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“Because Sara vanished last week, and foul play is suspected in her disappearance. There’s a very real possibility that Ren is in danger, too.”
I nod at my discarded cell on the desk between us. “That was Joseph Fratelli, the lead detective on the case and a personal friend of mine. He thinks the only place Ren will be safe ishere. With me. But to do that means breaking my promise to his mother, and—”
The door of the office slams open to admit a disheveled Grayson Hunter.
“I’m here. What’s so important that I needed to delay my trip?”
He moves into the office, sullenly taking a seat beside Alex with a scowl on his usually happy-go-lucky face.
“How are you doing, Gray? How are the twins holding up?” Alex’s voice is brimming with concern for the man before us, who undoubtedly feels as though he’s lost everything.
I stand from my seat to fetch a tumbler of Macallan for Grayson, CFO to Alex at DeMarco Holdings.
Gray’s eyes are red-rimmed, his skin dull and lackluster. His dirty blonde hair is disheveled, and he looks nothing like his usually impeccably put-together self.
It’s not surprising that he’s a shadow of his former self, having lost his wife and childhood sweetheart, Talia, last month in a horrendous car crash. It had been touch and go with his daughter Gracie, who’d also been in the crash, which would have only added to his burden.
He sighs deeply as he accepts the drink from my hand. “We’re alive. Is that to be considered a triumph or something?”
My eyes find Alex’s concerned ones before I voice the question on both our minds. “I know it’s only been a month, but have you given thought to Talia’s parents' request?”
He pins me with a thunderous stare. “Not fucking happening. Our kids won’t be another trophy for their collection.”
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. They stay with me.Always. End of discussion.”
Alex sits forward, even as Grayson’s face becomes harder. His jaw is clenched so tight he’s in danger of chipping a tooth. “Why are you going to Vermont, Gray? You’re cutting yourself off from everyone who cares for you. Surely, that’s not—”
I see the moment Gray snaps, rising to stand and hurl his tumbler across the room. It smashes to pieces as he turns on Alex.
“Have you ever lived with loss, DeMarco? 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.”
His shoulders sag, the wind deflating from his sails as swiftly as it filled them, and he turns toward the door.
“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—”
His words are low, barely reaching my ear, but something inside them speaks to me, and so I can’t help cutting him off softly.
“I’ve lived with loss, Grayson. Do whatever you need to do to get by, but please remember…grief is like the ocean.”
I swallow past a lump in my throat as I hold the eyes of 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 toyouto learn how to swim.”
There have been days since Lorenzo’s passing when I’ve felt like giving up, and I can see the same suffering in the eyes of the man before me.
He nods once before ducking out the door, and I make a silent mental note to keep in closer contact with him.
If ever a man needed a friend, it’s Grayson Hunter right the fuck now.
CHAPTER5
WREN
“What?”
I swing accusing eyes around to pin Detective Fratelli, the man assigned to Mom’s disappearance, in place. “What do you mean, I can’t go home?”
He swallows heavily, his grip on the steering wheel tightening considerably as I stare at his side profile. His unshaven jaw tics before he repeats himself.
