59
ALEXANDER
From the moment Dominic told me to take the kids away, I mew one thing for stain–Raina was going to need me. Whether she realized it or not, whether she liked it or not, I would be there for her.
As packed a small bag for Ava and grabbed Liam’s essentials, a wave of doubt hit me. Part of me wanted to keep them close, maybe take ava to where Liam was already staying at Nathan was unpredictable and dangerous. Keeping them in the city, even temporarily, was too great a risk
I grabbed my phone and called one of my most trusted contacts, someone who specialized Indiscreet transportation and keeping things under wraps.
“I need a plane,” I said, pacing the living room as Arawatched me with wide, questioning eyes
“Destination?” my contact asked
“Somewhere off the grid. 1 send you the details in an encrypted messag
It took less than an hour to finalize the arrangements. As I buckled the kids into the backseat of my car, Awa finally spoke up, her voice trembling slightly.
“paddy, where are we going?”
Her question made me pause. How much should I tell her? “Somewhere safe,” I said, keeping my tone light.
She tilted her head, studying me with those sharp, curious eyes that reminded me so much of Raina. “Why isn’t Mommy coming with us?”
Liam, catching his favorite stuffed dinosaur, looked up at me, his lips quivering. “Is Mominy okay?”
I crouched beside them, resting a hand on each of their little shoulders. “Mommy’s fine,” I assured them. “She has some things to take care of, but I’ll bring her to you as soon as I can I promise.”
Ava’s frown deepened. “You’re not lying, right?”
“No, sweetheart,” said fimy, holding her gaze. “would never lie to you about something this important.”
Satisfied, she nodded, though her lips pressed into a thin line
When we arrived at the airport, everything was set. I made sure the flight’s details were wiped clean from the system, ecasing any trace of our departure. Nathan was cunning, but I wasn’t about to make it easy for him.
On the plane, the kids huddled together in their seats, their small faces filled with confusion and a touch of fear I leaned over to Ava, lowering my voice. “know this is scary, but I’m here, okay? I won’t let anything happen to you or Liam”
She nodded, her tiny fingers gripping mine tightly.
Once we landed, I drove them to a secuse house in a quiet, secluded arra far from Nathan’s reach. The property was guarded, with layers of security that would keep them sade no matter what. My contact treated this like a witness protection scenario ensuring every precaution was in place.
As I settled them into the house, Anated to me, her expression solemn. “When will we see Mommy?”
[crouched down again, brushing a stay lock of hair from her face. “Soon,” I promised. “I just need to make sure everything is oly first.”
Inwardly, I prayed Baina would agree to this plan, even if she was furious about it at first. Keeping the kids safe was all that mattered.
With everything set, I called Raina. The pain inter voice when she told me her grandfather was gone hit me hard. The babams were in turmoil, and knew things were about to get even worse, Chios was coming.
“I’m sorry.” I said softly before the call ended.
I wasted no time rushing back to the city. My priority was clear: Raina needed someone to lean on, and I’d make damn sure I was that person.
When arrived at the Gratamansion, the first thing I noticed was aina. She stood outside, facing Nathan, her posture cigid and her face pale. Eventions a distance, I could see the exutation etched into her features, the fear lingering in her eyes, Nathan stood too close to her, one hand gripping her arm.
I bolted from the car without a second thought, my heart pounding in my chest. “Get your hands off bed” I barked as I closed the distance between us
Nathan tumed, his expression datening, but he didn’t release her.
I didn’t wait for him to comply. My hand shot out, pushing liten back with enough force to make him stable slightly. Raina Elinched, her gaze darting between us
Mar you okay?” I asked her, my voice softening as 1 tumed to her.
She nodded, her lips trembling as ale whispered, “I’m fine.”
“Go inside, told her timely, “I’ll handle this.”
Her hesitation was brief, but it was there. Her eyes flickered to Nathan, then back to me, before she finally turned and walked toward the house.
As she moved away, Nathan tried to follow, but I stepped into his path, blocking “Backoff,” I growled “the woman is grieving. Leave her alone.”
