Page 44 of Close Your Eyes

“You were into Greer for years, and you never acted on it. You were able to keep your distance even though you were obviously in love with her.”

Roman tugs at the back of his neck. “I pushed those feelings down deep.” He raises his hand to his chest, like he’s pushing something down. “You have to push that shit down. Like not let it see the light of day. You have to take those feelings and keep that shit hidden.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

“It isn’t. It’ll be the hardest thing you’ll ever do.”

“I’m not as strong as you.” I look my brother in the eyes. “I’m not.”

“Yes you are.” He wraps his hand around the back of my neck, tugging me closer so our foreheads touch. “You’ve got this. Look at me, I’ve been suffering from anxiety because I couldn’t face my true feelings for Greer. You’re fine.”

“If you call going insane fine, sure.”

He releases me, and picks up his glass of whiskey. “Where were you headed? Work?”

I blow out another breath, shaking my head. “No. Not work.”

“Where?”

There’s no sense lying to my brother. “I was going to check on her at her father’s house.”

“Like spying?”

“No, not like spying. Just driving by and making sure she’s okay.”

“That’s straight up stalking, Ledger.”

I run a hand through my hair. “I can’t stop thinking about her. It’s bad.”

“I see that. You can’t go.” His face is as serious as I’ve ever seen it. “Seriously, Ledger. You can’t go.”

“Bane’s men can’t keep her safe.”

“It’s not your job to keep her safe, man.”

“I don’t trust her fiancé to do the job. I need to be the one taking care of her. Something’s going on with Bane, and I just don’t trust her not to get hurt because of whatever he’s up to.”

Roman shakes his head like he doesn’t agree with me. “Ledger, you have to push that shit down. You have got to step away. She’s with Bane.”

“Don’t ever say that shit to me ever again,” I sneer at him.

“I’m serious. She belongs with Bane. Or maybe she doesn’t, either way they’re going to get married, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”

“What if I break them up?” I pour us both more whiskey in our glasses. “I could tell her how I feel about her.”

Roman’s once again shaking his head. “Don’t do it, Ledger. Do you want to end up like that missing witness Bane obviously made disappear? These aren’t the people to fuck with.”

“You’re right,” I say, actually believing him. He’s right. I can’t deny the fact that Bane is not the type of man to be fucked with. “I won’t make a move on her. I’ll push it down.” Easier said than done.

But it’s something I need to do.

As hard as it’ll be.

No pun intended.

The lights of the club blind me as I step out of my office to head downstairs to meet Bane and his soon-to-be blushing bride.

There’s a commotion on the bottom floor, and I race down the stairs to see what’s going on.