Page 48 of Beautiful Trauma

After glancing left and right to make sure no one was listening, she pointed to my neck. “Blood spatter,” she replied in a whisper.

Fuck. I side-stepped her to stare at my reflection in the elevator. With a grimace, I started wiping away the blood I’d missed. A hand with a damp handkerchief appeared before me. Shane, Isla’s bodyguard, gave me a tight smile. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

While I wouldn’t have given two shits for the Korolovas to have seen the blood, it was about the others who lived in the building. Although we owned four floors, we worked hard to keep up legitimate appearances.

After handing Shane the handkerchief, I forced a smile to my face. “It’s all your husband’s fault,” I joked.

As Isla cradled Rian’s head in her hands, she eyed me with concern. “I didn’t know it was you taking over the enforcing.”

I shrugged. “I was glad I could help.”

She shook her blonde head. “We both know that’s not a healthy way for you to express your emotions.”

Five years ago, when I’d been sinking in a quicksand of emotion over my involvement in Maeve’s rape, I was desperate for someone to talk to. Since traditional therapy was out of the question for a man like me, I’d reached out to Isla since I felt we were unified in trauma. Hers was from losing both of her parents in a car accident.

My skin shrank over my bones at Isla’s appraisal. Clenching my jaw, I replied, “I can’t do this right now. I’m late for a meeting.”

“I’m here when you need me.”

I nodded at her. “Thanks, Isla.”

She gave me a sad smile. “Take care until then.”

“I will.”

My chest tightened as I whirled away from her. After smacking the button for the elevator, I watched her reflection disappear out the front with Shane right behind her. After stepping inside, I tapped the 4th floor.

As the elevator lurched upward, I took a few deep breaths. There was no way in hell I could look rattled to my brothers. I also wouldn’t give Korolova the satisfaction.

When the door opened on our office space, our secretary, Laurel, popped out of her seat. Holding my hand up, I said, “I know, I know. I’m late.”

“It’s okay. Korolova is five minutes out, and the others are waiting for you inside.”

“Thanks.”

Before I could open the door to the office, it flung open revealing a red-faced Callum. “Where the fuck have you been?”

“Nice to see you, too,” I replied, as I side-stepped him into the office. Quinn and Dare sat beside each other at the large mahogany table.

“This is an important meeting,” Callum challenged.

Giving him a pointed look, I said, “I was taking care of another enforcement case for Quinn.”

Quinn furrowed his brows. “What case?”

“Shaunessey.”

“I told you he was on the back burner for now.”

“I had the time, so I decided to take care of it.”

I ignored the shared look of concern from Dare and Callum. “You shouldn’t have done it,” Quinn protested.

“I made it to the meeting, didn’t I? So get off my dick.”

The muscle in Qunn’s jaw clenched. “I’m not talking about the fucking meeting. I’m talking about you losing yourself in torture,” he gritted out.