Page 46 of Viper

He wouldn’t tell Striker about their kiss a couple of months ago. He’d fought like hell to keep his head above water and move on after that, and he’d be damned if he’d tell Striker every detail about Paige and him. He had to set boundaries too.

Striker swished his lips to the side. “So it’s official? You two are a . . . a thing?”

“Well,” he said, feeling a bit more at ease now that they were talking normally, “we haven’t made anything official yet, really. But we haven’t had the chance to talk much with all that’s happened.”

A vein twitched at Striker’s temple. “Haven’t had time to talk but had time to⁠—”

“Enough. If this shit’s gonna work and we’re not going to lose our friendship over it, there needs to be respect both ways.”

Striker averted his gaze. “Fine.”

Troy grinned. Excitement and relief washed over him so fast. Years. Fucking years he’d dealt with this stress, and they’d managed to talk it out in a few minutes. “Really? You’re good with this?”

Striker’s face scrunched. “I never said I was good with it,” he blurted. Then his shoulders relaxed. “Guess I’ve gotta accept you’re grown-ass adults and I can’t control either of you.”

“Dude.” He couldn’t stop the obnoxious grin spreading across his face. He was just relieved as fuck. He crossed the distance between them and pulled his friend into a tight, unreciprocated hug. “This means a lot to me. Really.”

Striker grumbled something but finally clapped him on the back, then pushed himself away. “You hurt her and I swear to god, you’re a dead man.”

Troy bumped him with his shoulder and gave him a nod. “You’re the best. Now we can be brothers-in-law.”

Striker glowered. “Don’t fucking push it.”

Troy laughed. Really laughed.

Five years of weight on his shoulders gone. And the best thing was, he still had the two people who meant everything to him.

Chapter Twelve

Paige couldn’t believe her ears. She stood at the partially open bedroom door with tears brimming in her eyes. She’d showered, brushed her teeth, and changed into clean clothes just in time to overhear the last part of Troy and Atlas’s conversation.

I fell for her five damn years ago.

Troy’s words had made her heart sing, and she’d tucked them into a special pocket of her heart where she could replay them over and over again. Not that she was surprised by his proclamation. She’d felt the same thing he had that night at her parents’ anniversary party.

Every guest had surely noticed the electric pulse that’d zapped the reception when he’d waltzed up to her.

Hearing the words directly from his lips, however—that had warmed her soul. The confrontation between Troy and her brother could’ve been catastrophic. Instead, Troy had stayed calm and cool and hadn’t taken the bait when Atlas went off.

She wiped a stray tear from her eye and opened the door. Both men turned when they saw her enter the kitchen.

Troy gave her a smile that suggested he’d won a fifty-fifty draw, and Atlas side-eyed her with affection. “I take it you heard all that,” he said dryly.

Once again, she jumped up and threw her arms around her brother’s neck. He lifted her off her feet and she kissed his cheek.

“I heard everything I needed to.”

“Good. Just be careful, all right. I’m glad you two seem happy, but don’t rush into anything. You’ve got time and⁠—”

Troy shot him a warning look.

“Whatever. Just don’t get knocked up yet.”

She gave him a playful gasp as he set her down.

Troy shook his head in exasperation.

“Now that the air’s clear, why don’t we work on finding the bastard who hurt you. Ready to get back to work?” Striker directed the question to Troy.