Nathan’s eyes narrowed, lus expression unreadable for a moment. Then something lickered–recognition, perhaps? But just as quickly as it appeased, he masked
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it with a smirk. “Grieving?” he echoed, histone mockingly clous. “And what exactly is she grieving, Alexander?”
I knew I needed to play this carefully. The last thing I wanted was for Nathan to catch on to how much we knew about him. “She lost someone,” I replied simply, my voice steady but laced with warming.
Nathan’s smith deepened, but he didn’t press further, bistrall, he allosted his the and stepped back “Sachahern,” he muttered under his breath before tuming
toward biscaL
I didn’t respond, my eyes fixed on him until he was out of sight. Only then did let out the breath I’d been holding and walked into the house,
Inside, the tension was palpable. The Graham household was bustling with people, the house buzzed with subdued activity, the kind of quiet duos that comes with loss. I stepped inside and immediately spotted Dominic standing near the stairs, his shoulders squard and his expression grim. He caught my eye and me a brief nod, but there was no time for conversation. My los was on Haina.
I moved through the house, searching for her. The soft mut of voices and the secasional clink of dishes filled the air, but none of it registered. When I finally found her, she was in one of the stain rooms, caled into herselt on the edge of the bed. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs, and the sight of her like that hit me like a punch to the gu
I knocked softly on the doorframe to announce melt. “Baina
Her head snapped up, her bear–streaked face timing toward me. The vulnerability in her eyes twisted something deep inside me. “Not now, Alex,” she managed, bee voice acking “can’t do this right now, I don’t want to pur.”
1 stepped inside, closing the door gently behind me. “Good,” said, keeping my steady and soft. “I’m not here to argue
Her gaze dropped back to her hands, which were clenched tightly in her lap. “Then what are you here for?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“To help,” I replied simply, moving closer but stopping just short of the bed. “From where I’m standing, you need someone you can trust. Someone who isn’t
Nathan‘
she flinched at his name, her hands tightening further. For a moment, I thought she might tell me to leave, but instead, she said nothing.
I took that as permission and sat downbeside her, keeping a respectful distance. “You don’t have to say anything,” I said, “just let it out. I’m here.”
That was all it took. The dam broke, and her sobs turned into full–blown crying. Without thinking, I reached out, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and polling her close. She didn’t resist, Jeaning into me as if she’d finally given up the fight to hold it all in
Her pain was palpable, and it took everything in me not to promise her the world just to make it go away. I didn’t speak just held her, letting her cry until her breathing began to even out
The door creaked open, and Dominic’s voice broke the moment. “Raina,” he said gently but firmly.
She pulled away from me, wiping at her face quiddy as if she didn’t want him to see her like this. “What is it?
Dominic stepped inside, his expression softening as he looked at her. “The lawyer’s here. The will reading is scheduled to happen right after the funeral. I thought
Raina nodded, her voice hoarse as she said, “Thanks, Dom.”
sthis time, just an unspoken acknowledgment that, for now, was
He gave her a small, reassuring smile before glancing at me. There was no animosity in his eyes t where I needed to be. Then, left.
I stepped out into the hallway, catching up with Dominic as he leaned against the wall, his arms folded and his eyes fixed on the flour. He looked as drained as 1 felt, but this was his family, his responsibility, and it showed in the tension he carried in his shoulders.
“Dominic,” I called softly, not wanting to startle him.
He looked up, his brow furrowing slightly. “What now, Alex?”
“I was thinking.. I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. “Maybe I should stay overnight. Rat–she needs someone around. Even if she won’t admit it, 1 think it would help”
Dominic straightened, studying me with a sharp gaze that always seemed to evaluate py every move. He didn’t speak right away, his silence beavy as he considered my request
Finally, hur sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, okay. You’re right. She needs someone, and honestly, I’m too… I’m just not the right person for this right
“Thanks,” I replied, relieved.
Dominic fixed me with a pointed look. “But don’t pushcher, Alex She’s barely holding it together. Let her come to you if she needs anything. No heroles, no
westepping. Got it?”
