Letting My Brother's Best Friend Take My V-Card

HARD REALITY

The cab slowed to a stop in front of an unassuming building that looked more like a small-town office than the epicenter of so much grief. I clenched my hands in my lap, my fingers. digging into my palms as I stared at the faded sign. Police Station.

Beneath it, in smaller letters, was the word I had been dreading since we landed: Mortuary.

Laura shifted beside me, her breath hitching as her hand tightened around her bag strap. I didn't look at her. If I did, I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep the tears at bay. "Ready?" she asked, her voice thin and strained.

I swallowed hard and nodded. "Yeah."

The moment we stepped out of the cab, chaos descended. Reporters swarmed us like flies, their shouts overlapping until their words blurred together.

"Jessica! Laura! Can you confirm if-"

"Are the bodies identifiable-"

"Are you going to keep the baby even if your husband is dead?"

Cameras flashed, and the bright light stung my eyes. Laura flinched, her arm brushing against mine, but before either of us could say anything, the station door burst open.

A tall man in a wrinkled suit strode toward us, waving off the reporters. "Step back!" he barked, his tone sharp enough to cut through the din. He reached us in a few long strides, his expression tight and impatient.

"Detective Raynor," he said curtly ushering us toward the building. As the door swung shut behind us, muffling the noise outside, he muttered under his breath, "Vultures." I didn't respond. I wasn't sure I could.

narrow hallway. His steps were brisk and purposeful, as though he wanted this over as much as we

overhead casting harsh shadows on the scuffed linoleum floor.

his tone measured but heavy. "A cargo ship found part of the wreckage last week. Pieces of the fuselage, some personal belongings, and..." He hesitated, glancing back at us. "...some remains." Laura sucked in a sharp breath beside me, but I didn't look at her. My gaze stayed

the exact crash site," Raynor continued. "There was a storm, and the currents could've carried debris miles-

I followed suit. Neither of us

HARD REALITY

388 (voucheri

sad, you know," Raynor added quietly. "So many players. All gone. It's a big loss for

like an echo in an empty room. I didn't respond. I couldn't

end of the

prepare yourselves," he said softly, his gaze

between us. "What you're about to see... it's not easy. The bodies were in the water for weeks. The damage is...

in my throat. Laura

pushed the door open, and a wave of cold air washed over me. The room was stark and

lined the walls, their sterile surfaces gleaming under the harsh light. A man in scrubs stood near a workstation, his expression grim but

to Raynor, who returned the gesture before turning back to us. "We'll start with the first one," he said,

the sliding tray making my stomach turn. He pulled back the sheet, and my

My chest tightened, and I had to look away,

me. "Do you recognize

I can't tell you how

back into place. "Next," Raynor