Chapter 126
I knew I needed to play this carefully. The last thing I wanted was for Nathan to catch on to how fnuch we knew about him. “She lost someone,” I replied simply, my voice steady but laced with warning.
Nathan’s smirk deepened, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he adjusted his tie and stepped back. “Such a hero,” he muttered under his breath before turning toward his car.
I didn’t respond, my eyes fixed on him until he was out of sight. Only then did I 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 chaos that comes with loss. I stepped inside and immediately spotted Dominic standing near the stairs, his shoulders squared and his expression grim. He caught my eye and gave me a brief nod, but there was no time for conversation. My focus was on Raina.
I moved through the house, searching for her. The soft murmur of voices and the occasional clink of dishes filled the air, but none of it registered. When I finally found her, she was in one of the upstairs rooms, curled into herself 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 gut.
T
I knocked softly on the doorframe to announce myself. “Raina?”
Her head snapped up, her tear–streaked face turning toward me. The vulnerability in her eyes twisted something deep inside me. “Not now, Alex,” she managed, her voice cracking. “I can’t do this right now. I don’t want to argue.”
I stepped inside, closing the door gently behind me. “Good,” I said, keeping my tone 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 down beside 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 pulling her close. She didn’t resist, leaning 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; I 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 quickly 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 you’d want to know.”
Raina nodded, her voice hoarse as she said, “Thanks, Dom.”
He gave her a small, reassuring smile before glancing at me. There was no animosity in his eyes this time, just an unspoken acknowledgment that, for now, I was where I needed to be. Then, he 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 floor. He looked as drained as I 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 over tonight. Raina—she needs someone around. Even if she won’t admit it, I think it would help.”
Dominic straightened, studying me with a sharp gaze that always seemed to evaluate my every move. He didn’t speak right away, his silence heavy as he considered my request.
Finally, he 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 now.”
“Thanks,” I replied, relieved.
Dominic fixed me with a pointed look. “But don’t push her, Alex. She’s barely holding it together. Let her come to you if she needs anything. No heroics, no overstepping. Got it?”
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Chapter 128
“Got it,” I assured him. “This isn’t about me. It’s about making sure she’s okay.”
Dominic gave a curt nod before heading off down the hallway. I turned and made my way to the room next to hers, quietly settling in.
