Page 131 of Hard Bargain

“I know,” Dominic said again.

But knowing it didn’t change the fact that it was too late to pretend Knox didn’t matter. That line had been crossed somewhere in the past few weeks, maybe even the first time Knox had looked at him with those stubborn eyes and hadn’t looked away. There was no going back to the other side of it.

He kept his eyes on the road, fingers drumming against the steering wheel. His mind was louder than the traffic.

Knox wasn’t ready.

Not for what was coming, or for the kind of attention Mercer’s desperation might bring down on anyone close to him. He exhaled through his nose. “How are the sparring sessions going?”

“Still once a week. The kid's improving.”

“He holding his ground?”

A smirk tugged at Cassian’s mouth. “Gets knocked down plenty. But he gets up every time.”

“Good. Means he’s not soft.”

“Oh, he’s definitely tough. Not a quitter. Stubborn as hell, too.” Cassian tilted his head, side-eyeing him with a faint grin. “Reminds me of someone.”

The corner of Dominic’s mouth twitched before he smoothed it out. “I took him to the range,” Dominic said.

Cassian raised a brow. “Yeah?”

“Basics. Grip, stance, breathing. He listens. Wasn’t bad.”

“Are you going to arm him?”

“Yes.” No hesitation. “I need to know he’s not defenseless if something goes wrong.”

Cassian leaned his head back. “That’s a big step.”

“So is being unprepared. I’ll get him his own gun. Train him properly. He’s not walking around unprotected. Not while I can do something about it.”

He should’ve done it sooner.

* * *

The heavy bag swung back hard and Dominic met it again, fist driving into the leather with force. Sweat dragged down his spine, muscles burning in a way that kept everything else quiet.

He heard footsteps behind him, growing closer. He slowed, letting the bag swing once more before it stilled.

Knox stood in the doorway. He must have just gotten back from Mendez. He looked… good. His shirt clung slightly, like he hadn’t cooled down yet. Hair a mess, sleeves pushed back, like he hadn’t bothered fixing anything before coming straight here.

Dominic didn’t move.

Knox’s gaze dragged over him—moving over his bare chest, over muscle still tight from exertion, following the line of sweat that ran down his stomach. There was nothing subtle about it.

Dominic felt it like a hand.

“Something you need?” he asked, voice roughened from the workout.

Knox blinked like he’d been caught. “Yeah—uh.” He stepped further into the room, biting his lip. “I heard you were here.”

Dominic grabbed the towel from the bench and wiped it across his face. “You heard right.”

Knox nodded but his attention wouldn’t settle. It kept drifting lower.

“What is it?” Dominic asked.