Page 13 of A Mafia Christmas

He started up the stairs, but even clutching the railing, he was still dragging his legs. He heard them behind him talking.

Graham came beside him. “Can I help you to your room?”

Alastair wanted to snap at him. “Just don’t talk. Okay?”

Graham nodded and wrapped an arm around his waist, helping him up the stairs and into his bedroom. He stopped suddenly when he got a look in his room. The robe she used was at the bottom of the bed, and her scent was everywhere.

“I want all her things gone. Burn them in the backyard if you can.”

Graham nodded but didn’t say anything.

They made it to the bathroom. They stood in the middle of the bathroom, and he looked around at all her things. He’d never be able to get over her with this shit.

“Take me to the room across from here, and if you can, bring me my soaps and put some suits in the closet so I don’t have to come back in here, I’d appreciate it.”

“Yes.”

“Good. Take me there and lock this room. I might want to burn it.”

Graham nodded. They went to the other room and into the bathroom. The bed was made up, and there were a few things in the bathroom, but he wanted his things.

Graham got him to the counter where he could lean against it. He raised his hand. “Do you want me to take the bottle?”

Alastair shook his head and hugged the bottle tightly against his body. “No. It’s the only way I can sleep.”

“All right. Do you need help undressing?”

Alastair thought about it a moment and then shook his head. “Not right now. But stick close.”

Graham nodded. “Yell, I’ll be moving some things over here.” He looked at the blood on his brother’s hand. “What happened to your hand?”

Alastair looked down at it, confused for a moment. “Oh, I hit the mirror.”

“Do you want a doctor?”

Alastair shook his head. “No.”

“Can I have someone clean up your office?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

Graham made it to the door when Alastair stopped him. “How many days?”

He knew Graham knew what he was talking about. “Four.”

It was more than he expected. “Thank you.”

Graham nodded and shut the door. The first glimpse he’d seen of himself in the mirror shocked him. He had dark circles under his eyes, but the rest of his face was pale, and he’d lost weight because his cheeks were sunken in.

He set the bottle on the counter and started undressing. He glanced at his hand and thought it could have stitches, but it had already started to heal, so he left it alone.

He turned the water on and made it as hot as he could stand it. He stood under it for a long time. He heard the bathroom door open and tensed up.

“It’s me. Here’s your shampoo and soap.”

Alastair nodded and reached out for them. “Thank you.”

He had no idea how long he had stayed underwater with his eyes closed. When his legs started to shake, he washed quickly, turned off the water, and reached for a towel. He dried his hair first and then wrapped it around his waist.

---