Page 77 of Savage Ruin
“Where’s Grayson?” I ask frantically.
“He left. Went to the yacht to check on the party,” Mateo answers solemnly. “Is everything okay? How are you doing?”
“Terrible. I yelled at Grayson,” I return, trying to swallow the huge lump in my throat. Tears fall sporadically down my cheeks, and I wipe them off. “Did he say when he’d be back?”
Mateo flashes me a sympathetic look, then hugs me tightly. “He didn’t say, but he looked pretty upset. It could be a while. Do you want to eat? He left coffee and toast on the counter for you.”
Hearing he left food for me only makes it worse. I shake my head miserably.
Mateo kisses me on the lips softly. “Go get a shower. It’s been a long, emotional night for all of us, and it will help you feel better. I know we planned to go into the office today and get the demonstration set up, but it can wait. Thiago’s going into the office, but I’ll stay here with you.”
“No, it can’t wait. We need to make a move,” I state emphatically. “But I don’t want to leave until I’ve spoken to Grayson. I’ve got my gun and phone. Is Mitch here?”
Thiago picks up his phone. “Is Mitch on duty?” A pause. “Thanks.” He looks at me. “He’s here. Do you want him in the house?”
“Do you mind?” I ask, knowing how he feels about letting anyone inside right now.
“Of course, I don’t mind,” he replies with an irritated huff. “I’ll get him.”
A few minutes later, the two big men come striding back into the living room. “Mitch will stay with you while we go to the office and get everything set up for tomorrow. Are you sure you’re up for it? We can postpone the demonstration.” His obsidian eyes regard me with concern.
“Thank you for staying with me, Mitch,” I tell the bodyguard I’ve gotten accustomed to having as a shadow. Turning to Thiago, I give him a firm nod. “I’m positive. I’ll be fine.”
I kiss Mateo and give him a couple of last-minute instructions for the set-up. It’s my baby and I want everything to go off without a hitch.
He rolls his eyes. “I’ve done a lot of demonstrations over the years. Be good.”
When I get close to Thiago, he pulls me in for a hard kiss. “If you need anything, call me. I don’t care what it is.”
“I will,” I murmur.
When they’re gone, I wave a hand to the kitchen. “Food and drinks are in there. Help yourself. I’m going to take a shower.”
My stupid conversation with Grayson plays repeatedly in my head until I want to scream—at myself. And for what?
Stanley the… I guess I can’t call him Stanley anymore. What a pity. I liked the sing song name. It helped eased the fear. Harrison is stuffy and pretentious. And real. Maybe I should use Langford. It’s at least a little impersonal.
The shower doesn’t make me feel any better, and neither does the sight of the sad face looking back at me in the mirror. Leaving my hair wet, I contemplate the computer on the floor, but the sight of it makes me sick. Besides, if I stay in here, I won’t hear Grayson return.
Upstairs, the door to his room is closed. I knock, but nobody answers, and I don’t want to enter without his permission.
Back downstairs, I grab a pillow off the bed, along with the blanket lying on top, then return to his door.
I drop onto the floor with a groan and cover up. Age must be catching up with me if I’m this tired from staying up all night. Fluffing the pillow, I slide down until I’m snuggled in tight. Warm and comfortable, I’m asleep within minutes.
When I wake, I’m no longer on the floor. Propping myself up on my elbow, I shove the hair out of my eyes and look around the unfamiliar room. Deep navy walls and luxurious velvet curtains give the room an air of sophistication. The bed I’m lying has a cream headboard and footboard with brass details. A brass photo gallery covers the wall in front of me, and it’s filled with images of the world.
I scan the room, looking for Grayson, but he’s not here. Did he come home and leave without speaking to me? I scoot backward on the bed and prop myself up against the headboard. Bringing my knees up, I hug them close, needing something to hold on to while I wait for him to return. At least, I assume he’s going to come back.
Ten minutes later, the bedroom door opens, and he strides into the room. When he sees I’m awake, he stops and stares at me, but says nothing. Instead of the slightly amused look I’m used to seeing, his eyes are guarded and wary, and it hurts me to see it.
I grip the blanket tightly. “I’m so, so sorry, Grayson. I shouldn’t have yelled at you, and I hope you can forgive me. I know you were trying to help. I fell into a black hole for a while, but it’s not an excuse. I tried to catch you right after it happened, but you were gone so quick.”
He doesn’t say anything for a minute. “Where’s Mateo or Thiago?”
“They went to SEI to get the demonstration set up for tomorrow,” I remind him. “Tell me how to make this right. Please.”
“You stayed here by yourself?”
