them. “I’m sorry, Eva. I’m so, so sorry. I have to live with that guilt every single day.”
“Good.” I rise to my feet and storm out of the house.
“Eva, wait,” Graham calls after me. “You can’t leave yet.”
I spin around on the lawn and hold my arms out wide. “Everyone around me knew. They knew and they did fucking nothing. They kept me in the dark. And now Eric’s gone. They could’ve done something!” My voice breaks. “I could’ve helped him.”
I could’ve helped him.
I could’ve done something.
I could’ve done more.
Graham tries to wrap his arms around me, and I almost let him. Instead, I push against him and pound on his chest. “No! You don’t get to hold me while I cry! You’re a fucking liar and I hate you! You ruined everything!”
Graham lets me get a few punches in before he seizes my forearms. “It’s going to be okay, Eva.” He pulls me back into his embrace, squeezing my arms between us so I can’t break free. “It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you. It’s going to be okay.”
I lose the battle. My knees buckle and Graham holds my weight up, consoling me while I weep in the safety of his arms. I bury my face in his chest and let my tears soak through his shirt.
“There’s nothing you could’ve done,” he says in a low voice, stroking my hair. “Eric had a problem. You couldn’t have saved him. Stop blaming yourself.”
It used to make me feel so good that Graham understood me in a way no one else could. Now, it only breaks whatever fragments are left of my heart.
“I can’t take this anymore,” I whimper. “It hurts too much.”
“I know.” He presses a kiss to the top of my head. “We’re almost done. You can’t leave things with your mom like this. This is not her fault. And it’s not your dad’s either.”
“The hell it isn’t.” I step out of Graham’s hold and wipe my nose with the end of my sleeve. “He needed them. He needed help.”
“Your brother had a problem, and your parents did the best they could. At the end of the day, it was up to Eric to seek help. He chose not to. It’s sad and it’s tragic, but that’s what happens sometimes.” He lifts my chin with his fingers. “I know you know this deep down. You’re just angry right now, and that’s okay.”
I glance at the porch where Mom’s standing, watching us. I heave a sigh and run my fingers through my hair. Graham’s right. But I need to stay angry just a little longer. It’ll help me get through the rest of today.
“Come on,” Graham says.
I huff out a breath and follow him back inside. We settle on the couch again, and I down the rest of my tequila.
Mom’s eyes bounce between me and Graham. “Are you two dating?”
I roll my eyes. “Now’s really not the right time for girl talk.”
“That’s not why I’m asking.” She turns and speaks to Graham. “You look a lot like your father.”
“That’s as far as our similarities go.”
“You care for my daughter.”
“I do.”
“Then you should stay away from her.”
My palm slaps against the couch cushion. “Mom!”
“It’s okay,” Graham says, patting my knee.
“Elliot is an evil, hateful man.” Mom leans forward, her eyes wide as she talks. “I think he was responsible for sending those men after Eric.”
My head snaps to Graham, but he looks just as shocked as I am.
Then recognition snaps into place. “The letter,” he murmurs, scrubbing a hand over his jaw. “It said Brooklyn. I can’t believe I missed that.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
“My father likes to gamble. He’s a bookie, and hosts card games out of his office in Brooklyn at night. In his letter to your parents, Eric mentioned gambling in Brooklyn.” He shakes his head and brings his gaze to meet mine. “Your brother was jumped by two men, Eva. Take one guess who they might’ve been.”
Two men ...
“The same men who abducted me.”
Graham nods.
“I’m sorry, what?” Mom holds up her hand. “You were abducted?”
Graham fills her in on what happened leading up to him becoming my body guard, and fresh tears stain her cheeks again. “What if he doesn’t stop? What if he comes for her again?”
“My original plan was to take Eva out of here,” Graham says. “Move away, somewhere where Dad couldn’t find us. But things have changed.”
Mom looks to me for an explanation.
“Graham lied to me, Mom. I thought he was protecting