Page 81 of Just Business

Overwhelming guilt slammed into Eli, almost physically. He braced himself against his cane and let the grief wash through him, blur his vision, and dissipate to a quiet roar in his ears.I’m sorry. Justin.

A hand on his shoulder. “Eli?”

“I won’t embarrass Sam, if that’s your concern.”

“I know that.” Eli let Michael turn him, let Justin vanish from his view. “I’m worried aboutyou.”

“Don’t be. I’m hard to kill.” He stared down at the cane in his hand.

The corner of Michael’s eye twitched. “I hate it when you get like this.”

“That makes two of us,” Eli murmured. He sought out Justin again. There, over with Fazil and his girlfriend. Justin looked up, straight at Eli, before looking away. He couldn’t help the sigh. “Did he ever contact you about his flooded apartment?”

Michael shook his head. “He did explain the situation to Sam, and Sam offered our spare room, but no dice.” Michael sipped his drink, which was either Sprite with a lime or something not at all Sprite with a lime. Eli guessed the latter, given the quality of gin he’d seen stocked at the bar.

“Justin has a fierce independent streak,” Michael said.

“Tell me about it.”

“E—”

He waved Michael’s concern away with his glass. “I’ll be fine.” Once he could move on.What did I do?He looked into his water.

“You love him.”

The heart of the problem, straight from Michael’s mouth. “I did. I do.” Eli shook his head. “I’ll get over it. I got over you.” He looked up, because hehad towith Michael. That would never cease to disconcert him, being the shorter man.

Michael wore his exasperated look. “You know we’re here for you, too. If you need anything.”

“I know.” And he did. “I do appreciate it. Truly.” Sam and Michael were the closest he had to a family. He caught Sam glancing over, the wavering expression. “You should get back to him. Tell him I’m fine.”

“I’ll tell him we talked.” Michael gripped Eli’s shoulder again. “But I’m not going to lie to him.”

Eli nodded and watched Michael return to Sam’s side and the joy that radiated between them. Eli set his water down then made his way to the balcony that had been left open for smokers.

It was completely empty. No one in the company smoked, but that made it the perfect place to hide. He slid the door open and slipped out into the cold night. Snow danced in the air. Already, the cars and street were covered in a thin shimmer of white.

The air cooled his lungs and blew about his face. It wasn’t supposed to storm tonight. Eli glanced up, but the sky was a uniform gray reflecting the lights below. Old fear settled into the back of his head, sending an ache to his spine and down to his shattered leg. He ignored it as best he could. This was Regent Square, not the North Hills. He was only a few miles from home. Even in the worst of weather, he could crawl back safely.

Except that was exactly what Noah had said, all those years ago.

Eli turned away from the snowfall—and came face-to-face with Justin on the other side of the glass door. Suddenly the air around him didn’t seem nearly as cold as the blood in his veins.

Justin opened the door and stepped out onto the balcony. “This seems familiar.”

Eli would have stepped back, if he could have moved. “Not at all.” Because he had no power—didn’t want power here. Just wanted to... run.

The snow fell harder.

“Sam was looking for you.”

“Michael already found me.”

Justin didn’t move. “I’m surprised you don’t want me on my knees.”

He did step back then.Why are you doing this to me?“No, I don’t. You don’t want to be there.”

Justin’s snort was an ugly thing. “You’re a Dom.”