Aria Graice - 24. Chapter 24

“I-I don’t… I don’t know what to say. I swear nothing’s gone on: nothing at all. I had no idea he felt like that about me. He’s never given any indication…”

“And what about you, Mr. Chance? How do you feel about him?”

Drew held Henley’s eyes for a few more moments, then dropped his head. “I’ve never done anything—”

“I didn’t ask what you’ve done,” Henley said, not unkindly. “I asked what you feel.”

“I…feel….” Drew groped for words that wouldn’t come, and as the seconds ticked by they stacked up higher and higher behind the constriction in his throat.

“That’s what I thought,” Henley said.

“I’ve never been anything other than professional,” Drew managed to say, glancing at Henley who looked kind, but sad.

“If I thought you had this would have been a very different conversation. I know you are an honourable man, and a professional one. That’s why I’m asking you to leave, not having you removed. Of course, I’ll make sure you’re paid whatever is due, and that you have an excellent reference. See Alicia and she’ll work out the necessary details.”

Panic struck Drew as he realised what was happening. Yes, he’d decided to walk away but he hadn’t, not really. He’d never thought…

“Wait. But, Aria… I need to…”

“I’m sure you’ll be informed by someone when Aria is safe. I’ll take over responsibility for keeping him that way.”

Drew bit back a retort. It would have been better if Henley had done that a lot sooner. He was being a terrible hypocrite at the moment, but he was still the twins’ father and he always would be. Surely, it was better this way; better for Henley to be in the boys’ life than Drew.

“Thank you, Mr. Chance. I’m not in any way seeking to take away from what you’ve done for my boys. You were a friend when they badly needed a friend.”

“What they needed was a father.” Drew stopped and bit his lip, ready for the explosion. Henley only looked sadder.

“I won’t dispute that. I let them down, and I’m sure I will again, but for now, for this, I’m their father and I’m doing what I think is right by them. Drew, you’re a good man. I saw that the moment I met you, but you’re not the one my boys need. Not now. They’re vulnerable in ways you don’t even know about and they need someone their own age to just take them out and have fun.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“I know my boys. I know what they need, and I know what they don’t need.”

Drew took a breath to say many things – that Henley did not, in fact, know his boys at all if he thought that what they needed was to party, that he had no right to claim to know anything about them when he hadn’t been there for them, that he didn’t know Drew at all or what he might have to offer. So many things flew through his head, chief among them how unfair the situation was. But he didn’t say anything. It would be pointless. He simply nodded, then turned on his heel and walked out of the room and out of the hospital without giving Henley, Jeff or Jay a second glance.

Drew was too angry to think of public transport and he’d arrived in a police car, so he simply walked. He had no idea where he was walking to, only that he had to keep moving, keep pushing through the anger and pain. The twins had become such a big part of his life in such a short space of time, he could barely imagine life without them. To never hear their voices, feel their energy, see their smiles. It was almost too much to bear and Drew had an irrational urge to punch something.

After hours of unsuccessfully trying to outrun his emotions, Drew made his way home, changed then headed back to the Graice house for the last time. He paused before opening the door with his key, then knocked. Mason answered and raised an eyebrow.

“Lost your key, sir?”

“It’s no longer my key. Is Miss Montgomery in?”

Mason’s eyebrows raised even further. “In her office, sir. Can I bring you a drink?”

Drew laughed bitterly. “God, I need one, but I think it best wait until I’ve finished up here. Thank you anyway.” He smiled at Mason, whom he’d come to know as a good, solid, steady man. He’d miss almost everyone he’d met in this house.

“In case I don’t see you before I leave – it’s been a pleasure working with you.” He held out his hand and Mason took it in a firm shake.

The seemingly unflappable man looked as surprised as Drew had ever seen him. “The pleasure is mutual, sir. Good luck with whatever comes next.”

“Thank you.”

With a curt nod, Drew turned his back and strode to Alicia’s office. He knocked but didn’t wait before opening the door.

Alicia looked up sharply, then stood. “What in God’s name is going on? How could you walk away now? Now, of all times. Don’t you think they’re going to need you more than ever? Please don’t tell me it’s because you blame yourself for what happened because that’s the most monumentally stupid and selfish thing I’ve ever heard.”

Drew couldn’t help a small smile. “I take it you’ve heard I’m leaving, then.”

“I know what Mr. Graice thinks is happening, but he doesn’t know you like I do. I know you wouldn’t walk away from these boys when they need you so much. How do you think they can get through this without someone to keep them grounded, to make them feel safe? Don’t you understand you’re the only one who’s made them feel safe in a very, very long time, and they need that. They need you.”

Drew had to stop her speaking because she was breaking his heart with every word. He knew she was right and that was the hardest thing of all – that is own lack of control had robbed two people he cared very much for, the one thing they needed more than anything else. That’s what made his voice so sharp when he snapped at her.

“I’m sorry about that, but they’re not my problem anymore.”

“Drew! I thought I knew you better than this.”

“Well, obviously you were wrong.”

Alicia’s shocked expression faded and she looked concerned. “What happened? This is not you, Drew, I know that. What the hell happened?”

