Breathe

  “Yeah. You could say I'm his bitch.” Brody laughs at himself as I look at Linc in question.

  He looks down at me. “He's my assistant. Keeps me organized and does all the shit I can't do. Basically, he's my right arm.”

  “I see.”

  Linc puts his hand on the other guys shoulder and squishes his face with his other. “And this ugly mug is Calvin.” He’s shorter than both guys but built like Linc. He’s dark skinned, has a bald head and a killer smile. I'm pretty sure he makes the ladies want to drop to their knees and pray to him. If Linc wasn't in the picture, I’d think about doing it myself.

  “I haven't seen much of you at the house lately?” He returns his sentiment with a slap on the back.

  “Uh, yeah. It's been a while. I've been...” Linc glances back at me, “busy.”

  “I can see that.” Calvin smiles as he eyes me up and down. “Hi Grace. All the pretty girls call me Cal.” He politely shakes my hand and unleashes a 1000 kilowatt smile on me. “You can definitely call me Cal.”

  “Hey! She's mine dickhead!” Linc shouts.

  “It's a pleasure to meet you, Grace.”

  This one is hot. I can feel myself blush. I hope no one notices. How embarrassing.

  “It's nice to meet you.” I return with what I hope is a killer smile of my own.

  I fall into casual conversation with Linc's two best buddies while pretending to watch the football game.

  LINC AND I LEAVE SHORTLY after the game ends. I didn't watch much, mostly spending my time talking to Hayes and Rosabelle. I liked getting to know them more. Hayes isn't nearly as annoying as I thought she was. She's actually quite smart. If her job with a mainstream retailer doesn't work out, maybe she could work at the magazine.

  Linc pulls the Range Rover into his new spot under the apartment building. I know I told him he couldn't move in, but he practically has. I found out recently that he doesn't have a place here in the City. When he works at Mercury, which is almost always, he stays with Hayes here in Manhattan. He owns a townhouse in Jersey City, which he shares with Cal and Brody.

  I have to admit, as much as I didn't want him to move in here, I'm sure glad he pretty much has. I like him coming home to me after a long day of working and having a smile on his face, excited to see me. We’ve fallen into a comfortable routine with each other. Asher likes having a man around and Amy likes that he cleans up after himself. This relationship is so different from the one I had with Patrick. I don't babysit him. I don't have to feed his ego. I don't have to pretend. I can be me and it is the most liberating thing.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” Linc breaks through as he turns off the vehicle.

  “I'm just happy you're here with me.”

  “I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.” He leans over the center console and gives me a light kiss on the lips. After gliding out of his seat, he jogs around the front of the SUV and opens the passenger door for me. He holds his hand out for me to take and I do.

  In the elevator, Linc's hold of my hand gets tighter.

  “Are you okay?” I ask.

  “I'm fine. It's just...” He bows his head. “My father. He gets to me.”

  “I know. But you can't let him. You can't let him have control over you like that.”

  “Baby, I have to.”

  “No, you don't. The only thing you have to control is you.”

  “I do have to. There are things I owe him my life for. Things I truly can never repay him for.” He pulls and wraps his muscular arms around me. “Why are you so good to me?”

  “Because I can't resist that damn sexy smile of yours.”

  He smiles right on cue as the doors swish open. “Is that all I have to do?” He lays sweet kisses all over my face.

  ASHER AND AMY COME home while we're sitting on the couch with the puppy watching a movie. Linc jumps up as he notices Amy is carrying a handful of boxes to help her. Asher heads straight to his room without saying a word.

  “Is he okay?” I ask with concern.

  “He needs time. William was not on his best behavior tonight,” Amy states, putting the leftovers into the fridge.

  “I'll go talk to him.” Linc runs up the stairs to tend to my baby brother.

  “What happened?”

  “Asher asked your father if he would come to his next game. William said he didn't have time for frivolous activities. A shouting match developed and, long story short, Asher completely shut down.”

