Page 46 of Hard Bargain

Knox took it all in without comment, eyes moving over the space. Dominic found himself oddly tense under the scrutiny.

He didn’t offer a tour. “This is my place,” he said. The words came more stiffly than he intended. “Not many people come up here.”

He heard the admission the moment it left his mouth and disliked it immediately. Before Knox could respond, Dominic gestured toward the couch. “Sit. Are you hungry?”

He didn’t wait for an answer. Movement was easier than standing there analyzing his own choices. He crossed to the kitchen, pulled bread from the counter, cheese and prosciutto from the fridge, and assembled sandwiches with practiced efficiency. He plated them without ceremony and carried them to the living area.

By the time he walked over, Knox had taken a seat at the far end of the couch. Dominic handed him a plate and, for a while, they ate in silence.

Dominic broke it first. “For the next few months, you’ll rotate through different parts of my operation. Shadow my men. Learn how things work.”

Knox lowered his sandwich. “I still don’t even know what your work is.”

Dominic considered how much to say. “Distribution, warehouses, clubs. Legitimate businesses alongside less legitimate ones.”

Knox’s expression didn’t change.

Dominic continued. “We move product. Money changes hands. Some of it legal, some of it not. Everything runs because we make sure it does.”

Knox let out a short, humorless laugh. “And you think I’m just supposed to… what? Fit into that?”

Dominic leaned back. “I think you’re sharp. You keep your mouth shut. You’re not afraid to see things for what they are.”

Knox shook his head, frustration creeping in. “What if this isn’t what I want? What if I don’t want any part of it?”

Dominic held his gaze. “I think you do. Even if you’re still fighting it. I saw the way you looked earlier. You wanted to see how it ended.”

Knox glared. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“No,” Dominic agreed. “But I know what I saw. You could’ve left, but you stayed. Part of you wants to know what happens when you stop listening to that voice telling you not to step closer.”

Knox dropped his gaze, fighting whatever answer wanted to rise up in him.

Dominic let the silence stretch between them. “You can lie to yourself,” he said eventually, “but don’t insult me by trying to lie to me.”

Frustration flashed across Knox’s face as he looked back up. “Why me? I’m not part of your world. I don’t have anything you need.”

“That’s not true. You pick up on things. You see what others miss. You keep your head when it matters. Most people, when shit gets real, they freeze or they fold. You don’t.”

Knox let out a shaky breath. “So what? That’s enough?”

“It’s a start,” Dominic said. “There’s value in people who don’t flinch.”

Knox gave a short nod as something unreadable settled in his expression, not acceptance, but maybe the beginning of understanding.

Dominic watched Knox for another beat before asking, “Tell me about your mother.”

Knox went rigid. “Why?”

Dominic forced a shrug, aiming for casual. “If you work for me, I need to know who depends on you. That matters.”

The excuse sounded reasonable. Businesslike. He almost believed it himself.

“She’s not your problem,” Knox bristled.

Dominic’s voice was unmovable. “She is. I can’t have surprises. How bad is it, Knox?”

Knox’s hand tightened around the plate, his eyes fixed on a spot somewhere over Dominic’s shoulder. He wasn’t used to talking about home, that much was clear.