Chapter 46
HARPER
My face crumples, my hand flying to my mouth as another sob escapes.
Alex is by my side in an instant, his arm snaking around my shoulder, pulling me against his firm chest. His scent invades my senses, soothing me.
One hand cradles my head, the other tracing slow circles on my back.
I allow myself to sink into him as more sobs rack my body.
“What if… I can’t lose her, Alex,” I say, looking up into his face before burying myself in his strength and warmth.
He doesn’t offer me platitudes or promise everything’s going to be all right. He knows he can’t offer that sort of guarantee. Instead, he offers me comfort.
We sit in silence as I cling to him. No judgement, no questions, simply support.
Why the hell would Kat leave appendicitis untreated?
But then I think back to the past week. My stomach twists. Kat has always been the stoic one. She was closest to Dad and worked with him every day for years as she learned the business. Finding the files would have knocked her sideways, and then to find out Dad didn’t just die, but was murdered.
My eyes and throat burn as I choke back another sob, Alex’s shirt damp under my cheek.
I pull away. “Oh gosh, I’m sorry.” I rest my hand against the damp patch above his heart.
Alex squeezes my shoulder before rising and crossing to his desk.
He dials a number before turning to face me.
“Enzo,” he says, his eyes locking on mine. “Can you cover for me? Something’s come up, and I need to leave the office … She’ll be with me … No, for God’s sake. Can you do it? … Great.”
He puts down the phone and turns to me.
“Get your stuff. We’re leaving.”
* * *
We make it out of the building without anyone stopping us. My blotchy, tear-stained face hidden behind the curtain of my hair. Alex’s driver, Keith, is waiting at the kerb.
“Get in,” he says.
I do as I’m told, too tired to argue and too drained to care, grateful to have someone directing me, taking charge. After last week’s bombshell about Dad, and now this with Kat…
Disasters come in threes, isn’t that what they say?
Alex gives Keith my address before he pulls out into the New York traffic. I stare out of the window as a familiar numbness, the kind I’ve grown to recognise and welcome, settles over me. By the time we arrive at my apartment, I’ve clamped down on my emotions and taken charge once more.
“Thank you,” I say, turning to Alex.
“I’m coming up,” he says. “I’m not leaving you alone.”
“You don’t need to. I’ll be fine.”
“It’s either my mother or me,” he says, the set of his chin letting me know this is not up for debate. “Your sister’s in surgery. You shouldn’t be alone.”
His words sink in, and I bite my lip to stop it from trembling.
Do I want to be alone?
No.
I nod, and he acknowledges it by turning to Keith.
“I’ll call you later,” he says.
I grab my handbag and make my way to the door of the apartment block, letting us in.
When we reach my door, Dan’s head appears around his own.
I give a slight nod, letting him know I’m safe.
Shit, I didn’t let Mitch know I was leaving.
I step inside, allowing Alex to enter.
“It’s small,” I say, suddenly self-conscious and aware of how tiny the space is, especially with him here, his presence stealing all the oxygen from the room.
“It’s nice,” he says.
“It’s home,” I say awkwardly, hugging my waist, suddenly hyperaware of the man standing in my living area.
He turns towards me.
“Brooke,” he says.
“Please don’t.” I hold up a hand, needing him to stop.
He opens and closes his mouth.
“If you offer me sympathy, I’m going to end up a blubbering wreck again, and I’m not sure I have anything left inside me,” I explain.
He inclines his head, his eyes taking me in. “I wasn’t. What I was going to say is, why don’t you go get changed while we wait for your family to call?”
We stare at each other for a moment before I nod and head to my bedroom.
One look in the mirror sends me darting to the bathroom.
I turn on the shower and step into the warm water, letting it soothe away the stress of the afternoon. When I get out, I repair my makeup and pull on a pair of wide-legged tracksuit bottoms and the matching cable-knit quarter-zip top, before making my way back into the living area.
I draw up short. Alex has removed his suit jacket, which now hangs over the back of one of my chairs, and he’s rolled up his shirt sleeves, exposing tanned forearms. His six-foot-two frame fills my tiny kitchen.
