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“You tried, Grey. That means something. You sh-showed her that you’re here and y-you love her,” I told him as I rubbed a hand through his short hair, hoping to comfort him a little. “She is the only one who c-can save herself. It h-has to be her decision.”
“She’s right, bro. You have done everything you can, but you can’t force her to get help,” Liam agreed as he stood behind Grey and placed a supportive hand on his shoulder.
“She’s killing herself,” Grey exhaled.
“That’s right son. Leah is killingherself. You’re not doing it. You’re not responsible. You have offered her everything anyone could possibly think of, to help her, and she turns you down at every opportunity. If she doesn’t want to get out, you can’t do anything else. God knows we’ve both tried. She won’t see reason,” Nan spoke up. “I know how much it hurts Grey. It’s killing me too knowing how she’s living, but we have to draw a line somewhere. You cannot keep endangering yourself for her. You have to just accept that she knows we’re here when she’s ready, and hope one day soon she’ll come to us.”
“She’s my sister,” Grey growled as he stepped back from my hold and turned to Nan.
“And she’s my grandchild!” Nan snapped. “But the Leah we both knew is gone, destroyed by drugs and a very tough few years she exiled herself to. I love her just as much as you do, and the day she tells me she needs help, she will have every bit of support and love from me, that I can offer. Until then though, dearest boy, there is nothing we can do but to keep going.” Nan stepped forwards and took Grey’s hand in hers. “One day, God willing, we’ll get her back. That’s the thought that keeps me going, but Grey – nothing will keep me going if you go off and get yourself killed. I need you. I can’t lose you,” she added tearfully.
I was so relieved when Grey pulled her into his arms, because her heartbreak and fear were so blatant and soul destroying. It was physically hurting me to see it.
“You’re not going to lose me,” Grey sighed as he held her. He looked up to me as I hurried to swipe more rogue tears from my cheeks. His eyes met mine as he continued, “I’m not going anywhere.”
“No you are not,” Nan agreed as she pulled back and gave a single nod. “You need to eat. We all do. I’ll finish making dinner,” she announced, then she bustled off to the kitchen as she wiped at her eyes discreetly.
“You gonna tell us what happened now?” Dec grumbled as they all stood looking to Grey.
“Later,” I interjected as I walked back over and wrapped my arms loosely around him from the side. “First he needs to get cleaned up and I w-want to check these bruises.”
“There’s no need…”
“No arguments,” I cut Grey off. “Can you let Nan know we’ll need about half an hour before the food?” I asked, looking to my Dad for his help.
“Of course, sweetheart.”
“There’s first aid boxes in each of the bathrooms if you need anything,” Liam added as I grabbed Grey’s hand and started to pull him out of the room. We went right for the room just down the hall from mine, where Grey had been sleeping, sharing with Trent.
It had been a squeeze with all of us staying there. Dad was sleeping in a pull out bed in the office and the security guys were just laying out on the sofas or wherever they could between their shifts.
“Where are you hurt?” I asked as soon as I got the door closed behind us in the silence of his room.
“It’s just bruises. Nothing to worry about,” he told me with a shrug.
“Okay. Then show me.”
“Blake,” he sighed.
“Grey. Show me. I n-need to see for myself.”
“They probably look worse than they are,” he conceded as he lifted the hem of his t-shirt to expose the huge mass of multi coloured bruising on his right side.
“Jesus Christ Grey!” I gasped as I hurried over to him, then froze before my hand touched his skin. I didn’t want to hurt him.
“It’s not that bad.”
“Not that bad! Are you fucking joking? You could h-have broken ribs. You n-need x-rays.”
“They’re not broken. Just bruised. I know the difference.”
“What happened? Did she s-set you up again? Did she rob you?” I asked as I allowed my fingers to lower extremely gently to his bruised skin. Grey looked away towards the window, but didn’t stop my inspection of his injury.
“No. She…she owed this guy some money and he…he showed up with some thugs.”
“Did you pay him?” I asked, looking up into his jade green eyes.
“What do you think?” Grey scoffed as he waved a hand to indicate the bruises.
