Page 156 of Psycho

I was sure this was the ‘Roman’ Micah had saved to my phone.

The phone I lost.

I shook my head and took in the man.

He was probably about an inch or so shorter than Micah, but he was just as wide.

He looked like he could be a professional boxer, and unlike Micah, he was covered with tattoos. I took in the colorful ink on his arms, not really seeing the image fully.

He looked like Micah, but not really.

While Micah was cold and expressionless, this man seemed to be full of life—and not in a good way.

It felt like he was a moment away from exploding.

He had the same hair color, the same strong nose, square jawline, the same handsome features, but looking at him…

He was nothing but a stranger, and how badly I wished Micah had been the one to take me home.

He would have taken complete control of the situation, held me tightly in his arms, and tell me I was his and he would never let me go.

Instead, I was now sitting in awkward silence with a strange man I didn’t know.

I took in his dark brown eyes.

It was one of the rare features of his that differed from Micah’s.

I missed Micah’s silver eyes.

“He’ll be back soon, Lainey,” Roman said softly, as if he was talking to a small child who was afraid of an imaginary monster under her bed.

I blinked. “I know.”

He nodded. “We haven’t really been introduced. But I can’t tell you how happy I am to meet you. Wishin’ we’d met under better circumstances, though knowing my brother, if this night hadn’t happened, he probably would have kept you a secret from us a hell of a lot longer.”

His words surprised me.

“He was keeping me a secret?”

I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to feel about that.

“Not in a bad way. You probably noticed, but Micah can be quiet. He usually won’t say anything unless he deems it necessary. And he was most likely keeping you a secret to protect you.”

“Protect me?”

Roman nodded. “The shit we do is dangerous. And there’s a target on our backs. He probably didn’t know what to do with you to keep you safe.”

“Is he in danger right now?” I asked.

I hadn’t even thought about that. I knew the things Micah did weren't exactly in line with the law, but I had never really thought about what that would mean in its entirety.

My heart plummeted from the thought, and Roman cursed softly under his breath. He stood up and moved over to me, sitting down but leaving a small space between us.

“I didn’t say that to make you worry. You know Micah can take care of himself. And those he loves.”

I shook my head, denying what he was saying. “Micah doesn’t love me.”

“Doesn’t he?”

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