  “I can't believe this. I've made so much progress with them and then this happens.” I grab my phone from the kitchen counter. “Hi Daddy...Happy Thanksgiving to you too...It was nice. They are lovely people...Let's talk about that later. I need to talk to you about Asher...No Daddy. You can't treat him like that. His school activities are not frivolous. And Hockey means a lot to him...You have the time Daddy. Lord knows you have enough people working for you that you can take two hours out of your evening to watch your youngest son play in a game he loves...No you listen! It's not fair to him...He's been here for two months already. He really should be staying with you Daddy...No this isn't about Linc...Yes, he stays here most of the time, but this isn't about him...I know he can protect him, too. That isn't the point...Well, the point is that you are his father. I'm not his mother and I can't replace her...I understand, but you...Daddy!”

  I begin to cry.

  “I miss her too. But I can't be a mother to him...Fine. But only because I know he likes it here...I'm glad to hear you say that. I'm glad he's happy here, too...Yes. Linc will be fine with it. He really likes Asher...I love you, too Daddy...Bye.”

  That didn’t go how I’d wanted it to.

  I slowly make my way up the stairs to Asher's room. I peak in and see them playing some violent video game. I lean against the doorframe and watch. Linc is good for him. He has a way of calming Asher. And they seem to have bonded over video games and sports.

  Sigh.

  Boys will be boys.

  I'm cuddling on the couch with Duritz reading one of my favorite books that I've already read a million times when I'm startled by a pair of strong hands rubbing my shoulders.

  “Good book?”

  “It is.” I put the book down. “How's Asher?”

  “He'll be fine.”

  “I called Daddy. He wants him to stay here longer.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “That he could. Are you okay with that?” I really do want to know what he thinks about it. Asher would be around us a lot more.

  “Why wouldn't I be? He's your brother. Besides, it's not like this is my place.” He shrugs innocently and walks around the couch to sit next to me.

  “Seriously? You've spent almost every night here for the last two months.”

  “So?”

  What? Is he playing with me?

  “So... I guess I just assumed that you...that you were...” Ugh. Is he really going to make me say it?

  “That I was what, Grace? Living here?”

  “Well, yeah.”

  “You never asked me.”

  “I didn't know I needed to.” I flush from the weirdness of this conversation.

  After a few silent beats, he says, “Well, are you going to ask me?” He deadpans looking straight into my eyes.

  Damn it.

  Is he serious?

  Fine. I'll oblige.

  “Would you like to move in and live here with me?” God, I sound like an idiot.

  His oh-so-sexy smile stretches across his gorgeous face and he laughs from deep within him.

  “I assumed I already was.” He leans in and kisses me hard. I respond by opening my mouth, inviting him in. We play a little tonsil hockey and lose ourselves in each other for the night.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Moving Linc completely into the apartment was easy. He practically had everything here anyway. He's been out to Jersey City twice this week to pick up the bigger pieces of furniture. The apartment looks the same, except for the fourth bedroom and my closet. Th
e extra bedroom across from Asher's has turned into Linc's office with his home gym in the corner. My closet, on the other hand, is a mess and couldn’t possibly fit more stuff in it. Rafe came over yesterday and reorganized my clothes, shoes, and accessories to make room for some of Linc's. Thanks to the heavens, his stuff doesn't take up too much room. I still have three-fourths of the closet for just me.

  The last two weeks have flown by. My life is finally becoming somewhat normal. As normal as the life I lead can be. Linc has tried to be home for dinner with us every night, with the exception of Fridays and Saturdays. He's attended two of Asher's hockey games with me, and one without me that he brought Kennedy to. He even helps take care of Duritz. Seeing a six-foot-four, two hundred-thirty-pound man handling a four-pound puppy is the most adorable thing I've ever seen. My heart warms at the sight.

  Kennedy has spent some time with us, too. He spent all of last weekend here and has come to dinner a couple of nights. Linc likes that he’s comfortable here and Asher likes the company, since I don't like his little asshole friend and won't let him go out with him. They love to play video games and watch crappy TV.

