Page 65 of Closer

“Just like that?”

“Just like that. You made it perfectly clear yesterday that you don’t trust me. That you think I’m using you for information or some crap.”

He steps forward, his eyes pleading. “I didn’t mean it like that. I was—”

“Accusing me of betraying you? Again?” I scoff. “Because that worked out so well for us lasttime.”

“Lil, please. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things.”

“But you did. And you meant them.” My voice cracks, and I hate myself for it. “You’ll always see me as the girl who betrays you. The one who can’t be trusted.”

He reaches for me, but I step back. “That’s not true. I trust you. I do. It’s… hard for me sometimes. To let go of the past.”

“I can’t do this right now. Gem needs me. Us. And that’s more important than… whatever this is.”

“Fine.” His jaw tightens, eyes narrowing. “But this isn’t over. We’re not over.”

I know.

I meet his gaze, my vision blurry.

It’ll never be over between us.

Chapter 19

Sebastian

I’m fiddling with my pen, staring at the screen.

Money laundering, right under our fucking noses. How did I not see it? I never liked Oliver, but I didn’t think he had the brains or the balls to pull this shit.

Gemma… she was happy with him, at least I thought so before I found out he was cheating on her. And Dad, he wanted Oliver in the company. I should have kept a closer eye on him. I could have prevented this.

It didn’t take long for Elijah, Connor, and me to find the evidence. And now Gemma’s back with him because she loves him?

No way, that’s a coincidence or true. That son of a bitch must be threatening her, using this to keep her in line. He needs her to stay his wife. That much is obvious.

Elijah already took some necessary steps to get my sister out of this mess. Oliver’s not going to get away with this. We’ll make damn sure of that. Nobody messes with my family and gets away with it.

I don’t get why Gemma wouldn’t talk to me, wouldn’t tell me the truth when I went to see her the other day.

Am I that unreliable? That shitty of a brother?

The thought of my sister trapped with that scumbag, it’s…

I rub my temples.

My head is pounding, the migraine creeping back in. I open the top site drawer of my desk, pop an ibuprofen, and let my head fall back against the chair.

How much I wish Lil were here, in my arms.

But I doubt she’d want that.

I accused her of spying on me, of trying to get information. The hurt in her eyes when I said those words… haunts me.

Why do I always manage to fuck things up with her? It’s like I can’t help but push her away, even when all I want is to keep her close.

I’m startled out of my thoughts by a knock on the door.

---