My tear.
I follow its path as it runs down her cheek and onto her chin.
Before I can even think, it’s gone, and some internal part of me aches at the loss.
The door to my office slams against the wall as I enter and head straight for the small liquor collection in the corner. I don’t bother closing it since I know Easton won’t be far behind me, and sure enough, the door bangs shut a few seconds later.
I splash a couple fingers of whiskey into a tumbler and throw it back in one go, the liquor blazing a path down my throat. After refilling my glass, I grab a second and pour one for Easton.
He doesn’t say anything when I hand him the glass, but I feel his eyes follow me as I walk over to the desk. Paperwork litters the surface. Apart from the bedroom, this is the space I spend most of my time when I’m here. I take another sip before placing my glass down, this time savouring the taste and relishing in the burn as the alcohol works its way into my system.
Neither of us speaks for a long moment, and I look over my shoulder at my best friend. His glass remains untouched in his hand, and a crease mars his forehead. There’s something off about him—a strange expression on his face I can’t quite place, but there’s too much going on in my head to try to figure it out.
My mind drifts to Grace, and I have a moment of panic realising that we’ve left her all alone.
What if she runs?
Maybe that would be a good thing.
No. I know she knows something, but I can’t tell how much of what she’s said is true. She stays here until I’m looking my parents’ killer in the eye and get the answers I need. I’ll find the truth one way or another, but she’s not leaving until I do.
“She’s not going anywhere,” East says, sensing my rising panic. There’s no way he would have left her alone if he thought there was any possibility of her trying to run.
I know that, but I’m not thinking straight.
Leaning forward, I curl my hands around the edge of the desk until my knuckles turn white and let my head hang. I can’t remember ever being this tired. Maybe the days before the Reed’s found me abandoned in an alley when I was four, but to be honest, I don’t remember a lot of that time.
“Are you okay?” Easton asks, taking me by surprise.
It’s not at all what I expected him to start with, but it’s enough to have me turning around. There’s still something off with him, his usual scowl not quite as potent, and for someone who normally doesn’t give a shit about anything, he looks almostuncomfortable. But on top of all that, I get the sense there’s something he’s not saying.
We’ve been joined at the hip since we were kids, butfeelingsaren’t something we usually talk about. It might be strange that we could be as close as we are and not share such a vital part of us, but it’s never been necessary. We both like to deal with our own shit even though we’ve always been good at reading each other, and maybe we’ve relied on that too much over the years. But even if I wanted to try and open up, I can’t explain what I’m feeling right now. I don’t know what to trust.
“I don’t know,” I say, and it’s the best I can give him right now.
After a minute of silence, I sigh. “I thought you’d come to tell me how we can’t trust a word she says.”
“We can’t,” he says immediately, returning to the Easton I know so well.
I can’t deny my thoughts are all over the place when it comes to Grace, but this information is too important to ignore, no matter how it plays out.
“Find him, East. I don’t care what you have to fucking do. I want him.”
Easton’s eyes darken to near black. He doesn’t have to say anything for me to know how much this means to him as well.
He throws back the drink I’d given him and takes a few steps towards me, placing the empty glass on the desk. “I’ll call someone to cover me here.”
“No—”
“I’m not leaving you alone with her, Bas!” He spins on me. “We know nothing about her… who she’s working for. She’s hiding shit, and I don’t fucking trust her.” He doesn’t break my stare, and I know he won’t take no for an answer. And honestly, I don’t have the energy to argue right now.
“We’ll find him.” East grabs the back of my neck. “And when we do, he’s going to fucking wish he was dead. He’ll pay for what he did.” I nod, trusting him and hoping everything he said to be true. He squeezes me, a gesture of reassurance, before releasing his hold on me before I head back to where we left Grace.
Shadow lifts his head, his ears perked in alert as I walk back into the main living area. When he sees it’s only me, he relaxes, resting his head back on his paws.
Grace hasn’t moved since I walked out earlier, and with no lights on, the penthouse is basked in a soft radiance. The city lights shine through the expansive windows, illuminating her in an almost angelic glow. I can’t help but be captivated by the sight.
My phone pings in my pocket, and Grace startles, looking towards me and breaking my daze.