Drew gazed at her for a moment, wondering how much to tell her. “I’m not leaving because I want to, Alicia.”

“What?” She frowned. “I know Aria didn’t sack you, and I very much doubt Amara would have. At least, he wouldn’t have meant it. So…”

“Henley.”

“Henley sacked you? That’s insane. He has no right…”

“He was right. He was looking after his sons, and it might be too little too late, but in this case he was right.”

“Bollocks. He has no right at all. What could he…oh.”

The expression of pained understanding that crossed her face stabbed into Drew’s heart like the pointed heel of her stiletto. “What? What was that Oh supposed to mean?”

“Drew,” she said carefully, “Don’t take this the wrong way. I’m not questioning your professionalism, or making any suggestions you’ve done anything wrong, but…” She sighed and sat down, rubbing her temple. “Anyone with eyes could see the change – the way the boys, especially Amara, look at you…and the way you look at them.”

“I’m not—”

She held up her hand to silence him, and for some reason he obeyed. “I’m not suggesting for one minute you’ve acted on it, or ever would, but if Henley’s seen what I’ve seen, maybe he had a point. But…” She shook her head as Drew started to speak. “Wait. Listen to me. But, he’s wrong in what he’s done. No matter what he thinks, I know you would only ever do what’s right by the boys and they need you.”

“Amara told Henley he loves me,” Drew said flatly, the words falling like lead.

“Ah. Well, that’s a surprise, although it was probably the medication speaking. I didn’t think he’d say anything, at least not now.”

“You knew?”

“Things have changed recently, Drew. You’ve no idea what it was like before you came, or how big that change really was. Mamma Bear’s hold over this house has been breaking for a while, and after the incident with Ben I decided I’d never report anything back to her again. The twins had already come to me and I didn’t know what to do with the information they’d given me. I promised not to tell their mother, but it was something… They wanted advice I couldn’t give, other than that they needed talk to you and deal with the consequences. They promised to talk to you after the party, when the dust had settled, before you left.”

“They?” It was the only thing Drew’s stunned mind could grasp and hold on to.

Alicia chuckled. “You knew they come as a pair. The do everything together including, apparently, fall in love.”

“They don’t love me. They can’t. They just think they do because I’m the only one who showed love to them.”

“Maybe. Teenagers are always impulsive in these things, but I wouldn’t write them off that easily. They’re not as flighty as they seem. Not as vulnerable either. They’ve had their share of heartbreak and they know the difference between lust and love, even though I don’t think they’ve ever been in love before.”

“They’re not in love now.”

“No, but they could be, and they deserve their chance as much as anyone.”

“I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with you.”

“You need to have it with someone. They need you to have it with someone. You can’t walk away from this, Drew. Not now. Not when they need you so much.”

“This is ridiculous. It couldn’t work.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not having this conversation. I’m leaving. I’ll pack my things and I’ll be out of your hair.”

“Please, Drew. Just think about it.”

“Think about it? Do you imagine for a moment I’ve been thinking about anything else?”

Without giving her a chance to say another word, he turned and walked away.

It was harder than he thought, to walk through the hall, up the stairs, into he living room and then up again to his room – what had been his room. Evidence of the boys lay everywhere, from the discarded mugs on the coffee table, to the balloons and piles of presents. The wrapping paper had gone but the party leftovers and the cake had been gathered, arranged and carefully covered. Drew turned his face away and hurried on up the stairs.

When he came down again, carrying his case, he was surprised to see just about the entire staff waiting in the hall. He growled softly to himself, wishing they’d not. He wasn’t used to being so easily absorbed into a family, and that’s what this little group of people had become, and he was struggling to deal with his emotions.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Mason said, “but they would have been disappointed if you’d left without saying goodbye.”

Drew nodded to him, unable to speak.

“I’m sure you wouldn’t have dreamed of it,” Emma said knowing, of course, that he would have. “Here.” She thrust a box at him. “I know what you men are like for feeding yourselves. This should keep you going for a while.”

She gave him a quick, fierce hug then strode back to the kitchen pausing at the door. “We’re going to miss you. We’re all going to miss you.”

Charlotte led the others in firm handshakes, then they all dispersed, leaving only Mason and Alicia. Mason had already taken control of the food parcel and offered to take it down to the car, which Drew gladly accepted. When he had gone, Drew turned to Alicia.

“I’m truly sorry.”

“So am I,” she said. “Please think about what I said. The twins are not fragile and vulnerable and you wouldn’t be taking advantage of them if you—”

“I’ll think about it,” he cut in.

“But you won’t do anything about it, will you?”

“This is a different world, Alicia, and I might carve myself a place in it as a bodyguard, but anything else…” He shrugged. “It isn’t my world and never will be.”

“So, you’re holding it against them because they have wealth?”

“Holding it against them? No. God no. Those two…they’d shine wherever they are. I was an idiot when I came here.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Alicia said softly. “If you really care for something things shouldn’t matter. Whether they have nothing or everything. If it does matter then you’re not seeing the person, you’re seeing what’s around them and judging them by it.”

