Page 124 of Dangerous Attraction

"I appreciate you trying to reassure me, but you can't guarantee he won't come around again." Wrinkling my nose, I crack my eyelids open. "Up until last night, I always had a tiny spark of hope that one day, he'd change and go back to the man I knew when I was little. I thought if I gave him some time, he'd sort his life out and accept me as his daughter, but instead, he still hates me. I no longer have any hope. All I feel when I think of him now is fear and disgust."

Dragging his thumb across my cheek, he smiles softly.

"Trix, trust me when I tell you, he won't be coming back again."

"Reeve, you don't know that for—"

"Yes," he says firmly. "I do know that."

Frowning, I peer up at him as I try to connect the pieces together.

"I made sure of it, Red. He can never hurt you again."

My jaw drops as the pieces finally fall into place, and I stare at the man before me, shocked by what he's indirectly telling me.

"I'm sorry if that's not what you wanted, but I couldn't bear the thought of him hurting you again."

Pressing a finger against his lips, I shake my head again.

"I'm not mad or upset with you, Reeve. If anything, I'm thankful." Gulping, I take a deep breath. "Does that make me an awful person?"

"No, of course it doesn't." He leans down and kisses me, then gently grazes my nose with his when he pulls away. "He's caused you so much pain, Trix. It's only right you're glad he's gone."

Wrapping my hand around the nape of his neck, I pull him closer, pressing my lips to his.

Unfortunately, before we can continue, Reeve's bedroom door flies open, and my best friends fly into the room.

"Ah! My eyes! I don't want to see that!"

Emery pushes past Liam, rolling her eyes at his dramatic entrance.

"Excuse us. We don't mean to interrupt. We're just here to check on our poor fallen soldier." She walks to the bed, gaze travelling all over me, then she whacks my arm, which makes me grunt.

"What the fuck was that for?"

"For not telling us you got hurt again! We had to find out from Mabel—who found out from Honey—while we were eating breakfast."

Reeve clears his throat, then untangles himself from me.

"I'm going to use Milo's room to get ready. I'll leave you three alone for a while."

"Yes, please do!" Liam shouts, still standing by the door with his hand over his face.

I groan, then burrow under the blanket while shaking my head.

Why do I surround myself with these idiots?

Chapter Forty-One

Reeve

It's been three days since Trix was attacked, and she's driving me insane with the urge to get back to work and help out with shit around the clubhouse.

Now that she's not in as much pain, I can no longer fight with her. I'm pretty sure she'd have ignored my protests anyway, so when she suggested working behind the bar for a couple of hours today, I didn't argue.

Little did I know, I'd still be sitting here at 5 p.m. watching her carry bottles of beer to the middle booth where the prospects are sitting.

She's still hobbling, but at least she is able to put pressure on her foot now without it hurting.