Page 21 of Close Your Eyes

Bane doesn’t strike me as the type of man to wait. So, her text causes a million thoughts to race through my mind, but I push it away because I shouldn’t be talking to her about her sexual life anyway.

So, I keep the conversation neutral.

Are you saying I’m not original?

Well, you’re a twin, so no. I guess you’re not original.

I laugh at her response. It’s been a long time since anyone other than my close friends and family has made me laugh this hard. I change the subject.

Do you have any siblings?

Nope, it’s just sweet ol’ me.

I push the remnants of my finished burger away and lean back in my seat. A burning starts low in my system, and I want to ask her how sweet she is. How sweet she tastes, but I know better. Instead, I ignore her sweet statement and move forward, trying my best to understand her.

Must have been lonely.

It was.

My heart swells thinking about Posey all alone. Then, a small fire of anger ignites at the thought that once she marries Bane, she’ll never be alone again. I push my phone away, berating myself for being stupid enough to text with an engaged woman.

Even if it is just innocent.

My feelings for her aren’t.

“Dude, what’s your problem?” Roman asks after I miss another shot. We’ve been playing basketball for over an hour, and I’ve only made about three baskets.

“Nothing. Got a lot on my mind,” I say, dribbling the ball away from center court.

“Care to share? You’ve been playing like shit all day.” Roman swipes the ball from me and rushes away. He stops, aims, shoots, and then turns around to face me. “Seriously. It’s not Posey, is it?”

I scrub a hand across the back of my neck. “We’ve been texting.”

“Oh shit,” Roman says, leaving the ball as it bounces and rolls into the grass. We’re at the courts near our condo building. Roman and I share the top floor of the building, but we each have our own place. His condo on one-half of the building, mine on the other.

He still has the place, but he’s been practically living with Greer. And they finally told each other how they feel.

I can’t say I’m not happy for him, because I am. I know Roman’s wanted Greer for a really long time. And now they have each other. And I can tell my brother’s happy. Hell, the way he struts around the court, acting like he’s Michael fucking Jordan is proof enough.

“It’s not oh shit,” I say, heading in the direction the ball went. I scoop it up and head back to the court. “It’s harmless. She remembered something about her attacker, and we have just been having a small back and forth since then.”

“What did she remember?”

“Just the scent of a cigar. Orange flavored.”

“You thinking the Macanudo?”

I nod. “I downloaded a list of all the sales for that cigar in the Club Greed tobacco shop.”

“Are any of the buyers friends with Bane?”

“Not sure yet. You think it’s one of his men too?”

Roman shrugs as he holds his hand out for me to pass him the ball. “What are you thinking?”

“Same thing. My only question is why?”

“Maybe one of Bane’s men isn’t happy? Maybe they’re scared because he’s awaiting trial. Who knows? Hell, it could be because they’re sending a message to Bane.”

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