“I am not. I don’t…” He sighed. “It is what it is. It can’t be, and that’s an end to it.”

“Drew…”

“No. Please, no. I can’t do this.”

Without looking at her, or pausing at her call, he strode out of the house, down the steps and into the car. Alicia paused on the top step as he shook Mason’s hand once more and got into the car. He glanced at her once, just before he drove away.

After a bitter, sleepless night, Drew sat in his kitchen glaring at a full mug of coffee that had long gone cold. He’d paced and growled, fighting temptation to call the hospital, Alicia, anyone who could tell him what was going on. He kept reminding himself, bitterly, that no one wanted him anymore and no one was likely to tell him anything even if he called. He was nothing to the boys, a blimp in their lives, perhaps a catalyst that sent them on to better things, but no one important enough to call with news, no matter how important it might be.

After stewing through the long, dark hours, he’d come to a decision. He arranged a leave-of-absence with his employers, then called his mother, who was painfully happy to hear from him, although her happiness became tinged with concern when he asked if he could come home for a while. Of course, she’d said yes, and now all he was waiting for was some news from somewhere that Aria was safe, then he’d leave.

He wasn’t expecting a knock at the door, so it took him by surprise. He was still in his sleep pants and hadn’t bothered to shower or shave. It crossed his mind that he ought to do something about that but couldn’t really bring himself to care.

“You look like shit,” Jeff said, pushing past, as he always did. “I hope you’ve got coffee. I can’t stay long.”

“What are you doing here?” Drew was confused. Jeff was just about the last person he’d expected to turn up on the doorstep. “Shouldn’t you be at the hospital with Amara?”

“Amara’s fine. He’s being looked after. He’ll probably be going home sometime today, which is why I can’t hang around. I’ll have to be with him for the move.”

“Then why bother coming?”

Drew was even more confused. Jeff ignored him for a moment while he poured himself a coffee from the pot. “Goddamit man, this coffee’s so stewed I could stand my spoon up in it.”

“That’s how I like it.”

“Rubbish.”

Drew began to settle. It was an old argument that had become as comfortable as a pair of well-worn boots. He poured himself a fresh cup, emptying the pot, which he switched off.

“So?”

Jeff sighed and gazed at him over the coffee. “Aria’s safe,” he said at last, and Drew’s world tilted. He set his coffee mug down, but misjudged and the mug tilted, spilling coffee onto his hand and the table. He barely noticed.

“What happened?”

Jeff shrugged. “I can’t say I’m sure. After you left, Jay disappeared and I think they had a row with someone. They came back looking like someone had stuffed a firework up their arse and lit the fuse. They couldn’t sit still and kept fizzing about. Eventually, they ran off again and didn’t come back. I figure they tracked down Amara. As you can imagine they can be quite a force to be reckoned with when they want to be.”

“I guess. What about Aria?”

“Patience. I finished quite a few crossword puzzles. It was harder without Jay—that kid really has quite a head on them—but I managed. I got stumped on one, though. Maybe you can—”

“Jeff, please.”

Jeff huffed. “I don’t know what time it was, I’d lost track by then. Henley came bounding out, straight to reception. Obviously, I didn’t evesdrop but my ears perked up when I heard Aria’s name, and to be fair he wasn’t being quiet. As far as I can tell, the police tracked Aria’s signal to a farm a couple of miles away from the party venue. Clever as hell to lie low right around the corner. No CCTV on country lanes, and by the time the police arrived, the car was already out of sight in a barn, and everyone tucked up nice and cosy in the farmhouse.”

Drew frowned in confusion. “Surely it wouldn’t have taken them this long to find Aria and get to him.”

Jeff studied his coffee, then sighed. “We all know Ben wasn’t capable of planning something as slick as this on his own. They wanted to make sure they got the higher ups, so the staked out the place and used their tech to listen in.” He held up his hand. “Before you ask, I don’t know what they found out. They’re keeping that close.”

“But Aria was there? Safe?”

Jeff glanced at Drew, then back to his mug. Drew’s heart fluttered and he realized he was holding his breath. “Jeff?”

“He was still in the car.”

“They left him in the boot? All this time? Jesus. Is he alright?”

“Unharmed. They’re taking him to the hospital, as they always do, but I’m sure once he and Amara are together again they’ll both be fine.”

“What’s going to happen about his security.”

“Gordon’s on it.”

Drew relaxed. Gordon was another member of their team, and was a good, solid guard. He would keep Aria safe.

“Did they get the bastard who did this? Did they get Ben?”

“I have no idea. They got someone, but who it was and how high it was I don’t know. That will come later. For now, Aria’s safe and I thought you needed to know.” He set the mug down untouched. “I’d better get back. What are your plans?”

“I’m taking a break. Going home for a while.”

“You’re coming back.”

“Of course I am. I’d get bored without you bossing me around all the time.”

They paused at the door and Jeff laid a fatherly hand on his shoulder. “It was for the best, Drew. You know that.”

Drew nodded not trusting himself to speak. “I know.”

Jeff nodded. “Don’t stay away too long.”

As soon as Jeff left, Drew finished packing, took a quick shower and hit the road.