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“In a few minutes. I’ll show you to her recovery room.”
* * *
It’s midafternoon by the time Harrison sees Leni and makes arrangements to have her transported back to the villa later today.
Ash heads for the car, Harrison heading for his Ferrari.
I hold up a finger to tell my security to wait for me as I cross to Harrison.
“Should you drive?” I ask, leaning in the driver’s window.
He lifts his gaze to mine. “Yes. I’m all right.”
I nod, but before I can pull back, he lays his hand over mine. “Thank you. For being here.”
I swallow hard. “Of course.”
“No, not ‘of course.’ You’ve been keeping an eye on my family. All my family,” he goes on, meaning Leni.
I pull my fingers away. “What can I say? They grew on me.”
Our gazes hold as if neither of us wants to pull back from this shared connection. I’m not sure who needs it more.
Finally, I turn back and slide into the backseat of the car next to Ash.
This time when security asks where we’re headed, I say, “The villa.”
Ash cocks his head. “You want me to go another round with my brother?”
“You were barely conscious for the last one,” I point out. “And yes, you’re coming.”
His normally dancing blue eyes are dull, but he squeezes my shoulder. “I’ve had worse.”
We follow the Ferrari through the streets and up the driveway. When we get to the house, Ash tells me, “Think I’ll go crash for a bit.”
Harrison and I follow him inside, where a worried Barney greets us with a whimper. I scratch his head as Natalia emerges from the kitchen, looking equally concerned.
Harrison fills her in, and Natalia bustles off to get a room ready for Leni, and it’s just the two of us.
His sharp jaw is as stubborn as ever, his mouth pressed in a firm line, but his square shoulders are slumped as he crosses to the kitchen for water, pouring me one too. I take it and sip, my gaze lingering on the streaks of dirt caked on Harrison’s hands as he braces himself against the sink.
“Leni was always up for anything,” he mutters, “including a bar fight. I didn’t learn until later she was shy growing up. One of her friends from summer camp said she used to be timid. Wouldn’t play in the dirt for fear of staining her clothes.” His exhale is half laugh. “Can you believe it?”
I fold my arms across my chest. I want to go to him, but I can’t. Not yet.
“I led her to this, Raegan,” he whispers. “I blame my parents for what they did, but I’m no better.”
The agony in his voice guts me.
“You can choose to be better,” I say.
“My top employee is bleeding in the hospital. My brother is doing drugs from the same man who killed our parents. It’s my fucking fault.”
God, the blood and dirt on him is getting to me, almost as much as the way he’s speaking. “Come on.”
He looks up in surprise as I take his hand. I lead him upstairs and down the hall into his bedroom, tugging the door closed behind us.
I pull him into the en suite. Then I reach for the buttons on his shirt.
