The Library

Sebastian

T he moment I step outside, I spot them. Derek’s got his arm around Lilith, guiding her like she’s a doll, barely able to keep her feet under her. Rage flares through me like wildfire. She’s too drunk, her steps too unsteady, her movements all wrong. It doesn’t take much to see that something’s off. It’s not just alcohol that’s slowing her down. I’ve seen this before—guys like Derek who don’t have the balls to win a woman over the right way, so they slip something into her drink, hoping she won’t notice until it’s too late. He’s a piece of shit.

I clench my fists, every muscle in my body screaming for me to step in, but I wait. I can’t blow my cover. Not yet. I need to make sure she’s okay. And I need to make sure Derek pays.

My stomach churns as I watch Derek lower Lilith into the passenger seat. She’s practically collapsing into the car, her head rolling back against the seat as he buckles her in, and the sick bastard lingers, his eyes roaming over her body like she’s his prize. Like he’s won something tonight.

Fury burns through me, the kind that threatens to rip me apart from the inside. If he touches her, he’s dead. Hell, he’s dead either way.

I’ve decided that much already.

I don’t even realize I’m moving until I’m swinging my leg over my bike, the engine roaring to life with a snarl. The vibrations rip through my body, pulling me back into focus, and I gun it, taking off before they’ve even left the parking lot.

I know where he’s taking her. Her apartment.

I know every street, every turn between here and there. I’ve been watching her long enough to know exactly how long it’ll take Derek to get there, and I’ll be damned if he beats me.

The city blurs around me as I weave through traffic, taking sharp turns, pushing the bike to its limits. My heart pounds in my chest, the wind tearing at my clothes, but I barely notice. There’s only one thought in my head: get there first. I need to be there when he brings her inside.

I need to end this before it even happens.

The anger swells inside me with every turn I take, burning hotter with every second. I know what Derek wants. I’ve known it since I saw him slip her that drink. Guys like him are all the same. They think they can take what they want, that no one’s watching. That no one will stop them.

But I’m watching. And I’ll stop him.

I grit my teeth, my knuckles white as I grip the handlebars. I’ve already made up my mind—Derek’s not walking away from this. He doesn’t get to touch her. He doesn’t get to lay a single fucking finger on her.

She’s mine.

I pull into her apartment complex, parking the bike in the shadows where no one can see it. The place is quiet, the darkness thick around me. I slip off the bike and head straight for the back entrance. I’ve been here before—multiple times—so I know the layout like the back of my hand. I move quickly, silently, making my way inside.

The apartment feels eerily still, like it’s waiting for something to happen. I take a moment to look around, noting the small changes she’s made since I was last here. Her jacket’s draped over the back of the couch, a pair of shoes kicked off haphazardly by the door. It’s so… her. It makes my chest tighten in a way I don’t expect.

But I shake it off. Focus.

I head to the living room, positioning myself where I can see the door but remain hidden in the shadows. Every nerve in my body is on high alert, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I’ve done my research on Derek. I know his type—smiling, friendly, goodie-two-shoes on the outside, but underneath, he’s just a snake waiting for the right moment to strike. He’s been trying to get with Lilith for years, biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment. And now, he thinks he’s found it.

But he’s wrong.

I stand there, my heart racing, every muscle tensed as I wait. I’m going to rip him apart for even thinking he could touch her. No one touches her. No one gets close to her like that.

Except me.

The minutes drag on, but finally, I hear the sound of a car pulling into the lot. I glance out the window, watching as Derek parks and heads to her side of the car. She’s slumped over in the seat, barely conscious, and a fresh wave of rage surges through me. He opens the door, and she practically falls into his arms as he helps her out. She’s completely out of it, her head resting against his shoulder, and the sight of it makes my stomach turn.

He thinks this is going to be easy. He thinks she’s his now, that he’s going to have his way with her without any consequences.

But he’s about to find out just how wrong he is.

I move silently through the apartment, positioning myself near the door as Derek fumbles with the keys. My pulse pounds in my ears, the anticipation building, my hands itching to wrap around his throat.

The door swings open, and he steps inside, practically dragging Lilith with him. He’s muttering something under his breath, but I don’t care what he’s saying. My focus is on her—on the way she’s barely standing, her head hanging limply as he leads her toward her bedroom.

This is it.

He doesn’t get to touch her. He doesn’t get to take what’s mine.

Not while I’m still breathing.

I’m going to kill him. And then I’m going to make sure Lilith never has to worry about a man like Derek again. She’ll be safe. She’ll be mine.

And Derek? Derek’s already dead.

He just doesn’t know it yet.