  Linc's father has thankfully only called on him twice to head out to Jersey for meetings or whatever it is he does. Daddy hasn't called on him at all. Hopefully, at least on Daddy's end, he won't be needed at all anymore.

  I know, I know. Wishful thinking.

  I can't speak for Grant though. Daddy knows better for my sake, plus he has Miles. The only work Linc has been doing is for his own businesses. He has enough of them that he shouldn't be doing all this extra stuff for Daddy and his father. I don't like that he does that anyways. It's hard enough to accept that Miles does it. Friday and Saturday nights are hard when I'm here alone. My thoughts turn to the worst. When he went out to Jersey those two late weeknights he didn't come home until the early hours of the morning. I had no idea what he was doing and was afraid to ask. I'm not sure I want to know and I don't think Linc would tell me anyway. He tries to leave me out of his father's business. I don't think his affairs are the same as Daddy's, anyways. They seem shadier. I have my suspicions.

  We've had our picture taken and put up online a few times, of course, but nothing too bad to worry about. Mainly just going to dinner, Asher's games, or shopping. We attended one benefit that had pictures splattered over the society pages. I looked my usual societal self while Linc looked like he belonged on the cover of GQ. The public has figured we're “official” and must think we're a bit boring now. Which I obviously don't mind at all. We've had a somewhat peaceful life together.

  We’re building a kind of relationship that I didn't know existed. Linc isn't selfish, but he doesn't let me be selfish either. We spend every moment we can together, yet he gives me space. He never pushes me to do anything and I don't push either. He's patient and loving, telling me every night before we go to bed that he loves me, either in English or Italian. I haven't said it back yet and he hasn't pressured me to do so. He knows how I feel. I think I've made it pretty obvious. He also knows the emotional toll that Patrick took on me.

  Our life together has been calm, comfortable and easy. Until...

  There’s a burst through the door and a drawn-out shout of what sounds like pain mixed with panic. I run to the foyer and see Linc's large body being held up by Cal.

  He looks battered. Cal looks pretty disheveled, too.

  “Oh my God. What happened?” I put my hands on his face to bring his unfocused eyes up to mine. When they do, I see pain and anger.

  “Shit, Grace. They got me,” he whispers.

  “What? Who got you?” I help Cal haul him over to the couch in the living room.

  “I don't know.” He leans his head over the back of the couch. Bringing his right arm up and leaning it across his forehead, I can see cuts and shapes and forming bruises. They lace through his skin from wrist to bicep. With his left hand, he reaches for me and pulls me down to him. “Ah!” He yells as I fall in under his heavy arm. He tries squeezing me tighter. “Ti amo, mia bella ragazza,” (I love you, my beautiful girl.) he says into my hair as he weakly kisses the top of my head.

  “Shhh. I'll go get some things to clean you up.” I look over to Cal and nod at the kitchen to get him to follow me.

  Leading him to the kitchen, I turn, lean against the counter with my hip and cross my arms. “What in the hell happened?”

  He lets out a huge, exhausted sigh. “He called me up and wanted me to meet him at our gym. Said he had a fight with the old man again and needed to get out some aggression. We worked out a bit and had a couple of good spars. We left out the back to the parking lot and that's when it happened.”

  I reach out for Cal and grab him by the wrist. He sucks air in sharply between his teeth. I hadn't noticed the marks on him as well. I release him. “Please, Cal. Tell me,” I beg.

  “He was jumped by three douche-bags. I got in the mix thinking I could help, but one of them kept pulling me out. They clearly were after him. And only him.”

  My hand quickly covers my mouth as I gasp.

  Instinctively I go in search of my phone. I press the speed dial for the one person that can help us.

  It's answered on the first ring. “Hi, Gracie.”

  “Miles. I need your help,” I demand holding back tears.

  “Where are you?” he immediately asks in a concerned voice, picking up on my tone.

  “My apartment. Something’s happened,” I start crying. “Can you ask Melanie to come?”

