CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Grayson

On the ride to our apartment, we meet Smith, our driver and one of Blake’s men, while Mia and I clean up as much of the blood we’re wearing as possible. The clean-up is successful with the exception of my white shirt splattered with blood and there’s no hiding it. “My father is going to freak out when he sees the blood,” Mia worries. “What was I thinking having him come here?”

I stroke her hair. “You were thinking that he’s going to hear all of this on the news if he doesn’t hear it from you first. You did the right thing.”

“Right,” she says. “I’m glad one of us remembers what I was thinking.”

“We’re here,” Smith announces, pulling us to the front of our building and I toss all the wipes we used in a trash bag at the back of his seat. “We’ll have men here at your building indefinitely,” he adds glancing back at us. “Just in case you have trouble with the press. I can also drive your father home Ms. Cavanaugh.”

“Thank you,” Mia says. “And call me Mia. I doubt he’ll leave once he finds out what happened.”

“I’ll text you my number in case,” Smith says. “I’ll be here all night.” He glances at me. “Would you like an escort to your door, sir?”

“A bodyguard will only freak out Mia’s father,” I say, “so unless you think we need one, we’ll pass.”

“Not until the press finds you,” he says. “And right now, they’re focused on the crime scene. You should be fine tonight.”

I open the door. “Thank you, Smith.”

“Yes, thank you,” Mia says, and I’m encouraged by how much stronger she sounds, right up until the moment I help her out of the SUV and her knees give out.

She collapses against me and I hold onto her, the way I plan to hold onto her forever. “I got you, baby.”

“I know you do,” she says. “I know you do, and I can’t believe I forgot that. You charged at him.” Her voice cracks. “You tried to get him to point the gun at you. You knew he might shoot you.”

“We protect each other, remember?”

“Don’t ever risk your life like that again,” she scolds, her voice suddenly strong, a crackle of anger beneath the surface. “Every time I think of you running at him, of what might have happened, I start to shake all over again.”

I don’t promise her I won’t risk my life for her, because I would, I will, and I’d do it all over again to protect her. Instead, I maneuver her around me and shut the SUV door before setting us in motion toward the entrance to our building. The doorman, an older gentleman with white hair, is a new guy I don’t know well. His eyes rocket to my shirt like it’s a damn magnet, but he’ll most likely assume I was in a fight, which isn’t inaccurate. I stop and talk to him. “The press will be all over us in the morning. Be prepared.”

“The press, sir?”

“Yes. The press. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I urge Mia into the rotating doors, my hands on her hips, and I move with her, keeping her close.

We exit on the other side and I pull her back under my arm, guiding us to the front desk where Devon, a familiar young guard who knows us both works tonight. “Did Mia’s father sign-in?” I ask.

“He did,” Devon confirms, ignoring my shirt. I liked Devon before. I like him more now. He eyes Mia. “Nice to have you back, Mia.”

“Thank you, Devon,” she says, and I turn her away from the desk, eager to get both of us out of the public eye.

Once we’re in the elevator, Mia inspects the blood all over me. “Your shirt looks horrible.” She presses her hands to her face.

I pull them away. “Your father just needs to know that you’re okay. Put him up in the spare bedroom and we’ll all rest better.”

“You never minded when he stayed.”

“I only cared when you left.”

“Grayson,” she breathes out.

He cups my face. “I’m right here, baby. I’m not going anywhere.”

The elevator halts and I kiss her, maneuvering us into the hallway as I do, and I keep us moving toward our apartment. We’re almost at our door and I’m about to stop and ask her a few questions about her father when she steps in front of me, her hands on my chest, and damn, I missed her is all I can think of in this moment. “He can’t know that I went to work for Ri for that bonus that saved him from his debt,” she says. “He’ll blame himself for tonight and it’s not his fault. I should never have left you and no matter what, I should have to come to you. I just—I really didn’t want you to think I was just coming for your money.”

“We need to talk about leaving all of this behind us, but I need to know what your father knows before we walk into the apartment.”

“I never told him you cheated,” I say. “I just—I didn’t want him to think badly of you. I never gave him real details at all.”

Because on some level I know she knew I’d never cheat on her. “Then everything is between us and we’ll keep it that way. Ri hated me. He went at you because of me. That will be in the news. We can’t hide that from him. We shouldn’t try.”

“What about us being back together?”

“What about it, Mia?” I don’t give her time to reply. “We’re back together.”

