“We need to get in there first.”
“Arthur asked if we want in on the casino jobs.”
“Not really our scene, is it?”
“No. Once the job’s pulled off, maybe his attention will be on that instead of Harriett. Fancy a drink downstairs?”
I stare at Mum for a minute before nodding. She isn’t going anywhere. There’re no windows in this room and the door will be locked.
Downstairs, the bar is quiet. Hadley is in the corner reading a book, and Ghost is watching football on the large screen. Nelly hands us each a beer, and we take a seat. My eyes occasionally drift to Hadley. “Drunk driving,” says Mav, shaking his head. “What the fuck, Grim?”
“I don’t know what I was thinking,” I mutter.
“Clearly, you weren’t.”
I bury my face in my hands. “It’s this place, Mav. Being here, seeing Mum, remembering the shit that went down, learning about Meli and noticing . . .” I trail off before I say Hadley’s name, but my eyes fix on her again.
“She’s been there for you a lot these last few weeks.”
“Huh?”
“Hads.” I keep quiet, not trusting myself to speak. “I noticed you’ve spent some time together, but the real tell-tale sign was when she thanked me for the several hundred pounds’ worth of clothes I apparently paid for.” He laughs. “I know you said you’d taken her shopping, but that’s quite some bill.”
“I just wanted to treat her, to say thanks for listening.”
“You don’t have to explain to me. The question is, why did you lie to her?”
I shrug. “I thought she might see it as something else.”
“You thought she’d see the truth.” When I don’t reply, he leans closer. “Maybe you’re having trouble seeing it yourself?”
I smile sadly. “I see it, brother. Trust me, I see it.”
“Yet you’re holding back.”
“This is Hadley we’re talking about,” I whisper. “Your sister. She deserves better.”
“Better than my most trusted brother? The man who’d lay his life down for me? Man, you’re my VP, I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have looking after her.”
I stare at him, shocked at his confession. “I’m also the guy who shared women with you. The guy who hooked up with random women night after night.”
“So, what, you’ll never settle down because of your past? We were young, it’s what young lads do. But we’re getting older now, and you should be thinking of settling.”
“See,” I say, sitting straighter, “it’s that right there. I’m not the type to settle, and you know I’m not. I’ll hurt her because she is that type.”
“Why have you always gotta overthink everything, Grim? Just give it a shot and see how it plays out. You could surprise yourself.”
I shake my head, taking a pull on my beer. “I expected better from you,” I mutter. “Find a decent man for your sister.”
He smirks. “I already have.”
HADLEY
Two days pass and I can’t lift my mood. Grim is avoiding me, and it’s so obvious, it’s embarrassing. If I enter a room he’s in, he leaves within minutes. His mum is struggling, which is having an impact on him. He looks pale and exhausted, and I desperately want to check in with him. Rylee sits beside me on the couch, and I look up from the book I’m pretending to read. “So, Grim is outside his mum’s room. She’s banging on the door and crying, and he’s struggling to hold it together.”
My heart squeezes. “Poor Grim.”
“I thought . . . well, actually, Mav thought you could go and speak to him, try and get him to rest.”
I shake my head. “He won’t listen to me, Rylee.”
She takes my hand and smiles gently. “He will, Hads. He’s in need of a woman who’s patient and calm, and you’re perfect for that.” Mav is watching from his office doorway. “Do it for Mav,” she adds, and I sigh. “Thanks, Hadley.”
I hear Carol the second I climb the stairs. Grim is outside her room, leaning against the door with his eyes squeezed shut. I slide down the wall opposite until my arse hits the ground, and Grim opens his eyes. A look passes over his expression that tells me he’s relieved to see me, and it’s the boost I need. “You look terrible,” I say.
“Thanks.”
“When did you last sleep?” He shrugs. “I had a terrible day in the office. I could do with a nap. Wanna join?” He shakes his head, and my heart sinks. “Okay, then how about you take ten minutes out? Come sit with me and have a break?”
He eventually nods, and I smile. Pushing to stand, I wait for him to do the same. He follows me down a flight of stairs to my room. I keep the lights low and open the large window to allow a cool breeze to blow through. “Take a seat,” I say, pointing to the bed. He sits down with his head hanging and his shoulders slumped. It breaks my heart to see him like this. “Relax,” I whisper, carefully moving towards him and sliding my hands over his shoulders. I slip his kutte from his big arms and lay it beside him on the bed, then I massage his shoulders. He groans, letting his head fall back.
“Lie down, I’m good at massage,” I offer. He hesitates, staring into my eyes. “Let me look after you, Grim.” He nods, gripping his T-shirt and pulling it over his head. I try not to gasp at his toned chest as he kicks off his boots and lays on his stomach. Rubbing my hands together to warm them up, I stare in awe at the way his shoulders bunch and his back looks so manly. I kneel on the bed beside him and begin to work the muscles in his shoulders. He groans with pleasure, and it does things to my insides. Without thinking, I throw my leg over him and work my hands up and down his tense back.
It’s not long before I hear his light snores and I’m smiling to myself. I watch my hands glide over his skin a final time, then slowly lay my body over his. He’s so warm and inviting, I’m tempted to drift off, but the thought of him finding me like this makes me get up. Instead, I sit beside him, leaning my back against the wall. His head is facing towards me, resting on his crossed arms. He looks so peaceful. I lie down on my front and mimic his position, watching him sleep. I wish I could spend the rest of my life exactly like this.
GRIM
“You fucking killed him,” Ma screams, staring at Mark’s still body. Right at that moment, the door opens and Dad stalks in like a big, angry bear. He also stares at the lifeless body, then at my bloodied hand still gripping the knife.
“Ah, shit, Grim, couldn’t you just punch the guy?”
“I did,” I argue.
“Maybe next time, don’t pull the knife first?”
It’s easier said than done. Sometimes, I don’t know it’s in my hand, it’s almost like a natural extension. Copper steps in behind Dad and also groans. “I’ll call the clean-up crew.”
I tuck my knife away as Dad helps Ma to stand. “You couldn’t stay sober just for a few days?” he growls.
“This is not my fault,” she hisses. “It’s yours for dumping him on me.” She narrows her eyes in my direction. “Just so you can go and fuck your whores.”