to the elevators. He rode up and the whirl settled into his stomach, the car shooting up to the Penthouse once he slid his card into the PH1 slot.
When the door opened, the view of the city knocked him back a step. How he missed it. All the apartments on that floor were on one side and a giant wall of glass sat on the other. He’d trekked to that apartment many nights drunk, mornings hungover, and afternoons when he hated all the hours he had to fill in between. How the nothingness had consumed him.
In his heart, he imagined bringing Sabine there. That the universe would flip so she could return to New York, but not be hauled off to marry a man she didn’t love. And he’d stay there in New York even if he didn’t have his part.
Swiping into his apartment, his throat went tight.
Would he have made that trade?
Her freedom for his role.
He gripped the floor-to-ceiling column outside his chef’s kitchen realizing the answer to that one, was a big fat...
Yes.
The carry-on bag slipped from his shaking hand, and he started to lose his balance.
“Hey, I got you.” His cousin Sebastian rushed in from the open door and held him up.
“Seb, man, holy shit. You’re supposed to be in Atlanta.” Grayson hugged him. He’d not seen his brothers in almost a year, but he hadn’t seen Seb in almost two. “Is Kennedy here?”
“No, she had to work. Call her, though. I’m in town for an orthopedics conference. Luke texted me and said they were all heading out to New Jersey to pick you up. I couldn’t get out of there until now. It’s so good to see you, man. You look great.”
It was hard to believe that almost two years had gone by when Seb’s sister had gotten married right there in the hotel. Seb and Kennedy had been separated for six months, but they made up that weekend. Right there in his apartment.
Sebastian leaned against the column, looking sharp as hell in a dark blue double-breasted suit. His dad had lent Gray’s dad money for the hotel which gave Seb a share of the profits every month. That and being a celebrity orthopedic surgeon made his cousin a billionaire, too.
“Where are you staying?” Gray asked, picking up his bag again.
“Downstairs in one of the villas.”
Only later in life had Gray considered how disappointed Seb’s dad must have been with his brother, who’d left his wife and three kids. When Seb’s marriage was in trouble, Gray and his brothers helped him out. And if Luke or Tristan were ever so stupid to leave Lexi or Laney, the rest of the Harts would hold him down and talk sense into him.
That’s the family he was proud to be part of.
The Harts are good men. That included Dr. Sebastian Hart.
“You can stay up here with me if you want, Seb.” After nine months away from everyone, Gray didn’t want to be alone.
Seb laughed. “And cut into your naked time?”
Gray smiled and crossed his arms. “Who said you’d be cutting into it?”
“That morning I’d seen enough,” Seb said and punched him in the shoulder. “Kennedy, too. Thank you very much. It’s a miracle I got her back after she saw your gigantic dick.” Seb laughed. “I want to call my wife and check emails. I’ll see you down in the lobby later, right?”
“Right.” He nodded even though he just wanted to be naked where he felt most like himself. Can’t do that in the lobby.
Thanks, Luke.
Gray’s heart pounded realizing he’d not compromised who he really was around Sabine at all. She accepted him. All of him. Naked or clothed.
Without her, he felt like...nothing.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Sabine
Sabine sat on a wooden bench in the solarium of her parents’ house holding her middle. She stared out at the vast yard not many people in Astoria had. She grew up with privilege, but didn’t understand how her parents could shelter her until the noose had been placed gently around her neck. Her home had at one time offered her secure and comfortable feelings, and now the place of happy memories had been decimated.
Despite her mother making lamb stew for dinner the night before and having her brothers all around her, she hadn’t been able to eat.
To her, it was the last supper.
Her meal before the chair.
The final sunset.
Or...
She was missing Grayson.
Seven days with that man and he’d gotten under her skin. Never mind, into her skin. Her body. Her soul.
After dinner, her parents had