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He took a step back and threw the full glass into the fire causing it to flash burst. I checked to see if anything shot out but it appeared contained.
“I came home to a quiet house and a foul smell. He killed them all; Leslie, my babies, and then himself. The note…he wrote that because of her his wife left him and took his kids. Said he’d take her world away from her too. But, he didn’t…”
Ben turned to face me, the anger and pain in his eyes brighter than the very fire he stood in front of. “He tookmyworld, Crew. Mine!”
And then he fell to the floor, and howled gut-wrenching sobs. I did the only thing a person could do after hearing that. I got down there with him and held him in place, while he fell apart.
11
Ben
My head was pounding, I felt like a truck hit me, and yet I felt the softness of my mattress below, and my covers above. The last thing I remembered was…shit, Crew!
I knew the date was approaching, the anniversary of my family’s murder. I kept my distance from everyone. And last night I drank to forget, to not feel. But when Crew was so close, it was as if I needed to get it out and I knew anything I said was safe with him.
He listened as I knew he would and when I crumbled, he was there, keeping me protected. I’d never fallen apart like that, and not once had I told anyone that story.
Slowly, I opened my eyes. My bedroom was dark, but I could see there was a large glass of water and some painkillers on the nightstand. Like the crypt keeper, I reached for the pills, tossed them in my mouth, and devoured the cool water.
I was glad I was alone and no one was keeping watch over me, but I had a feeling that had to do with Crew also. I sat up and took a breath, sore everywhere and feeling older than my forty-five years. I needed a shower. I had to face the day, tuck everything back into the closet, and move on.
After I was cleaned, brushed, and dressed, I stepped out of my bedroom. I was on the opposite side of the house from everyone else, nowhere near the other men. I liked my own space and it was the only way to detach myself. Which begged the question, why was I in the library last night. Was I hoping Crew would find me? I was way too hungover for such deep thoughts.
I passed a few guys on my way to the kitchen for coffee. Each said hello, none giving me the impression Crew had mentioned anything about my breakdown.
I didn’t see him anywhere all day. Not until I entered the dining hall for dinner that night.
He was talking to Sammy but when I came around the table to take my seat and his eyes met mine, it felt like a weight was lifted off my chest.
Shit. I had a lot of issues.
“Good evening, Mr. Asher.” Crew smiled at me, not a smidge of awkwardness which I was grateful for.
“Evening.”
Though several men were missing from dinner—that meant they were working—it was still noisy with everyone talking. My headache had mostly subsided as the day progressed but it had lingered and again made its presence known.
I could see Crew watching me every so often and I knew I had to talk to him about what happened last night. I wanted to make sure he and I were still on a professional level and I hadn’t blurred the lines I guaranteed I never would.
When dinner was done and people were getting up to leave, I asked Crew to join me in my office for a moment. With coffee in hand, he followed me.
“Please shut the door.” I went behind my desk and placed my coffee down.
“How are you today?” He sat across from me, worry set hard in his eyes.
“A little hungover, but I’m okay. I wanted to talk to you about last night.”
“I haven’t said anything. And I only knew where your bedroom was because Tyler took me on a tour of the entire place. I carried you there, I only removed your shoes—”
I held up my hand halting his words. “Thank you. I appreciate your discretion and I wasn’t worried you’d tell anyone.”
“Good.” Crew visibly relaxed.
“My concern is that I’ve crossed a line. One I was rather adamant about never crossing.”
Crew nodded. “Yeah, I can see why you’d think that.”
“You don’t agree that I have?”
