Page 112 of Shattered Souls
30
RILEY
Nerves make my eyes wider than normal, and my pale skin paler despite the makeup I’m wearing as I flatten a hand over the front of my black dress. It’s been a long and melancholy week since Gran’s passing. Grayson has been subdued and quiet. Other than planning the funeral and clearing out his Gran’s room at the nursing home, he’s spent a lot of time with Aurora, the two of them cuddled on the sofa watching daytime TV or on the rug in the living room while she showed him one of the numerous toys or games Logan bought for her.
It’s sweet—watching them together. Seeing Grayson bond with my little girl. Watching her get to know her big brother—even if she doesn’t know that’s who he is to her. It pulls at my heartstrings. I just wish it was under better circumstances. That there wasn’t this gray cloud perched over Grayson’s head.
However, every time he smiles at my little girl, I know that too will pass. That he will learn to shoulder his grief. That this won’t be a step back for him in bottling up his emotions. He truly seems to have turned a corner, even though it’s obvious he’s struggling. I’m proud of him. However, today will be the most challenging day yet. Today, he buries his Gran. Today, he says his goodbyes.
Grayson is a wreck, though I think he realizes now that he has all of us to lean on. We just have to make it through today.
Movement in the doorway catches my attention, and I meet Royce’s hardened stare. His lips are pursed, face set in fierce determination, much like it has been for the past week. Lydia escaped the night Gran died. Royce offered to go after her, but I told him no. That’s what she wants—to take up more of our lives. I truly am done with her.
Besides, Blue found flights for both her and David to Switzerland. I’m guessing they both decided to flee the country? Whatever. If I was a more vengeful person, perhaps I’d go after them, but all I want is to move on. To spend time with my daughter and my guys. To cement this family we’re building.
“Ready?” Despite squaring his shoulders as though he’s prepared to go into battle, Royce’s voice is soft and gentle.
“No,” I honestly admit. Lydia and David may no longer be a concern, but Bertram most definitely is. We haven’t heard anything from him since we found Aurora, and with Gran’s death, Grayson hasn’t been in the office. However, we all agree he won’t miss the funeral today, even if it’s just for appearance’s sake.
I wouldn’t be so terrified if it were just me facing him, but none of us were happy to leave Aurora with someone we didn’t implicitly trust, so we’re bringing her with us today.She’swho I’m most afraid for. What will facing him again do to her? Royce and Logan will do whatever it takes to keep her away from him. To keep his eyes from even touching her, but I have no doubt the second he sees her with us, he won’t be able to stay away.
Pushing off the doorframe, Royce stalks toward me. My gaze drops over him. I so rarely get to see Royce in anything other than jeans or sweats, but today, a perfectly tailored black suit is stretched over his broad frame, hugging his muscles. The suit jacket makes his shoulders appear wider than usual, and thepants emphasize his narrow waist before wrapping around his tree-trunk thighs.
I bet if he turned around, his ass would look incredible. It’s more than him just looking good in a suit, though. It’s the fact that despite how smart and polished he appears, his wild recklessness can’t be contained. It shines through in the scruff of his beard and the way he carries himself with predatory grace. No man with Royce’s bulk should be able to carry themselves with such ease—like a panther.
Perhaps it’s the situation we’re walking into and the shit we’ve all been dragged through in recent weeks, but there’s an intensity about him—more so than usual—a dangerous aura that seeps through the seams and crackles in the air around him.
Royce mightlookrefined, but everything about him screamsstay the fuck out of my way.
He groans, hand fisting my hair. “Babydoll, don’t look at me like that.”
My lips curl up in a coy smile. “Like what?”
“Like you’re two seconds away from falling to your knees when we both know we don’t have time to satisfy one another right now.”
“Are you sure? I can be quick.” I’m teasing. His eyes narrow to a glare, and I chuckle.
“Are you seriously going to make me walk into a funeral with a hard-on?” he growls.
I shrug a shoulder, untangling myself from his hold as I step away. “You have the car journey there to picture whatever you need to to get that thing to go down.” I gesture toward his crotch.
Royce groans, a half-pained, half-frustrated sound. “Babydoll, it won’t go anywhere with you staring and pointing at it.”
I merely smirk as he adjusts himself in his pants.
Eyes narrowed on me, he growls, “You’re going to pay for that when we get home.”
I smirk. “Promises, promises.”
He dives for me, and I dance out of his way, darting toward the door. Before I can escape, though, his arms wrap around me from behind. I melt into his embrace, my head resting on his chest. Despite not wearing his usual clothing, he still smells of leather and something earthy, and I wonder if it’s his cologne or shower gel. Whatever it is, it’s perfectly him and exactly what I need right now.
The flirty moment passes, and the weight of everything against us hovers heavily overhead as I sigh. Royce drops his head, inhaling like he needs to breathe me in as badly as I need to fill my lungs with him. “Let’s just get through today, sweetheart.”
The car ride to the cemetery is quiet. The kind of quiet that feels heavy, like a blanket that’s too warm and thick, pressing down on us. Logan’s hands grip the steering wheel tighter than usual, his knuckles white against the black leather. Royce stares out the window, his jaw clenched, lost in his own thoughts. Grayson is in the back with me, his gaze fixed on Aurora, who’s nestled between us, playing with the straps on her car seat.
Aurora, with her bright eyes and innocent curiosity, is the only one who doesn’t quite understand the gravity of today. She looks up at me with that wide-eyed expression that makes my heart melt and ache simultaneously.
“Mommy?” she asks, her voice small and uncertain, “You said we’re going to say goodbye to Gran, but… where did she go?”
