Page 70 of Chloé

They spotted Julien immediately, standing over by one of the windows chatting with an older man. As Priest and Chloé approached, he quickly made his excuses and went to his daughter.

The second he reached her, he closed his eyes and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Mon ange. Comment vas-tu?”

“Je vais bien, père, je te le promets.”

He pulled back and tilted her chin up so he could look her in the eye.“Tu es sûre?”

She looked around the room and took in a breath before turning back to Julien.“Je suis vraiment tristemais ça va.”

He nodded and drew a gentle hand down her cheek, then looked to Zayne and Ethan. “Thank you for staying with her this weekend.”

“Anytime,” the two of them replied this time, as though they were in sync.

“Chloé?” Priest stepped up beside her and rubbed her back. “Why don’t you come with me, and I’ll take you to see your dad?”

Chloé immediately looked in their direction, and Julien stepped in. “I’ll take care of them,bichette.”

She gave a quick nod, and Priest led her out of the living room and toward the kitchen, leaving Ethan and Zayne with Julien.

Ethan was the first to speak. “We’re very sorry for your loss.”

“We understand he was quite the gentleman,” Zayne added.

“Merci.He was. Unlike anyone I’ve ever met.” Julien smiled. “We appreciate everything you’ve done for our Chloé over the last few days. Justin’s meeting us at the church today, but he told us you were with her at the restaurant both nights and didn’t let her out of your sight.”

“We stayed out of your kitchens,” Zayne said. “I promise.”

A smile played at the corner of Julien’s lips, and Ethan nodded.

“We just wanted to keep an eye on her. You would’ve been very proud. She handled herself like the true professional she is.”

“I have no doubt.” Julien slipped a hand into his pocket and shrugged. “But I wouldn’t have cared if she burnt the place to the ground. As long as she was okay.”

The truth of that statement was in Julien’s eyes as he searched out his daughter. Zayne and Ethan looked in the same direction, and through the doorway spotted a crowd of women, and two men, all gathered in the kitchen.

“Chloé’s dad comes from a large Italian family, the majority of which is made up by women. That’s what made the bond with his dad so special. They were in it together.”

Zayne’s heart ached for Robbie as he spotted him under Priest’s supportive arm. Robbie’s eyes and nose were red from the tears he’d cried, and while he was trying for the occasional smile here and there, the grief just wouldn’t allow it to stay.

There was a small flurry of activity in the kitchen, and the next thing they knew, the group of women inside came into the living room to join Chloé’s nonna.

Chloé stood with her two fathers, and just behind them was another familiar face—Shayla—who was with a woman she bore a striking resemblance to. Zayne couldn’t work out if it was her sister, cousin, or mother.

Priest stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on Nonna’s shoulder. “If you’ll all join us, we’re about to head down to the church now for the service.”

Everyone began to exit the house, and Julien walked out with them. “Robbie will head down to the church with his mother and sisters. If you and Zayne would like to join Priest, Chloé, and myself, we can all take one car.”

“Thank you,” Ethan and Zayne said, and followed him outside, falling back a couple of steps to let him catch up with his husbands and daughter.

* * *

ETHAN CLIMBED IN the back seat of Priest’s SUV behind Julien and shut the door. Chloé was in the middle and Zayne on the other side, and as Priest pulled out of the drive, she reached for both their hands.

Today was going to be one of the most difficult days she ever went through—the first always was.

The heartache, the confusion, the grief… Nothing could prepare a person for the excruciating emotions that took hold when someone you loved was no longer there. There were no words, no handbook, no formula to make it better. The only way to deal with it was to live it. To allow yourself to feel the sorrow and hope like hell you had people around you to help you find your way out of it—and that was what they were for.

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