Chapter 6
The fluorescent lights of the morgue buzzed with a sterile, mechanical hum. The air smelled of antiseptic and cold steel, a scent that made Audra’s stomach churn violently. She walked a half-step behind Gideon, whose imposing, masculine frame seemed to absorb the bleakness of the corridors. The night attendant, an older man with tired eyes, had taken one look at Gideon Ashcroft, paled, and immediately unlocked the heavy steel doors leading to the holding freezers.
Gideon stood by the metal table as the attendant carefully pulled the heavy drawer open. The metallic screech echoed loudly in the quiet room.
Audra stopped walking. Her slender frame shook so violently that she had to grip the edge of a nearby counter to keep from collapsing. The reality of the moment—the finality of seeing Mason—was a crushing weight pressing down on her chest.
"Do you need a moment?" Gideon asked, turning his head to look at her. His observant eyes were filled with a quiet, profound empathy that seemed entirely at odds with his reputation as a ruthless killer.
"I can do it," Audra breathed, forcing her legs to move.
She stepped up to the table. Mason looked peaceful, his skin pale and cold, the traumatic wounds hidden beneath a crisp white sheet. Audra let out a shattered sob, her hands coming up to cover her mouth. She collapsed against the edge of the table, weeping openly, her tears falling onto the cold steel.
Gideon stepped back, giving her the space she needed. He stood like a silent sentinel in his dark tailored suit, his hands clasped behind his back, his posture rigid with respect. He watched the woman mourn the man who had traded his life for Gideon's. The guilt in his chest was a living, breathing thing.
After several long minutes, Audra slowly stood up. She reached out, resting her trembling hand gently against Mason’s cold cheek.
"Are you ready to bring him home, Audra?" Gideon asked softly, his deep voice offering a gentle tether back to reality.
"Yes," Audra whispered, wiping her face with the linen handkerchief he had given her. "But... I don't have anywhere to take him. The apartment lease is gone. Serena told me I had to live in the servant's quarters."
"Did you think I would allow him to be taken anywhere other than the grandest parlor in the city?" Gideon inquired, stepping forward. He looked at the attendant, who was hovering nervously by the door. "Will you prepare his body for transport to the Ashcroft estate within the hour?"
The attendant nodded frantically. "Yes, Mr. Ashcroft. Immediately."
Audra looked at Gideon, her expressive brows lifting in shock. "The estate? You want to hold his wake at your mansion?"
"Did he not die defending the head of that estate?" Gideon asked, looking down at her softly heart-shaped face. "Does he not deserve the honors of a made man?"
May you like
Audra’s lower lip trembled. The sheer magnitude of his gesture overwhelmed her. "Serena's family... they will use this against you. They will say you are weak for honoring a bodyguard over your engagement."
"Shall we let them say whatever they wish while they watch me bury a hero?" Gideon asked, offering his arm to guide her out of the freezing room.