“Got it,” I assured him. “This isn’t about inv
tive. It’s about making sure she’s oka
okay.”
Dominic gave a cunned before heading off down the hallway. I tumed and made my way to the room next to hers, quietly settling in
That night, I stayed close but kept my distance, leaving the door slightly alar so i could bear if she needed anything. I lay awake for a lo faint sounds of the house and thinking about everything that had led to this polut
a long time, listening to the
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This wasn’t about proving anything or eaming her trust back. It was about being there for her, for once,
In the way I should have been all along.
The next moming, a light knock on my door pulled me from my mitless thoughts. I got up, running a hand through my hair before opening it.
Raina stood there, looking more composed than she had the night before, though her exhaustion still lingered in her eyes. In her hands, she held a dark suit en a hinger
“This was ordered for you,” she said simply, her tone calm but subdued. “You should check if it fits.”
For a moment, I was caught off guard. She didn’t have to think of me, let alone do something like this, yet here she was
“Thanks,” I replied, taking the suit from her. “That’s thoughtful of you.”
She shrugged, her gaze dropping for a moment. “You’ll need it for today, just make sure it works.”
Before I could say more, she turned and walked back down the hallway, leaving me holding the suit.
I tooka moment to gather myself before heading to the bathroom to freshen up. When I tried on the suit, it fit perfectly. Standing in front of the mirror, adjusted the the and smoothed the jacket, a small smile tugging at my lips
She still remembered my size. That tiny detail shouldn’t have meant so much, but it did, to reminded me of a time when things weren’t so brokenbetween us, a time when we knew each other in ways that mattered.
For the first time in what felt like ages, I allowed myself a moment of quiet hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance to mend what had been shattered.
The funeral was somber, the air heavy with grief and finality. I sat beside Rains, holding her hand gently in mine. She didn’t pull away, though she barely seemed aware of. Her shoulder trembled slightly as silent tears rolled down her cheeks. I tightened my grip, a stent promise that I was there, even if my presence could
verfill the void her grandfather’s death had left.
The service was mercifully short, yet the weight of it lingered. As the coffin was lowered into the ground, Raina’s grip on my hand tightened, and † could feel her pain in the way her fingers pressed into mine. I whispered softly, “I’m here,” though I doubted it offered much comfort.
When the priest spoke the final words, I caught a movement out of the comer of my eye. A figure stood at a distance, partially obscured by the shadow of a large tree. The man wore dark shades that masked his eyes, but the tension in his posture was unmistakable. My jaw tightened as recognition set in
Nathan
He wasn’t alone for long. A woman approached him, her demeanor calm and calentated. There was something vaguely familiar about her, but couldn’t place where I had seen her before. I kept my expression neutral, but my thoughts raced. What were they doing here? And what did they want?
I didn’t voice my concem, not yet. Rain was still leaning into me, her face pale and drawn. She needed calm right now, not another storm
When we petumed to the Graham mansion, the family lawyer introduced himself, his briefcase in hand and his expression carefully neutral Raina, Domine, and their grandmother led him to the study for privacy. I lingered in the living area, not wanting to intrude on something so personal.
As I sat, my mind wandeerd back to the children Raina hadn’t spoken about them since last night, but I knew she was thinking of them, likely aching here with her
E to have them
My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. It was my contact calling. I excused myself and stepped into the hallway, pacing slowly past the study ast amwerd.
“They’r doing line, ‘my contact assured me. “But they’re adding for you–and theic mom.
Ava’s voice echoed in my mind, the way she had asked why her mother wasn’t with us. Eclenched my jaw, gullt gnawing at me. “Tell them I’ll call later and put their mom on the phone She’s occupied right now.”
“Understood,” he replied before the call ended.
As turned back toward the living area, a flicker of movement caught my attention. I stopped mid–step, my gaze narrowing. Someone was standing near the study door, her ear pressed close. It was Adelaide, the housekeeper.
“Adelaide,” I called sharply, making her jll.
