Page 53 of The Silent Note

Of course she wouldn’t believe me. My commitment to my wife goes much deeper than anything I can describe with words.

It’s like trying to explain why I’d die for my brothers.

Love?

Hell, sometimes I can’t stand those bastards.

But I’d take a bullet for them.

They’d do the same for me.

We don’t need to explain that to anyone.

Something rattles on her side of the line. “This was a mistake. I’m sorry for calling so late.”

“Wait.”

Before I can get another word in, I hear a click.

The line goes dead.

I pull the phone away and stare at it. What was that about?

Marian definitely suspects that Grey and I are together tonight. Does she think pretending it’s not true will make it go away?

If she’s this shaken thinking we’re sleeping together, I wonder what she’ll do if she finds out we’re married?

I wonder whatdadwill do.

Worry plucks at my nerves. Instinctively, I reach for a drumstick. There are plenty around my room. Usually, when I feel this restless, I’d head downstairs and practice until my eyes burn with sweat.

But I’ve been hesitant about playing the drums since the fight.

Releasing the drumsticks, I return to bed instead.

Seeing Grey asleep calms me in a way that music, beer, and other women never could. Gently, I slide my palm under her hand and lift it to the pillow so the wedding ring on her finger sparks between us.

Her presence still feels like a dream. One I never really allowed myself to have.

Maybe because villains like me don’t get girls like her.

Selfish bastards tend to attract the same.

And I guess, in a way, this was never supposed to happen. I bent reality to my will. Forced it, destroyed it, bludgeoned the hell out of it until it fit into a space no one thought it would.

And hell, I’d do it again.

I don’t think Grey, or anyone really, understands how badly I’ve craved her.

My brothers thought she was just a challenge.

Grey thought she was just a joke.

Even Jinx wrote about us like we’re nothing more than the latest scandalous secret.

They’re all wrong.

It’s always been different with Grey. From the moment I first saw her, I was desperate to have her.