No platitudes.
Nothing.
Just his arms, wrapped tightly around me.
Like most landslides, the grief came with debris. Guilt, shame, anger, and regret. Bone-deep loneliness.
How had I failed her so badly?
Jason’s hand moved to stroke my hair, and somehow, in the safety of his arms, I finally let myself cry for the sister I’d lost twice.
Chapter Fifteen
JASON
“I wishI knew how to help her.” Cuddling next to Ari, Anna was waiting for me when I returned to the first floor. She held the pacifier to Elias’s mouth as she cradled him.
We were lucky Anna dropped everything for us. We’d explained what happened with Cora, and Anna and Ari had taken Elias to the courthouse for his visitation with Colter.
Cora cried most of the day. She’d ranged from angry to blaming herself for her sister’s death.
There were no words I could have uttered that would have helped, so I held her. That’s all I did aside from offering tissue to dry her eyes or wipe her nose.
Eventually, she’d cried herself to sleep.
I took a seat on the chair across from my sister and slouched down. “I know, but we can’t. She’s hurting, and all of her feelings are valid. If we try to minimize them, it’ll only hurt her more.”
“Wow. My big brother is breaking out the psychology.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s a fact. We can’t change that she had a fight with her sister or that she lost her sister. We just have to lether cry. Knowing we’re here is good. When she’s ready to talk or whatever, we’ll be here.”
“You should just tell her you love her.” She smiled.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Please, just stop.”
“Babe, would you take him for a bit while I talk to Jason?”
Ari nodded. “Yeah.” He smiled and motioned for her to give him the baby. His face lit up as Anna set Elias in his arms. “Come on, little man, let’s find some mischief.”
Once we were alone, my sister moved to the edge of the couch. “I love you both, and you belong together. She loves you just as much as you love her. I don’t understand why you don’t just sit down and talk.”
“Anna, Cora is in the middle of a life-altering situation. She needs time to adjust. Her emotions are raw right now. She just lost her sister. Gaining custody of a baby isn’t a small thing. I’m not going to add anything to her plate.”
She groaned. “Did you ever think that maybe it would lighten the load if she knew she had someone who was going to be there for her and help her? Someone long term?”
“Or make it worse since I nearly got her killed. Think about it. I can’t risk their lives again.”
“What makes you think you’d be risking their lives? Michael is gone.”
But our family business wasn’t. “I’m still the head of this family. I have enemies. I’m a danger to her.”
She stood, an eyebrow arching. “Everyone has enemies. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a family. Doesn’t mean you can’t find love. You were ambushed.”
I came out of the chair, my voice a little sharper than I expected. “As if others won’t do the same thing?” I rubbed my face with my hands. “I’m done talking about this. I can’t…”
She crossed the space and hugged me around the waist. “You are kind and loving, sweet and protective. You are the perfectman for her. You love her and Elias.” She leaned back, her hands still at my waist. “That little boy is going to need a father, and you would be amazing.”
My eyes closed as I shook my head.