  “We'll be there in twenty. Stay calm. Love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  I got both boys cleaned up as best I can and, right on time, Miles barrels into the apartment with Melanie and Parker close behind. Miles' eyes are darting around the room in a frantic search for me. He spots us on the couch and in a few long strides reaches me. Lifting me off the couch, he encircles me in his arms.

  Looking down at Linc he shouts, “What the fuck happened?”

  Linc opens his eyes and wearily looks at my brother. “Hey man.”

  “Linc. God. What’d they do to you?” He's seeing the split lip, lazy eye and cuts and bruises on his arms.

  “I got jumped outside the gym. I think there were three.” He glances over at Cal for reassurance. Cal nods. “Once they got me off my feet one guy just kept kicking me over and over. The other stood on my arms to hold me down.” He crooks his finger for me to come back over to him. I comply. He grabs my wrist and pulls me down to his side, draping his arm over my shoulders and tucking me into him. “I can't believe I didn't see it coming.”

  Melanie makes way to him and drops her doctor's bag on the floor next to Linc's legs. She looks over his face and then gently starts to lift his shirt revealing a few large reddish/purple splotches over his left side.

  “Oh man.” Miles shakes his head. “What can you tell me about the guys?”

  “Not much.” He takes in a deep breath through his teeth as Melanie tends to his side. “I never really saw them. I could hear them though. They were saying things like...” He stops abruptly. His lips clench together to form a straight line. He's clearly pissed. “Baby, can you make me something to eat? I'm starving.”

  He obviously doesn’t want me to hear this. “Sure.” I'm confused and hurt that he won't let me be in on the discussion.

  “A beer too, please.” I nod to him as I get up and go to the kitchen.

  Miles motions to Parker to remove Melanie from the conversation as well.

  “Hey Mel, why don't you help Gracie in the kitchen.”

  She nods at him and moves to the kitchen as she's told. She's used to these “boys only” conversations, too. Sexist assholes.

  Linc, Miles, Parker and Cal all sit leaning forward with their elbows on their thighs, speaking in hushed voices. Their faces are concentrated on each other. Linc says something while shaking his head that makes Miles sit back and yell.

  “Fuck no!”

  I come back into the room with a sandwich and a bot
tle of Peroni and set it on the coffee table in front of Linc. “What's wrong?”

  “Nothing you need to be concerned about Grace.”

  “Miles, I'm not an idiot. What's going on?”

  He takes his time, inhaling deep breaths while he contemplates sharing information. He glances at Cal, then Parker and finally Linc to see if they all agree. Linc sighs and nods hesitantly.

  “Gracie.” He motions for me to sit on the couch across from the chair he's occupying. I do. With a sigh he says, “They were making comments about you.”

  Me?

  “What do you mean?”

  He grabs for my hands and looks me square in the eyes. “They were saying things like 'this is for Grace' and 'stay the fuck away from her'.”

  I look over to Linc. He's remaining stoic, except for his eyes. They’re aggravated and give him away. Staying in his leaning position, he doesn't move.

  “Grace, whoever they are they don’t want me with you.”

  “I don't understand. Who were they?” I'm uneasy and become fidgety. Linc puts his arm around me, which eases me a bit, but I still don't feel right about this.

  “We don't know, yet,” Cal adds.

  “Trust me, Gracie, I’ll work damn hard to get these fuckers,” Miles says with determination. “No one gets to protect you but me.”

  “Uh...ahem.”

  “And Linc, of course.”

  The thought makes me feel a little more secure. Just a little.

  “But I still don't get this. Who are these guys and why do they think they need to protect me from Linc?” I look over to him for answers.

  “Baby you need to let this go for now and let us take care of it,” Linc says a little calmer than before.

  “But I-”

  “Grace!” He raises his voice this time which makes me jump, then lowers it immediately. “Just let us handle it.” He then nuzzles his nose into my hair and kisses my temple.

  I need to get out of this living room. I need out of this conversation. I need away from these men. “I’m going to make a phone call.” I stand and head to the hallway.

  “Gracie,” Miles calls. “It's going to be okay.”