Admitting it made me sound even more broken, even more screwed up, because I refused to let go of the past. Rationally, I knew no matter how many faces I stared into none of them would be Lori’s. She was gone, her body claimed by the sea. Nothing would change that. I wasn’t sure which was worse. Living with the memory of her corpse or living with the lack of resolution. Inventing her face became easier as time went on, as I saw more dead bodies claimed by unforgiving waters. Greater familiarity with her method of death meant cobbling together her final moments and the end result became as routine as signing my name on paperwork.

“Goddamn it, Ellis.” He pulled a hand through his thick hair. “What I said to you in Wink—I had no right.”

“Survive a loss of that magnitude and then we can talk about acting rationally.”

“It’s fine.” A pleading note entered my voice. “I’ll forgive you if you get me out of here.”

“Vause will be pissed if she comes looking and can’t find you.” Mischief glimmered in Graeson’s eyes, and I glimpsed the man he had been before losing his sister, who he might be again one day if he fought hard enough. “Come on. Let’s go. It’s not like she can’t find you if she needs to.” He traced the bruised skin under my eyes with his finger. “You can catch up on your sleep.”

“That sounds…really good.” Even better than chai.

“We’re having dinner.” He helped me stand. “I want you to be awake for it.”

“D-dinner,” I spluttered. “I didn’t agree to—”

“I mentioned you, me and dinner in the same sentence this morning.” He took my elbow, and warmth spread from that small contact. “You didn’t refuse, which is the same as accepting.”

“Why are you doing this?” I tugged against him. “Why do you care?”

“You aren’t taking care of yourself,” he rumbled. “These girls need you—I need you—at your best. If that means force-feeding you and rocking you to sleep at night, I’ll do it.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Heat roasted my cheeks until they would have scalded his hands if he touched them again. “I can take care of myself.”

“We’ll see,” he said so dismissively I knew he had already made up his mind to be my keeper for the duration of the case…whether I wanted him to or not.

Chapter 8