“That’s right,” she says, grabbing my tie. “So, don’t go trying to get killed and leave me, Grayson.” She turns away and I pull her to me.

“I could say the same to you. I was terrified when Ri entered that stairwell.”

“I wasn’t going to go back. I knew we couldn’t take it. I just wanted to get what I could and get back to you.”

“And you are. We’ll talk later, baby. We have a lot to say. I know I do.”

The door behind us opens. “Mia!”

She rotates and runs to her father, throwing her arms around him. The two of them hug and I give them a moment before I join them. Mac catches a glimpse of me over Mia’s shoulder and his eyes go wide. “What the hell?” he murmurs setting her aside to look at me. “What happened to you?”

“Let’s go inside and talk,” I suggest, motioning them both forward.

“Yes,” he says. “Let’s.”

I follow them into the foyer and Mac turns, waiting on me. Mia quickly joins me, standing by my side. “Dad—”

“What the hell happened to you, Grayson?” He’s a fit man, his hair streaked with gray, his green eyes intense. His worry for his daughter obvious.

“Let’s sit,” I suggest.

“No,” Mac says. “I don’t want to sit. I want answers. Both of you, talk.”

“My boss hated Grayson. He—” Mia inhales. “He—”

“Tried to hurt Mia to hurt me,” I supply. “I hired professional help to deal with him. One of those men shot and killed Ri tonight.”

“Holy fuck. Shot and killed?” He looks at Mia. “Where were you when it happened? Because obviously, Grayson was close.”

“He was—I—” She looks down. “Grayson was holding a gun to his head,” she looks at her father, “because he was holding a gun to my head.”

Mac blanches. “What? He was—what?” He looks at me. “Why did this happen?”

“He knew how much I loved Mia and he was jealous of my success and my relationship with her.”

“You were broken up,” he snaps. “Why are you even back together?”

That statement hits me wrong, almost as if he’s blaming me for Ri’s insanity or that he was secretly glad to get rid of me. I bite my tongue but Mia snaps, pushing away from me. “This isn’t his fault. He didn’t make Ri a lunatic. Ri plotted our break-up. He tried to force himself on me. He is probably behind all the trouble you had last year because he knew if he offered me a bonus to save you I’d take a job with him. And why are we even back together? Really, dad? Really? I love Grayson. I’ve been miserable without him and I know you know that. I don’t need to hear you blame him tonight.”

She rushes past him and he catches her arm, turning her to face him. “You took the job to pay off my debt?”

“Yes. I did. It was all one big set-up. Ri didn’t go after me because I got back with Grayson. He went after me and Grayson last year when this all started.”

Mac’s hands go to Mia’s shoulders. “I wasn’t blaming Grayson. And right now, I’m thanking God he’s back because I know he loves you.”

“You said ‘why are you even back together’ or whatever you said,” she snaps back. “I didn’t like it. I’m certain Grayson didn’t either.”

“I know he’s covered in blood because he was right there with you, willing to risk his life to save you.”

“He did risk his life to save me. He dared that man in every way to shoot him, not me, and Ri hated Grayson. I’m lucky he’s alive. I’m really damn lucky he’s alive. If I’d have lost him tonight, I’d be ready to go, too. Don’t you see that?”

“I had a moment of freak out, Mia,” Mac says. “It came out wrong. I love Grayson. I have always respected him and welcomed him to our family.”

I step behind Mia, and settle my hands on her shoulders, silently offering her support.

"And as for my debt,” Mac continues, “I hate that you went to that man for me. That means, this is my fault.”

“No,” Mia says. “It’s not and I didn’t want to tell you because I knew you’d say that. I let Ri turn me into a weapon against Grayson that is much deeper than you can imagine.”

“I’m certain Grayson doesn’t blame you.” He kisses her forehead and turns to me. “I am glad that you’re back. She was never happy without you.” He offers me his hand which I accept. “You’re a good man,” he says. “Take care of my daughter.”

“I will, sir, every day of the rest of her life.”

He nods and turns to Mia. “I’m going to leave because as much as I want to stay, I sense that you and Grayson need time together. Come see me soon.” He hugs her and looks at me. “Both of you.” He looks at Mia. “I love you, daughter.” He kisses her temple and then heads for the door.

The minute it shuts, I lock it and turn to Mia who is suddenly shaking all over again, adrenaline and emotions making for a bad cocktail when mixed with shock. I grab her, scoop her up and start carrying her toward our bedroom.