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PROLOGUE
PEYTON
The first time I saw Perry Altair Jr., I thought two things.
The first, he needed to gain some weight. No lie, his clothes hung on him. He was all awkward limbs that didn’t fit his body. Tall and lanky.
There was a circle of boys around him on that warm spring day, some bigger, who were cheering on another boy in front of Perry. The next thing I saw was a fist flying through the air, clocking Perry in the chin. He hit the pavement. Hard.
That was when the second thing occurred to me as I watched blood drip from his busted lip. I would always watch his back. Seeing someone look that defeated as a teenager wasn’t acceptable to me. There was no one helping him. No friend for Perry to lean on after.
My brother, Greer, and I stepped in. Our bond formed that afternoon and strengthened every day going forward.
Once we graduated high school, Perry and Greer went to college together while I learned how to fight properly and effectively. Even when Perry was away getting his degree, he was protected, thanks to my brother. They shared an apartment. Perry studied business while Greer studied information technology.
I didn’t have a desire to go to college. There was nothing I was overly interested in learning. The thought of wasting my mom’s money on college, when I didn’t have the drive to go, didn’t sit well with me. I didn’t regret not going. Everything worked out how it was supposed to.
After four years of Perry in college, I started working for him full time. Guarding him. Making sure he was always watched over. There had been threats on his life when he was younger that were taken seriously. Ones never allowed to come to fruition.
For the past seventeen years, I’d been by his side. My job was to keep Perry safe, but I was still his best friend.
I’d die for Perry. Greer would too. It wouldn’t come to that because Perry had a desk job leading his father’s company into the future. A legitimate, lawful company. Nothing like the other side of the Altair name, where Perry’s uncle thought the cops couldn’t touch him. They hadn’t yet, but never say never.
Jordan, Perry’s uncle, was a concern in the back of my mind. For now. Perry was my priority. My brother too. My mom who, thanks to her sons doing well, lived a comfortable life in a retirement community in Florida.
My circle was small. Tight. Impenetrable.
Except for a tiny crack I didn’t expect. One Perry’s assistant somehow managed to wedge himself through.
I didn’t see him coming with his quick wit and disarming smile.
Then again, I didn’t have eyes for anyone but Perry.
What I felt for him, I hid. Kept it locked away.
A secret I didn’t voice.
Perry was the only man who could bring me to my knees.
Or so I thought.
Everything was about to change. I could feel it like a vibration beneath my skin. There was no telling if it would lift us up or scatter us in pieces across a swath of wreckage.
It was my job to protect Perry. Loving him was my blessing and my curse.
It had been twenty-five years since fourteen-year-old Perry met fifteen-year-old me. We’d been through a lot during that time. Our friendship was strong.
Neither of us could have predicted what was about to happen. How our worlds would shift, and nothing would be the same. Because we didn’t expect Dominic to change things. Hell, Dominic didn’t see it coming either.
1
PERRY
“Dom!” I called from behind my desk. He was out there somewhere, not going far from me.
A head of perfectly styled dark brown hair peered into my office. “Yes, Mr. Altair?”
“Dom,” I growled.
