d been terrified, but the fact he had been showed he cared. But then the reality of the situation intruded on her hope, because even if he did care, nothing could come of it, and her heart would break only further.

“I was,” he confirmed. “If you can believe it, I actually made a bargain with God to keep you safe.”

“I thought you didn’t believe in God.” He was slightly uncomfortable and perhaps even uncertain. She’d never really seen him appear that way before. He was always filled with innate confidence.

“I lost faith in God when my mother was taken.” He paused. “But he came through for me today.”

“He did?” She stepped over a small branch. His hand automatically came up to her elbow to assist, and his touch, as always, sent a delicious shiver through her. Livie locked away the feeling in her heart. A memory to cherish long into the future.

“Yes. He saved you. And I promised I’d start going to church if he did.”

“You? Go to church?” She could only imagine the looks all of the clergy would give the Bastard of Baker Street if he attended. Livie couldn’t help it and she chuckled lightly, her mood lightening at the thought of Sebastian attending church.

“Is that such a funny prospect?”

“A little,” she admitted. “Though I’m laughing more at the looks on the clergy when you attend. It will be very entertaining. I wish I could see it.” She took in a deep breath, knowing she never would.

“Feel free to come. I intend to go only occasionally, but you know how I always keep my word.” He winked at her.

“Unfortunately, I do.” Her heart fell slightly. The man did keep his word, which meant when he’d told her earlier that he had no intention of ever caring for someone else again, as he’d promised himself he wouldn’t, then he wouldn’t. And it was probably just as well, in any event. To know he loved her and they could never truly be together would be heartbreaking.

Seb looked taken aback for a second. “You’re not happy I keep my