I sank into a chair. My vision blurred with tears, and I rested my head in my hand. “No, you can’t be serious. What happened?”
She sighed. “Her heart gave out. Might have been a blood clot from one of the surgeries.”
I fought back a sob. “I’m so sorry she’s gone. This is devastating. Do you need me to call Brantley and let him know?”
Even though I didn’t know Dolores at all, her voice sounded weary. “Thank you, it’s kind of you to offer, but I just got off the phone with him.”
“Okay. That’s good that you were able to talk to him. Is there anything else you need me to do?”
“Not right now. I’m sure we’ll be in touch once we’ve made arrangements.”
My voice hitched. “All right. Um, I had to change the locks here, so if you need a key, I can put one in the mail.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Yes, an officer contacted my brother, Barry, about the break-in. He’ll let you know when they’re coming, or the building super can let them in.”
“Right. God, I don’t know what to say. You all have my deepest sympathy.”
“Ines spoke very highly of you, Alexandra. You’re just as sweet and caring as she said.”
A fresh wave of tears rolled down my cheeks. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.”
“It’s appreciated,” she said, and ended the call.
I pulled the phone from my ear, and Rafferty dragged a chair up next to me and sat down. He pulled me toward him and gave me a hug. “I’m sorry, Lex. I know you wanted to be there for her.”
“Yeah,” I whispered.
Rafferty held me while I sobbed. Death always sucked, but losing Ines like this felt like a two-ton wallop to my heart. I pulled myself together after a couple minutes, but I had no doubt my eyes were puffy and pink.
The doorbell rang and I pulled away from him. With my phone in my hand, I hit the icon for the doorbell camera.
“Seriously?” I hissed, when I saw Brantley standing at the door.
Rafferty glanced down at my phone. His sinister grin made another appearance. “Let me, babe.”
I squeezed his leg before he stood. “Raff…don’t be mean. He’s a jackass, but I think he cared about Ines.”
He arched a brow. “Got that, but you know the deal. If he doesn’t want any shit, he shouldn’t start any shit.”
That almost made me smile since it brought back memories of my parents’ back yard. Mom loved playing ‘Don’t Start No Shit, Won’t Be No Shit,’ and we loved it growing up because it gave us an excuse to curse. I gave him the tiniest grin and nodded.
Rafferty opened the door. “What do you need?”
“I left some things here. I want to get them.”
The way Rafferty’s body straightened even as he twisted his head, I suspected his temper was brimming to the surface. “Lex just found out Ines passed away. From what I heard on her end of the conversation, they called you before her. And you think it’s a good idea to barge in here for ‘some things’ you left behind, have I got that right?”
“Don’t be an asshole. I’m not gonna take long and—”
“You’re the asshole here. Come back tomorrow.”
I stood and crept close to Rafferty’s side. “It’s okay. Really.”
For a lengthy moment Rafferty stared at me, then he turned back to Brantley. “Fine. But I’m watching your every move, asshole. If you’re here to look for your lost drugs, that isn’t happening.”
Brantley’s lip curled and he shook his head. “Whatever.”
Raff opened the door wider and Brantley went straight back to Ines’s room.
