I entered Roman’s office without knocking, shut the door firmly behind me, and stood in front of his desk with my legs shoulder width apart and my arms crossed over my chest. A ghost of a smile flickered over his face.
“Are we doing this?”
I nodded once.
“About damn time,” he muttered under his breath, sitting up in his chair and tossing the pen he was holding onto his large matte black desk. Most of MarxMen was modern, sleek, and done in tones of blacks and grays. Roman’s desk was the only matte piece in the building. He gestured to the charcoal leather chair across from him. I sat, keeping my arms crossed over my chest.
In our years of friendship and brotherhood, I’d never laid down an ultimatum. We were usually on the same page. Our relationship was set in stone. He was the broody and cocky man who needed to be in control, and I was the guy that poked at him until he cracked. I knew he had my back, and there wasn’t another man I would trust to keep me alive under fire, but I wouldn’t be playing by his rules anymore.
Friendship or not.
Brotherhood or not.
Caroline was mine and that’s the way it would stay. I wasn’t going to wait until the man who was after her was caught. Life was too short and too much could happen. I’d live the rest of my life in regret if I let a day pass without the knowledge that she was mine and something happened to her. I shook that thought away. Nothing would happen to her. I wouldn’t allow it.
“I’m with Caroline. I have been for a while, and that’s not going to change. I don’t give a fuck about the rule. If you have an issue with it, I’ll quit.” I lifted one shoulder in a casual shrug.
Roman arched one eyebrow. “And if you quit, what would you do?”
I shrugged again. “Open my own firm or become a cop. I don’t know, but I’d figure it out.”
“You couldn’t be a cop,” Roman said, leaning back in his chair and bringing his hands behind his head. He shook his head once. “You fucking hate red tape more than I do.”
“I’d do anything to be with her. Even if that means dealing with red tape and spending the rest of my career filling out paperwork.”
“You hate paperwork.”
I snorted. “I know. She’s worth it.”
“You love her,” Roman stated, readjusting himself again. He propped his elbows on his desk and steepled his fingers, staring at me. Waiting for me to either confirm or refute his statement.
I hadn’t told Caroline I loved her. I’d never been in love. Hell, I think the bastard sitting across from me was the first person I’d actually cared enough about to love, but the brotherly love I felt for Roman was a far cry from the all-consuming ache I felt with Caroline.
I loved my friends. I didn’t have trouble saying that.
I wasn’t sure I was ready to say I loved Caroline, but I knew I couldn’t imagine a day without her, and when I pictured a future, she was the future.
“I haven’t said those three little words to her,” I said before pausing for a moment and adding one final word. “Yet.”
I uncrossed my arms and leaned back in the chair, propping my feet on Roman’s desk. He reached across and hit my boot with his hand. “Dammit, Kiernan, get your fuckin’ feet off my desk.”
I didn’t move them, just waited for him to tell me if I was sticking around or choosing between a life in uniform and opening up a new business. “Jackass,” Roman muttered. I smiled.
“When are you going to get it through your thick skull?” Roman asked.
“Get what through my thick skull?” I snarled.
“That you’re my brother. Have been for a long damn time. That’s not ever changing.”
I stayed silent and watched him. I knew he was my brother. I knew he’d risk his life for me, and I’d do the same for him and his family. I had always considered him my brother, but I wasn’t sure I’d ever considered myself to be his. Roman pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment before meeting my gaze again.
“Do I want you breaking the rules we have in place for a reason? No. Of course not. But it’s not like you’ve ever listened to me. Didn’t listen to me in Afghanistan. Sure as hell didn’t listen to me when we were stateside and opening up MarxMen. And you don’t listen to me now either.”
I chuckled and shrugged. It was true. I couldn’t deny it. I’d always listened to his instructions and then put my own twist on it. Usually to his annoyance, which only added to my fun.
“I only need you to be honest with me. Well, that and finally invest in MarxMen. I wanted you to when we started it, and I want you to now. It’s ridiculous that you haven’t.”
“I didn’t want the responsibility,” I said.
He arched his brow again. “You took it on anyway.”
I licked my lips, dropping my feet to the floor and leaning my elbows on my knees. I nodded slowly. “Alright. I’ll invest. Some things I was spending money on, I no longer am.”
“Does that mean you aren’t sending money to your parents anymore?” Roman asked. I met his gaze and turned my head to the side. I’d never talked about my home life. Caroline was the first person I’d told.
“I’ve known all along,” Roman said and smirked. “Think you’re the only one who can dig into another person?”
“That’s not right,” I said.
He scoffed. “Sure. Like when you masterminded and helped Caleb feed me information about Harper when I was trying to move on and thought she
