Blake steps to the end of the hallway, waiting on me.
“Harper!” my mother calls out. “Harper.”
But I don’t stop. I keep walking the eternal hallway that eventually leads me to Blake. “You okay?” he asks.
“Not really. I just—I need out of here. I want this over.”
“I don’t blame you. We’ll help get you all the way to the other side of this.”
Eric steps behind me, his hands on my shoulders, and I twist around to face him. “I want to go home.”
“Then let’s go home.” He takes my hand, kisses my knuckles, and then folds me under his arm, and in silence, we head to the elevator. I ride down with him on one side of me and Blake on the other. Savage must have stayed with my mother and I think that’s a good thing. He’s strong. He can handle her. He’ll keep her alive and keep her from getting anyone else killed.
Once we’re back in the SUV with Smith behind the wheel, I rest my head on Eric’s chest. We don’t speak. We just hold each other, bleeding together, the salve to each other’s wounds. A sanctuary in our bond, a place above hell where we can’t fall when we’re together. He’s lost a father. I’ve lost a mother, but we have each other. I feel that now. He feels that now. We need each other.
Smith and Blake, who rides shotgun next to Smith, seem to understand our need for each other and privacy, if you can call this privacy. Or maybe we’re all in shock at the magnitude of evil that this family proved capable of. Maybe we all need this timeout.
In a short ride, we arrive at the apartment and Blake joins us at the elevator. “I need to debrief with you both. I’ll make it quick.”
I’m torn by this request. I both crave information and crave the sanctuary that is Eric’s apartment that is our new home together. Eric looks down at me. “Are you up to this?”
“I want this all over, so yes. If it helps us get to ‘the end,’ please.”
And so, we all load into the elevator and head to our floor. Eric opens our door and we enter the foyer and I swear, it’s home. I’m home. My house in Denver was the only place I felt I belonged because I never fit inside the family circle or the company circle. How was that ever a life I wanted? Here, it’s Eric’s hand on my back, his earthy scent in the air, his presence even when he isn’t touching me that soothes, arouses, and excites. With him is where I belong.
The three of us head to the kitchen, but Eric detours to the bar, and returns with three glasses and a bottle of honey-flavored whiskey. He fills my glass first. “You need this.”
“Yes,” I say. “I do.” I down the amber liquid, letting it warm my throat, while Eric fills his and Blake’s glass, then refills mine.
Blake downs his drink. “I think we all needed that. We found Gigi, Harper. The man she thought was attacking her was our man just trying to make contact. She’s safe. She’s being protected.”
“And what does she have to say about all of this mess?” I ask.
“She confirmed everything your mother said without much more detail, and the same kind of speculation and talking in circles.”
“What about the messages?” I ask. “Did she have them sent to us?”
“Yes,” he confirms. “She confirmed that she sent the messages. She was afraid to go to you directly. She wasn’t sure Isaac wouldn’t find out. She’s old and wasn’t sure how to prevent being recorded and hacked. She was afraid of Isaac finding out and lashing out. She also didn’t think Eric would believe any information that came from her. She didn’t know the man who delivered one of the messages was dead, but she believes Isaac killed your father. She also thinks he killed Richard, one of the men that helped intimidate your mother. She offered that information so randomly that my gut is she had something to do with his death. Interesting tidbit. He died in a car crash like Isaac’s mother and father.”
My brows furrow. “So did Isaac or Gigi kill them all?”
“We may never know,” Blake says. “I believe they were all professional hits and I’m not sure it changes anything. Isaac’s fate is in your hands, Eric. We’ll move forward as you see fit and Gigi is exiled, in hiding for the rest of her short life. She has no intention of returning anytime soon. She’s too afraid. She’s going to wait and see what happens between Eric and Isaac.”
“Of course she is,” Eric says dryly, sipping his drink, savoring while Blake and I have gulped. “I have a plan to deal with Isaac forming in my mind. I need the night to sleep on it.”
“You could easily take his inheritance,” Blake states. “You could simply ask for a DNA test.”
“I don’t need the money.” Now Eric downs his whiskey. “I don’t want that mob-infested empire.”
“He’ll always be threatened by
you,” I say, this new fear hitting me hard and fast. “He’ll always be gunning for you. And Gigi. You know he’s hunting Gigi.”
“I couldn’t give a shit about Gigi,” Eric replies. “Fuck Gigi, but your mother is going to be with her, so I’ll protect her.”
“My mother basically sent Isaac to kill you.”
“She’s your mother, baby. I’m not going to have her blood on my hands. She’ll inherit. She’ll be fine. And I told you, I have a plan forming to deal with Isaac.” He strokes my hair and eyes Blake. “What else do I need to know?”