Custom Built (Fast & Fury #1) - Chantal Fernando Page 0,24

I admit, placing the mug down on the coffee table and burying my face in his neck and shoulder. “Why did this happen, Crow? I’ve lost both my parents now. And my dad...he was... God. He was my rock.”

“I don’t know why it happened,” he whispers back. “There’s no answer to that, Bronte. Life is unfair, and bad things happen to good people, and no one can control that.”

I cry some more.

“I’ve got you,” he says, and I don’t know why, but I believe him.

The Chinese food arrives, and I eat a proper meal for the first time in days. Crow cleans up my apartment and even changes my sheets for me. Where did this man come from? I shouldn’t have to have him doing these things for me, but it’s almost like I’ve given up on life.

I need to fight. I know my dad wouldn’t want to see me like this. He’d want me to be strong, and to push through.

I just don’t know how to do it without him.

“Thank you, Crow,” I say as he comes out of my bedroom. “Thank you for breaking in here and...for everything.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” he replies, sitting back down with me. “I promised your dad that I’d look after you, and I meant it, Bronte. I’m here for you.”

My tummy is full.

My house is clean.

My heart is...empty.

But still beating.

And that slow, soft strum is going to have to be enough to save me.

* * *

“Hey, Nadia, could you please call me back when you get this message? It’s important, thanks,” I say into her voice mail.

Placing my phone down on my side table, I look up at the ceiling and know I have to push myself to get out of bed, and out of this apartment. Crow has dropped by for the last four days, making sure I’ve eaten and that I’m okay, and I don’t know how I’m ever going to thank him for being here in my darkest hours. He was my strength when I had none, but now I’m going to have to stand on my own two feet.

After thinking about Dad’s death, and how something about it just isn’t right, I know I have to do something. I need answers. I need to give him justice. I need the truth.

I have a shower, get dressed in jeans, a white T-shirt and my white Nikes, and open my front door.

I take a deep breath before stepping over the threshold. This is me facing the world, instead of hiding from it.

This is me facing life without my dad in it, and boy, is it hard.

Getting into my car, I have a reason for pushing through, a purpose.

I’m going to find out what really happened to my dad.

And I’m not going to stop until I know the truth.

Chapter Eight

My first stop is Uncle Neville’s house. While I’m waiting on Nadia to call me back, I’m going to see what my uncle knows, and to see how he’s handling the loss. It’s not just me who will be grieving right now, and I know it was selfish of me to just shut everyone out, but I did what I had to for myself at that time.

When I knock on the door, he answers straight away. “Oh, Bronte,” he whispers, pulling me into his arms for a bear hug. “I’ve called, I’ve come to your apartment... Where the hell have you been?”

“I’m sorry, I’ve just been trying to deal,” I admit, clearing my throat. “How are you?”

He looks away. “Trying to deal, too. Freddy was the best younger brother in the world, you know that?”

“He used to say that you were the best bigger brother in the world,” I admit.

“I don’t know about that,” he murmurs after a slight hesitation.

We step inside and I follow him to his spacious kitchen. Sitting at the marble bench, I watch as he makes us some coffee.

“I’m glad you came by,” he says after a few moments. “We need to stick together right now, and I want you to know I’m here for you. Whatever you need.”

“I know,” I say, smiling sadly. “I actually did want to talk to you about Dad. I know it sounds like the grief talking, but I don’t think he overdosed on pain meds, and that’s what they’re telling me.”

I look him in the eye. “I want to know what you think, and please be honest.”

“Bronte...” he murmurs, exhaling deeply. Yeah, he’s not going to enjoy this conversation any