Page 93 of Graves

She’s still perched on the armrest beside me, swinging her foot.

“I don’t know,” I answer. “I’ve started using the back entrance.”

“Does he know about the family business?” Levi asks, turning the volume down again.

I nod, still watching Aran on screen. “He did that for me.”

Without sound, he looks even worse—he can’t mask his true condition with words. Dark shadows sit under his eyes as though he hasn’t slept in days.

Olena gets up and walks back to the desk to grab her cup. “For you or for himself?” she asks before taking a sip.

“For me.” At least I think so. When Leslie told us the paparazzi had turned their attention on me, Aran was the one who tried to calm me down. He promised to put a stop to it—without even knowing the full truth. He respected my wishes from the start and felt bad that his presence had flipped my life upside down.

“Does Dad know who your new roommate is yet?” Levi asks. “I bet he’d get a real kick out of it.”

“Why?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.

“Well, Aran Graves is a convicted murderer.”

“He’s not a murderer!” I snap, then rein myself in. “He wouldn’t hurt anyone—I know that now.”

“Maybe that’s why you two get along so well,” Levi continues, unfazed. “I mean… you killed Jerry.”

“It hollowed me out and ruined my life,” I reply in a flat, gritted voice.

Levi throws his head back. “God, Koh! That’s ancient history. Why are you so damn stubborn about trying to be someone you’re not? You’ve got it in you. Accept it already and come back to us. Can’t you see we need your skills?” He points at the large bandage on his own stomach.

“Put a shirt on already,” Olena groans.

I ignore Levi’s invitation and point at the large window to my right that overlooks the gym. “Where’s Damian? I haven’t seen him. He usually trains on Saturdays too.”

“Your dear cousin picked up a job,” Olena says with a meaningful look. “I sent him and Nikos to the container depot. A shipment’s coming in today.”

“Why would you send those two together?” I ask, more horrified than surprised. “They can’t stand each other.”

“Ah, well, a little fun never hurt anyone,” Olena says with a wink, glancing down into the gym. “Oh! They’re here.” She sets down her mug and smooths out her top. “For God’s sake, put some clothes on, idiot,” she hisses, giving herself one last look in the mirror beside the door before leaving the office.

“Who?” I ask, getting up too.

Levi pulls on a fresh T-shirt and grins. “I thought you didn’t want anything to do with the family business anymore. You’d rather walk a pack of dogs.”

I roll my eyes and nod. “Fine. You’re right. I don’t want to know.”

Through the window, I watch Olena descend the stairs and greet two rough-looking guys at the front desk.

“I don’t like this,” I say. “She needs a bodyguard when she meets guys like that.”

“She has one,” Levi says, stepping up beside me. We both look down at the reception area. “But she’d rather send him off with Nikos to the depot for fun.”

“Damian?” I laugh, knowing it’s a joke. “I thought he was your bodyguard,” I tease my brother.

“Pffff…” Levi scoffs. “As if I need a bodyguard.”

I poke him in the side again. He flinches. “Ow! Cut it out!”

“You need it, buddy,” I say with a smirk. “You know it.”

“I’ve calmed down.”