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He takes a sip of his drink. “It’s all about image to them. To my parents, too. Tali and I hated that shit. Even as kids, we agreed that we’d never putourfuture kids through what we went through. No way. Parker stays with me.Always. End of discussion.”
And suddenly, I cut the shit and just skip right to it. “Why are you going to Vermont, Gray? You’re cutting yourself off from everyone who cares for you. Surely, that’s not—”
I slam to a halt when he rises suddenly, and in a move wholly out of character, launches his tumbler across the room. It shatters to pieces when it hits the liquor cabinet, and he rounds on me with fire in his eyes.
“Have you ever lived with loss, DeMarco?”
His question is spat through gritted teeth, and before I can answer, he rushes on.
“Not just the loss of the woman I love and miss beyond all imagining. But the loss of whatshouldhave been. The loss of what willneverbe. And if traveling along the last path that she took brings Parker and Gracie a semblance of peace, then I’ll continue to do it until I can’t anymore.”
He slowly walks toward the door, shooting over his shoulder. “I’ll be staying in Vermont for the foreseeable. I can’t give you a date for my return to the office – and being frank, I couldn’t care less if I ever—”
“I’ve lived with loss, Grayson.”
Vaughn’s softly spoken words see Gray twisting back around to face us, even as his hand rests on the door handle, ready to escape at a moment’s notice.
“Do whatever you need to do to get by, but please remember…grief is like the ocean.”
He swallows heavily, and his forehead creases as he stares at an unmoving Grayson.
“It’s vast…and it’s deep. Some days, the water is still and serene. While on other days, the waves almost drag you under in their ferocity. It’s up to you to learn how to swim.”
The two men share a look until Gray nods sharply before leaving us in a heavy silence.
Vaughn breaks it first. “There’s an auction starting shortly, DeMarco. You might want to…”
My stomach sinks as he trails off pointedly, and I grab my cell from my pants pocket to text Ford.
ME
I’m ready when you are.
He’d mentioned needing some time this evening to secure a contract for his security business. He reckoned that it would put him on the map in the private bodyguard sector, so I’m surprised when my cell chimes less than thirty seconds later.
FORD
On the way.
“Do you need to head over toRavishyet?”
Vaughn checks his watch and then shakes his head. “Nah. I’m good to wait with you.”
I drain the end of my Macallan, softly placing it back on the desk between us before I move to clean up Gray’s smashed tumbler.
As I gather the larger pieces of glass, Vaughn’s voice draws my attention. “All we can do is be there for him, Alex. That’s what being a good friend is.”
I nod as I finish cleaning up in silence until there’s a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
Jules, the mountainous security guard who mans the staff entrance, is standing outside.
“Hey, boss! I’ve delivered the last arrival toRavish. Pretty little thing called Reyna.”
There’s no way!
“That’s a very unusual name, Jules. What’d she look like?”
