Page 8 of Ransom

"That doesn't matter. What matters is, I need her to sell me that garage."

"Why?"

"Because I made a promise to her father. And I won't fucking break it." I don't break my promises, ever. I'm sure as fuck not going to break this one. The man's dying wish was for me to buy the garage, and I'm going to fucking do it.

Yeah, I knew she would be difficult about it. But I had no clue she'd be making glitter bombs.

That's a fucking lie.

I did know. Robert was convinced that she would sell. But the girl I knew back then never would have. I should have trusted my fucking gut and insisted he just take the money. It would have made everything so much easier. He could have passed it off like a nest egg that he'd been saving for years. She would have bought it. Maybe.

Grabbing my coffee off the counter, I pour it down the drain, then load the mug in the dishwasher next to all the other mugs. The housekeeping team comes in once a week, or sooner if everyone comes over. My family is messy as fuck, but in between cleans, I load it with military precision. My life is chaotic, but this one thing is completely controllable.

"It really seems like she doesn't want to sell. The only way to make this happen is to get Declan involved and go less legit. Do you want us to go that route?"

A shiver of fear snakes up my back. "No. That's not a good idea. She's liable to build a bomb and level this building."

Maverick scrubs his hands over his face. "Then I don't know what to do, Ran. What do you want us to do?"

These men are so fucking good. Both of them are ready to support my fucking delusional plan. Because it is delusional. I'm well aware. But I'm not willing to go to fucking Badger Falls and deal with her myself. I can't.

Because if I do, I'm afraid I'll never be able to leave.

I'll never be able to leave her.

Course, she'll probably murder me and bury me in the middle of the woods. Either way, I'm a goner.

"I appreciate everything both of you have done up to this point. I know it hasn't been easy. Why don't we back off for a bit? Just let things settle, and in the spring, we'll try again."

"It's October. You want to wait more than six months? What do you think will change?"

I shrug because I know damn well that time isn't going to change anything. But I'm not ready to take the next step. Or any step toward her. It was too hard to walk away last time.

I just need some time to get my head on straight. To let her go. To cleanse her from my system. Twenty-five years hasn't been long enough, but who knows what I could accomplish in the next six months.

Yep, I'm delusional.

"Sometimes," I say, "people just need to sit with things. So we'll give her that time and see where we are in the new year."

Neither man looks convinced, but thankfully they let it drop. As they stand, I clear my throat. "I would appreciate it if you didn't discuss this with anyone else." It's a big ask. We share everything, almost all the time. But I'm not ready for the whole fucking family to start asking me about Blair.

That wound is still too raw.

"No problem," Nick says. Maverick nods, too, and some of the tension in my back releases. I trust both of them completely. They won't discuss this with anyone else.

I've bought myself some time.

They make their excuses and head out, back to their apartments and their women. When they're gone, I scan my massive penthouse. It's so fucking lonely. My brothers have everything I ever hoped they'd have. They have love and futures, and I'm so glad.

But I never imagined being this alone. It's something I didn't let myself think about years ago. But now, I have nothing but time to think. And fucking think some more.

Enough.

I head up the spiral stairs to the upper level, unsettled. The whole weekend stretches out in front of me, and I have no idea what I'm supposed to do with myself. Something will come up, I'm sure. I'll get a call to babysit Mia or get some snuggles with Noah. Maybe one of the guys will wander up to watch a movie or we'll head out to the club. It'll end up full.

I'll end up full.

But right now, there's no one waiting to make plans with me. No soft laugh, flashing eyes, and wide, luscious mouth. As always, I'm hard as a fucking rock the second I start thinking about her. Blair. The woman I've been in love with since I was fourteen years old. You'd think after twenty-five years, the feelings would fade, but no. If anything, they're more vivid than ever.

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