I laughed. “Clearly not one for the spotlight,” I nodded with a grin, glad to see Ry so happy.
The grin fell away as I set eyes on my brother. His dark gaze searched the room landing on Axel as his legs ate the space to get closer. I watched him stride across the room his fists clenched and expression grim.
The two men exchanged words with both their eyes glancing my way more than once. I could see a clear “fuck” slip from Axel’s lips.
Well, that couldn’t be good.
Axel turned on his heel walking toward me with measured steps. His expression was difficult to read as his eyes met mine.
“What happened?” I demanded, my heart racing as I held Maddox closer. The noise and commotion around us was suddenly overwhelming. I felt like I couldn’t breathe as panic set in.
My eyes shot between my husband and my brother, beseeching one of them to tell me what the hell was going on.
“Soph,” Sal’s voice was full of sympathy and concern as he regarded me.
That really scared me. My brother was many things. Sympathetic wasn’t one of the emotions I’d seen in him before.
“Tell me what the hell is going on!” I demanded, my eyes wide.
“C’mere,” Axel coaxed as quietly as the noise in the room would allow. He took my hand leading me back toward the offices. I held Maddox with my other arm focusing on the warmth and solidity of his little body.
Sal followed us, his hands shoved in his pockets his head hung low.
“I want to take you home,” Axel stated when we’d rid ourselves of the crowd.
“You want to drive all the way home without telling me what’s happening?” I demanded incredulously.
He sighed, his hand cupping the back of his neck looking to the ceiling as though it would provide him with an answer.
Studying them both, my eyes shot between them. This wasn’t about an impending threat. No, this was something different. They were upset – for me.
Suddenly I knew.
“It’s my father, isn’t it?” I choked out with stunning clarity. My limbs began to shake when they didn’t rush to dispute me.
“Come here, buddy.” Sal held his arms out for Mad, taking his weight from me and holding him close.
I looked to Axel, my eyes imploring him as he pulled me close, his chin resting on the top of my head.
“I’m sorry, baby,” he whispered.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying desperately to grapple with what his apology meant.
My father was dead.
The imposing, larger-than-life figure who had ruled so much of my life. He was…gone. He hadn’t been warm. He’d been distant and stern. He expected so much and gave nothing in return. He always had his own agenda that much had been made especially clear in the last year. But, he was still my dad.
I was overwhelmed with the fact that he’d been wiped from the earth.
“He’s…” I couldn’t say the words as I clutched the fabric of Axel’s t-shirt in my fist.
“Yeah, baby he’s gone. I’m sorry,” he replied, his hand clutching my hair pulling me closer.
I looked up at him through tears, surprised by his sympathy. “You’re sorry?” I queried.
“Sophie,” his voice was hoarse as his grey eyes lit with emotion peering down at me. “Does this hurt you?”
I nodded.
