Page 7 of Hold You Close
Her eyes widen. “Go? Go where? It’s a packed house.”
“I’m aware of that, but something came up. I need you to handle things tonight.” I turn to Toby. “Stay until Drea is done closing and I want you to escort her to her car at the end of the night.”
He nods.
I never let her walk out of here alone. Even if I have someone coming home with me, Drea’s not going to be unescorted. Too many men get the wrong impression because she’s nice to them. Over my dead body will she be hurt as a result of working at my club.
After I get in the car, my mind is racing. I drive faster than I should, telling myself that London is just being dramatic.
And then I remember . . . she has my nephew and nieces at her house.
My foot pushes down on the pedal of my Jaguar, making the engine howl with each mile. I turn into the development where we both live, pass my house, and head to hers. I still hate that our backyards touch. Every damn day I see her sitting out on her deck, reading her books, looking down at me with her disapproving attitude.
When I get there, the flashing lights of a police car brighten the road. I don’t think. I don’t know if I even put the car in park before I’m out of the vehicle.
“London!” I yell as I rush through the door. “Christopher? Morgan? Ruby?” I call out for the kids, praying it’s not one of them.
When I get to the living room, I release a heavy sigh—they’re all there, not hurt.
Then I see the tears streaming down Morgan’s face. London gets to her feet. Her eyes are red, puffy, and black mascara runs down her cheeks. “Ian.” She chokes on my name.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
The girls start to cry again, and my nephew pulls them into his arms.
London moves toward me, placing her hand on my chest. “They’re gone.”
“Who?” I ask, confused.
“Sabrina and David,” she whispers.
Yeah, they went on a trip. Why the hell are they crying? “This is what you called me for? They’ll be home in a few days. Why are you crying too?” I ask.
Her green eyes meet mine and her lips part. “No.” She shakes her head. “They won’t.”
I look over at the kids again, and then to the muted television. My feet move closer, because I have to be sure the words flashing across the screen say what I think they say. “Flight 1184 crashes off the coast of Hawaii. Three hundred missing and presumed dead.”
My sister was going to Hawaii.
My sister is gone.
I sink to my knees in front of the kids, unsure what to say. They just lost their parents, and my heart is breaking. My sister was my best friend. She was the one who pushed me to open Veil and do what I wanted. I’ve always had her support, and now she’s gone.
Christopher lifts his head, his brown eyes filled with unshed tears. “They’ll find them,” he says with conviction.
“Okay,” I reply. We both know it’s a lie, but it’s one he has to tell himself. I remember being fifteen; there was no telling me I was wrong.
“Dad wouldn’t . . .” he starts, and then stops as his lip quivers.
My own tears start to fall, as Morgan grabs my hand. “What do we do now?”
I have no fucking clue. How do I tell these kids how to survive? I’m the last person in the world equipped to give this advice. I look to London. Her hand touches my shoulder and she wipes the tears that fall silently down her cheeks.
“We hold each other close,” she says.
Our eyes meet and I’m transported back to a time when London and I weren’t always at each other’s throats. A time when we had feelings for each other. Even though we’re both aching, there’s something keeping us from breaking completely—a trust that even in the deepest pain, we can still come together and offer comfort.
London kneels beside me. She looks like she’s on the verge of falling apart, but won’t allow it to happen. “Did you call my parents?” I ask.
