Page 42 of The Thug And His Doll

“I just–”

“Maybe I shouldn’t say this…”

I shake my head. “Then don’t.”

“But I’m going to anyway. Lia…”

“Drix, please. I don’t have anything to give you.”

“Then at the very least, let me give you a compliment,” he presses on. “You’ve lived with a man who has made you feel like shit, who’s treated you in the worst way possible. He’s knocked your confidence, and I fucking hate that, because to me, you’re fucking beautiful, Lia. I’m attracted to everything you are and all that I see.”

I’m too overwhelmed to reply. Instead I turn my head away, staring out at the quiet peacefulness that snow always seems to bring, trying to ignore the burning heat between us and the promise of something more.

“Lia, shit. I’ve made you feel uncomfortable,” Drix says after a while.

“You know, I haven’t felt beautiful in a very, very long time,” I admit, slowly meeting his gaze once more. “In the early days, Martin used to compliment me all the time. He’d shower me with gifts, take me out to fancy restaurants. They call it love-bombing.”

“That’s not what this is,” Drix says quickly, and I can hear the panic in his voice. “Shit. I’ve fucked up. This is too much too soon. I’m sorry.”

“This is no reflection on you, but you have to understand why I’m so wary,” I say.

“I do understand, Lia, and I hope that one day you’ll feel beautiful again. I hope that I can be the man who can give you the space and the time to get back to that confident, fun-loving woman you spoke about.”

“This is just all so overwhelming. I’m not in the right headspace to even consider falling into another relationship. There’s too much at stake. I can’t risk breaking Toby’s heart… and mine,” I add quietly.

He nods. “I get it. There’s no pressure from me for anything. I’ll take whatever you’re comfortable with giving, and that will be enough.”

For a moment we just sit quietly, neither one of us speaking as snow gently falls around us. Eventually, I break the heavy silence.

“Martin broke me, Drix. I don’t know if I can ever get back to that woman I was. He took away my confidence, my self-love, my power, my trust in people. Truthfully, I’m afraid I’ll never be able to love another man again. The little I have left in me is for Toby.”

Drix gives me a soft smile. “He’s the most important person in your life, and he should always be your priority. Just know that I’m here in whatever capacity you need…” His voice trails off and he blows out a steadying breath before continuing to speak. “Okay, so hear me out. I know you said that you find it hard to trust people, and I understand why, but if you’re going to take this job you’ll need someone to look after Toby, and I want to be that person.”

“Don’t you have better things to do?” I ask, hating myself for how that sounds.

Drix shakes his head. “I’ve already taken time off from managing the gym for a few weeks to plan the security for Robert Blade’s upcoming wedding, but that’s flexible.”

“You’re planning security for a wedding?” I ask, avoiding responding to his offer because I honestly don’t know how I feel about it. Despite the fact he’s never given me any reason to be concerned when it comes to Toby, I can’t help but feel the way I do.

“My friend’s dad, Robert Blade, is getting married again on New Year’s Eve. He’s a wealthy man, with a lot of friends in high places, and he needs security. It’s a big event, the press will be here covering the wedding. It’s a whole thing,” he explains.

“And you’re the man for the job?”

“It’s what I do for the families. I’m their unofficial head of security.”

“I didn’t know that,” I say.

“I took over the role from Hubert. It’s what he used to do.”

“Daisy mentioned something about four families running this town, including your family. I didn’t know that kind of thing still existed. It seems a little archaic to me.”

“It is,” Drix agrees. “But money buys you power, and Robert Blade, Carl Dunn and Walter Pike have a lot of that around here. They’re influential. Own many of the businesses in town between them.”

“And you don’t have money or power?”

“I have my own money, but a lot less comparably.”

“And the power?”

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