Holy mackerel. When did a man’s forearms become so sexy? All that dark hair and…
I turn away before I’m caught staring, straightening a cushion on the sofa.
Put your tongue away. You’re supposed to be concentrating on Kat.
“Feeling better?”
“Yes, thank you. What are you doing?”
“Have you eaten today?”
“No,” I admit.
First, I was caught up answering everyone’s questions after the show, and then Gabriel called just as I was about to head down to the cafeteria.
“You cook?” I blurt as he moves aside, revealing what he’s been doing while I’ve been gone.
He chuckles, the sound warm and soothing.
“Don’t look so surprised,” he says. “I went to university in England. After the first year of having university-prepared meals, it was do or die. I thought, how hard can it be to follow a recipe?”
“Really? And?”
He rubs the back of his neck, giving me a sheepish look. “I went through three sets of pans and nearly set fire to our kitchen, but I got there in the end.”
I know he’s trying to lighten the mood, and I find I’m grateful. There’s nothing worse than waiting for the phone to ring, so I’m surprised to find it’s working.
“So, you burnt your first few attempts?” I ask.
He grins. “I did. After that, our cook took pity on me when I was home for the holiday. She taught me some simple recipes. I can boil pasta and make a passable tomato sauce.”
I don’t have much of an appetite, but sitting here moping isn’t going to help anyone. Besides, my boss is kindly volunteering to cook me dinner.
“What do you say? Are you willing to risk your life on my culinary skills?”
I smile.
“Thank you. Is there anything I can do?”
My phone rings before he can answer.
“Hey, Mum,” I say as her name flashes up.
Alex shoos me towards the bedroom, motioning to the stove.
“Darling?” I can hear the waver in her voice. “I just wanted to call and check you’re okay. Gabriel said…”
“I’m fine, Mum, I promise,” I lie. “It was just a shock.”
Mum harrumphs. Since Leah came into our lives, fine is not a word we use.
“Okay, not fine, but I’m doing okay. Alex sent me home,” I say, not telling her that he’s here with me. Too many questions, ones I can’t answer.
“He knows?” she whispers. “Is that wise, darling?”
“He knows Kat’s in hospital. I was at work when G called.”
I don’t mention last week when he covered for me after I almost fell apart. I don’t need Mum worrying about me on top of everything else, and every instinct tells me Alex Bianchi is someone I can trust, someone who will stand in my corner if I can let him.
I hear him moving about in the kitchen.
“Any news on Kat?” I ask.
“No, she’s still in surgery. It will be another few hours. Your brothers and Jaxson are wearing grooves in the floor tiles,” she says. “They’ve moved us into a family room.”
“I can imagine. As a family…” I stop mid-sentence.
Shit, that was close.
I nearly said, as a family, the Frazer men are intimidating, especially when worried. They stand out, and knowing Kat, she’d prefer the press not getting wind of what’s happened to her.
Mum sucks in a deep breath, and I hear it catch.
“Mum. I love you. Try not to worry. I wish I were there with you all. But my big sister is a fighter. If anyone can get through this…”
I haven’t seen Mum cry since Dad’s funeral, although I’m sure she’s shed many tears in private.
That bloody stiff upper lip. Not that she’s ever expected it from us.
She’s always taught us that emotions are good and that we should express them.
But when cameras were thrust in my face at my most vulnerable moments, I learned to suppress them, hide them behind a mask.
I know, I’ve suppressed mine for so long.
First my anger over Dad’s death, then my anger at myself for my role in it.
For years, those feelings have overshadowed the happy moments.
Only when Leah, Callum, and April came into our lives did that begin to change.
They’ve brought new life and balance into our family.
“I know, darling, I just hate that you’re so far away. Hopefully with…” she pauses. “With what’s been uncovered.”
“I know. Me too, Mum.”
“April has just arrived with some food.”
“That’s okay. Call me later when Kat’s out of surgery.”
“I will. Bye, darling, I love you.”
“I love you too, Mum.”
I end the call.