Page 108 of Redemption
“He wasn’t thinking rationally,” Vaughn said. “He wanted someone to blame.”
I could understand that. But still, it felt personal. Like an attack on me specifically. Because it was.
I sighed, feeling heavy from all these revelations. I felt bad for Sheldon and his loss. And I felt bad for his aunt and what she’d endured. “What will happen to him now?”
“The team from Hudson handed him over to the authorities. He’ll be sent to trial, and you might be asked to testify.”
Great. Just when I’d thought this nightmare was finally over. Still, it was a huge relief to know he’d been caught.
“And you think that’s the end of it, right?” I asked.
“Correct,” Vaughn said. “But we will continue to investigate. Regardless, I’d still recommend a bodyguard.”
The rest of the call went fairly quickly, and Graham dismissed the board and the team from Hudson. Everyone filed out of the room, leaving Jackson and me alone with Graham, Knox, Nate, and Jasper.
“Should I—?” Jackson moved as if to leave.
“No. Stay.” I placed my hand on his arm. “Please?”
A look passed between us. “Of course.”
When I returned my attention to the screen, Nate was watching us with a bemused smile. And Graham’s lips were set in a firm line, though there was nothing new about that. It was his typical RBF, or “resting brooding face,” as Jasper liked to joke.
“How do you feel?” Knox asked, breaking the silence.
“Conflicted,” I said. “Relieved that it’s over, but also…sad.”
“Sad about the situation that led to the threats?” Nate asked, always reading me so well.
Jackson placed his hand on my back, rubbing circles in a calming motion. Jasper arched his brow at that, as did Graham. I ignored their curious looks, hoping they’d assume Jackson was my friend who was comforting me.
“It’s just a sad story,” I said. “And it’s unnerving, to think that a trusted employee could turn like that.”
“His actions have nothing to do with you, Sloan,” Jackson said. “You know what grief is like. How it can…skew the way you think.” I nodded, feeling my family’s eyes on us. Watching us intently. “He needed someone to blame, and you were a convenient target. That’s all.”
I could understand that, but Sheldon was so angry. I’d been devastated when my grandparents had died, but I’d leaned on my brothers. On Greer. I wondered who was there for Sheldon. Maybe no one.
“Can you give us a minute, Jackson?” Graham said to him.
I kept my attention on the screen. “Jackson’s staying.”
“Are you—” Jackson started to ask, but I squeezed his hand. He fell silent.
Graham and I had a wordless staring contest in which he told me to get rid of Jackson and I told him that Jackson wasn’t going anywhere. Normally, Graham would’ve dug in his heels. And eventually, I might have let it go, backed down. But perhaps Graham sensed that I wasn’t going to budge.
“Fine.” He pinched the bridge of his nose then glared at Jackson. “He has an NDA, and I have other ways of silencing someone.”
“Graham,” I hissed, annoyed by his threats. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to speak.
“Sloan,” Graham cut me off. “I know you hate it when we step in—or rather, when we overstep. But I’m your big brother, and I love you. It’s my job to protect you.”
I gaped at him. I couldn’t remember the last time he’d said those words. Sure, they were there, always beneath the surface, but it was nice to hear them all the same. And maybe I’d been a little too harsh, a little too stubborn.
“I was going to say thank you.” I smiled, appreciating both his acknowledgment of the fact that they had a tendency to overstep and shocked that he’d told me he loved me. “And I love you too.”
Even Graham seemed surprised, though it barely registered on his face before it was gone.
“I’d still like to have HR review our sick leave policies as well as our housekeeping procedures.” It was easier to focus on a path forward, on something to do.