page19 (1/2)

Gray blinks at me in surprise and her face actually flushes red She steps toward er, it's none of my business whoas it doesn't es that have not necessarily been reflective of this organization's core values But again, whom he chooses to share his personal ti you this as someone who likes you--"

"You like me?" I blurt out in surprise

Gray's face softens "Yes, Lexi, I like you I'uarded, but I think we're off to a good start Soabout Roman comes from the perspective of soiven the proof you are my sister"

Even as it hitsive credence to her advice on this, I'ed by the direction fro

From the place of a sister

And that is sonore, not when the entire reason I moved to this area was to reach out towith them

Still, I have to be absolutely clear about what she's saying, so I ask, "Are you saying that you absolutely don't want me to see him?"

Gray shifts on her feet, appears slightly uncomfortable, but she looks me directly in the eye when she says, "I would never tell you what to do, Lexi I' hih for you, and frankly, fro material He's sort of a player, and not even a nice one at that I don't want to see you get hurt"

My heart plus about Roman, merely because I read the same news as everyone else But that is not what I've seen in my personal experience with him

Not at all

Gray adds one other thing that causes my sto mostly from a personal concern for you, I want to remind youonce you step into the Brannon family and are held out to the world as such, you will have certain obligations to consider"

"Obligations?" I whisper with no small amount of dread, as her words sound ominous to me

"You'll represent the Brannon na you do represents this faet involved with Ro scandalous, which he's bound to do, it will reflect on the Brannons Not to mention, if Roman continues on his current path, I may be forced to release him from the team Do you really want to be tied up in that?"

Before I can respond, Gray's eyes move past me to so h they have guards on theht he towered over antic as he luhtly when they land on her

Gray murmurs softly behind me so I know Roman can't hear as he approaches "I'll send so you up to the box"

Without even turning to look at her, I sense she's retreated in the opposite direction and Roets within a few feet of h I'm sure it carried down the hall to Gray "What did she want?"

I tense, torn between the need to defend Gray and her advice to ave me that advice It puts me in a terrible position

But one thing I won't do to Ro me away from you"

"I'll just bet she was," he grits out, his eyes flashing with fury "I'ht?"

"It was nothing I didn't already know before I met you," I tell him softly, and he visibly relaxes at that

S at me, he puts his hands on et in a pissing contest with my boss over whether or not I can see you"

"I don't want that either," I say sadly, and Ro in that statement

"That sounds ominous" he observes cautiously