Page 83 of An Indecent Longing

He left before he decided to stay.

“She okay?”

Ian’s gruff voice came from the office so Ben adjusted course and headed for the room off the kitchen they’d designated for work.

Ian sat at his desk, sprawled back in his chair, one hand in his hair.

His cousin looked beat. Ben knew Ian wouldn’t be able to sleep unless Ben agreed to keep watch. And since he’d just had a huge jolt of adrenaline…

“She’s fine. You look like shit. Why don’t you go get some sleep? I’ll take the first shift. Give me some time to do some research.”

Ian nodded, amazingly not giving Ben a hassle. Which meant he must have been exhausted.

“They were definitely after her, weren’t they?”

Ben sank into his office chair across from Ian. “Yeah, no doubt in my mind.”

“It’s gotta have something to do with Antonoff.”

Ian sounded disgusted and resigned. A dangerous combination. But he wasn’t wrong.

“And if we start poking around that bear, this is gonna get scary fast.”

Ian’s gaze turned hard and bitter. “I’m not afraid of Antonoff.”

Ben refrained from rolling his eyes. “That’s not what I’m saying and you know it. But think about it. We start nosing around in his business, we’re gonna be the ones in need of protection. And Dorrie’s going to be caught in the middle.”

And not in a good way, Ben wanted to add. But he wasn’t stupid enough to say it out loud.

“So what do you suggest?” Ian shook his head. “Because, yeah, I’m probably not the best one to make decisions about this.”

Well, damn. Look at that. Ian being rational about anything to do with Antonoff. Amazing.

“I suggest we talk to Blank, fill him in on what’s going on.”

“And have him run back to Antonoff?”

“We can’t control what he does but he is her personal bodyguard. He’s gonna be pissed off if we don’t fill him in.”

“I don’t give a shit about that. I just want—”

Ian stopped, as if aware he was about to confess something he didn’t want to reveal. But Ben was sick of waiting until Ian was damn good and ready to talk. Hell, for the year since Ian had left the service, Ben had walked on eggshells around Ian, worried about what might set him off.

His cousin had been so tightly wound for so long, Ben had begun to think it might be Ian’s new normal. And that didn’t sit well with Ben.

“What do you want?” Ben prompted. “Jesus, Ian. Just say something, for chrissake. I’m sick of fucking trying to read your mind.”

Ian’s brows rose. “What the hell are you—”

“Don’t. Just don’t. Just say whatever the hell it is you’re thinking. Don’t make me try to read your mind. I’m not gonna judge you. You should know that. Don’t fucking cut me out because you think I can’t handle it. Just…give me a chance, for fuck’s sake.”

When Ian just sat there staring at him, Ben shook his head and sighed. “Ian—”

“How long have you been holding that in?”

Was Ian actually smiling? Ben glared at him. “For about the past six months.”

Ian nodded. “Guess I deserved it.”

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