Chapter 43

-Sebastian-

"I had to get Bucky out of here." I thought to myself.

"Hey, Buck. We have to go. The police are coming." I said calmly. He didn't acknowledge me.

"Bucky," I repeated.

He wouldn't let the body of this beaten-up woman go. He was rocking back and forth and whispering into her ear something I couldn't hear. I haven't seen him like this before. And I've seen him in pretty bad scenarios before.

"I couldn't just leave her here, Sebastian." he cried.

"I know, but we can't stay either," I replied. "We'll figure something out, okay?"

He finally stood up and followed me to the car.

As we drove in silence, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation. Bucky had always been the one who never feared anything. But seeing him like that, he had lost a part of himself. For the first time, he looked afraid. Worst than that, he looked lost.

"Did you want me to drop you off at your place? You can always stay at the penthouse or the house." I offered.

"Where are the guys?" he asked.

"At the house," I answered.

"Let's go there." He leaned forward and covered his face.

We drove silently the rest of the way, and when I pulled up to the house, Liam greeted us by the gate.

"Hey, boss." he started. Then he saw Bucky. "Whoa! What happened to you?"

"You should see the other guy." he retorted.

At least his sarcasm was still there.

I told him to pick a room, and I'll be down soon. I knew we needed to make a plan, but I had to deal with Jianna first. I'm sure she's up by now.

I entered the room, and she was sitting at the side of the bed, holding a folder.

**PROJECT RED**

Fuck.

She looked at me, and I could see the trust leaving her eyes. No. Fuck. Please. No.

I told her everything. But I could tell it was too late. How did she even find it?

"I just wanted to protect you." I pleaded.

"I don't need your protection, Sebastian." she is so furious. "I need the truth."

"I know I fucked up." I tried to get close to her, but she wouldn't let me.

I knelt down and begged for her to stay. I can't lose her. Not now. Not when everything is falling apart. But she just shook her head and handed me the folder.

"I don't know if I can trust you after this, Sebastian. I just want to go home. Please. Please take me home." she begged.

I sat there for a moment, feeling numb. I wanted things to go differently.

"If I take you home, you won't come back," I said. She covered her face and started crying. I hate seeing her like this. As much as I wanted to keep her, I knew I fucked up, and I could not take that back. I know I'm going to have to earn her trust back.

"Okay. I'm going to have Asher take you home." I finally said. It shattered me to say it, but I knew it was the right thing to do.

She didn't take her hands off her face, so I stood up and walked to the door, trying to hold back my tears. This was supposed to be my happy ending. I was supposed to protect her and keep her safe. But now, everything was falling apart.

As I walked out of the room, I saw Asher standing in the hallway. He nodded his head at me, and I knew the moment he saw me leave the room without Jianna that I fucked up and that she knew everything.

"She knows?" he asked. I nodded. "Fuck."

"Where's Bucky?" I asked.

"Dunno. Haven't seen him," he responded.

"Okay. Make sure that they don't see each other." I instructed before I headed into a spare room. The last thing I need right now is for her to run into his arms.

Asher looked at me, puzzled.

"It's a long story." I dismissed.

As I was walking away, I heard him knock at Jianna's door and told her that he would be waiting downstairs whenever she was ready to go. At that, I went into another room.

I sat on the bed, thinking about what just happened. I don't understand how she even knew about that hidden pocket behind that drawer.

But there was no time to dwell on that now. I needed to figure out what to do next. The situation with Jianna was messy, but I had to focus on Bucky, too.

Whoever it was that Vanessa killed destroyed him; knowing his past, he's already planning on revenge, and he's going to kill every single person that stands in the way of that. There will be bloodshed. The old James would be back. I can't let that happen.

I couldn't tell how long I had been thinking when I decided to go and talk to Bucky. If I'm fortunate enough, he would tell me what he's planning. I could get enough information from him that I'd be able to either change his mind or at least slow him down.

I got up from the bed, walked out of the room, and headed downstairs.

I had yet to reach the main floor when I heard Jianna talking. Shit! She hasn't left yet.

I took out my phone to text Asher when I heard her.

"James, what's going on? Why are you crying?" I heard her ask.

FUCK!

I froze in place, unsure of what to do. How did Jianna find Bucky? Did she see him crying? I had to act fast before she could confront him and make things even worse.

I quickly made my way towards the source of the noise, ready to intervene if necessary. As I turned the corner, I saw Bucky standing there, tears streaming down his face, and holding Jianna in his arms.

I can feel the rage rising in my chest. She's mine, Barnes. She's fucking mine. I don't care what you're going through. She's mine.

"I thought I lost you, J," he said, "I thought Vanessa had killed you."

My jaw dropped. Wait what?

"Vanessa? Who's Vanessa?" she was looking at him absolutely clueless. "James. James, what's going on?"

She has no clue. But James seems to think that whoever that Vanessa woman has killed was Jianna. What the fuck is going on?