Holden Sterling: The Sterling Brothers Billionaire Saga BWWM Book 1

Episode 62: Holden (Her Pain! My Love!)

The next morning was a nightmare for all of us. Eriola slept, cried, and slept some more; it was heartbreaking to see her in such distress. Despite our hatred for each other, I would never wish death upon Jonathan. Yet, after everything that had happened, we knew there would be consequences and someone would be out to get us.

I immediately beefed up our security and called my brother Alexander to join us; he had recovered from his injuries from the explosion to travel. I also phoned our father and gave him a full report on the situation. He instructed us to take whatever measures were necessary. I also mentioned how Jonathan made me promise to take care of his wife and daughter if anything happened to him just a week prior.

A few days later, I approached Miriam and asked if she needed help with the baby. Anya was an adorable little bundle of joy, and I was determined to step up and take care of both Eriola and her daughter. We were still staying at Eriola and Jonathan's house in the Hamptons, and my brothers and I had been given permission to use the office space there. As we stood in the office, I spoke to my brothers Alexander and Nicholas about the situation.

"There are no coincidences," I told them firmly. "We need to be prepared for battle and stay vigilant. We have no idea how deep this conspiracy goes."

The following day, Alexander finally arrived with a face full of rage. In the afternoon, a big meeting was held between my brothers and our men, as well as Jonathan's men. Vince, Jonathan's right-hand man, expressed his willingness to collaborate with us. We had a lot of things to take care of, including organizing Jonathan's funeral for Eriola.

After the shooting incident, Eriola's parents came downstairs to see what was going on. I called them to inform them of the situation, and her mother and sister came to the mansion to assist with Eriola and baby Anya while we dealt with our business matters.

During the night, I would stay with Eriola and take care of the baby, getting her ready for bed before bringing her into our room. It was always a struggle, as Eriola would cry until she eventually fell asleep - causing Anya to cry as well. I couldn't shake the feeling that Anya could sense her father's absence and her mother's pain, but all we could do was be there for them both as best we could.

Meanwhile, my men continued surveillance on Marco and Arkady after Jonathan's funeral this Saturday. We would definitely take care of them soon. In fact, I had already instructed my men to apprehend them and lock them up at Jonathan's warehouse. They would pay for their sins.

Suddenly, Eriola's sobs echo through the still mansion, slicing through the silence like a cold blade. I hear Anya's wailing follow suit. It sends a shiver down my spine, fueling an intense, primitive urge to shield them from harm. My heart pounds like a fucking drum in my chest as I push away the paperwork littering the desk and head upstairs.

I approach our room, I can't help but admire Eriola's strength. Even in her grief-stricken state, dealing with the loss of her husband and taking care of an 11-month old, she still manages to radiate this fucking breathtaking vulnerability that tempts me.

I silently push open the door to find her cradling Anya in her arms, tears streaming down her face. She looks up as I enter and there's this raw pain in her eyes that almost brings me to my knees. Despite our complicated history, I feel drawn to her. She's got something that pulls me in; something wild that screeches against every inch of my dark soul. My emotions toward her remain unchanged; there has been no shift in how I feel.

"Enough crying," I say gruffly as I move closer. She just looks at me, the tears staining her cheeks doing nothing to mar her beauty. Her innocence is like a beacon in a godforsaken world filled with blood and death; it's desperate and pleading. The sight of it makes my hands clench into fists.

Eriola looks at me for a moment before whimpering out a weak, "I can't..." Her voice is barely above a whisper but it rips through me like a bullet.

"You have to," I command sharper than intended as I take Anya from her arms, looking into those big purple eyes that are so much like Eriola's. She has some of Jonathan's facial features.

While Eriola watches on helplessly from the bed, I settle Anya in the crib next to it and calm her until she falls asleep. I take a moment to watch her sleep, her tiny fists curling and uncurling in that sweet way only babies do.

Turning back to Eriola, I quirk a brow and walk over to her. I grip her chin firmly but gently, forcing her gaze back on me. She's trembling, the pain in her eyes threatening to break me.

"Fight," I tell her, voice a soft command filled with an emotion I can't quite name. "You're stronger than this."

Her lips part slightly, and for a goddamn second I think she'll say something- anything to break this tension between us. Instead, she nods stiffly and buries her face in her hands. I sigh and move to tuck her into bed, plucking Anya's fallen stuffed elephant from the floor.

I make my way to the crib and gently set the stuffed animal inside before returning to our bed. After kicking off my shoes and removing my shirt and pants, I slip into bed next to Eriola and wrap my arms around her. Eriola's scent envelopes me as I spoon her, her body trembling against mine.

"I've got you," I whisper into her hair, my voice gruff with emotion. "You're not alone in this."

She leans in close to me, her voice barely above a whisper. "Holden, I'm sorry for relying on you and your brother so much, but I can't bear to be alone. I miss him terribly, and I can't stop crying."

I nod, understanding her pain. "Cupcake, it's okay. You're mourning the loss of your husband, and that's natural. But please try to stay alert for the baby's sake."

She nods, tears still streaming down her face.

"Just relax, cupcake. I made a promise to Jonathan that if anything ever happened to him, I would take care of you and Anya. And I intend to keep that promise for as long as you need me. Even if it means staying by your side until my last breath. Do you understand, my sweet?" I asked her tenderly.

Eriola nods, sniffling into my chest. "Thank you, Holden."

As we both drift off to sleep, she presses her body against mine, making me hard as a rock. But I have to restrain myself—this is neither the time nor the place. Little did I know, the night would bring revelations neither of us could have foreseen.

Dear Readers,

Thank you for joining us on this deeply emotional journey. As Eriola navigates the pain of losing her husband and the challenges of raising their child alone, we witness the power of love, support, and resilience. Holden's unwavering promise to Jonathan serves as a beacon of hope in their darkest times. The next few episodes will be about grief and the loss of a loved one.

Stay with us as we explore the complexities of grief, the strength found in unexpected places, and the bonds that hold us together.

Happy reading!

Pagine D'Oro