It took him a moment to answer. Not because he didn’t know the answer, but because it was the first time someone had asked him about how he felt and if he was happy.
He swallowed past the lump in his throat. No one cared about him. He was nothing more than a tool for Murdock to make money.
The realisation wasn’t anything new, but Vivienne’s compassion and worry made him see himself through her eyes. And the sight wasn’t pretty.
Once, one of the workers had got a nasty cut during a performance but hadn’t realised until someone had pointed out the blood. That was how he, Lion Boy, felt.
“You are terribly unhappy.” Vivienne stared into his eyes…her expression of pain echoed his pain.
He’d never met someone who understood his suffering.
“This is awful,” Dobkins said.
He nodded and mouthed slowly, “Hate it.”
Vivienne’s eyebrows drew together. “You hate it here.”
He nodded and returned her stare to make her understand better the depths of his pain.
When a clear tear slid down her cheek, he was sure he would drown in it.
“We’ll take you out of here.” Her voice cracked.
“Lady Vivienne,” Dobkins whispered.
Vivienne faced her, her fists clenched. “We must.”
Lady? She was indeed an aristocrat.
“You can’t promise him anything,” Dobkins said. “You can’t give him false hope. That’s cruel.”
“No.” Vivienne wiped her tears quickly. “No false hope. I’ll find a way to help him.” She grabbed his rough, ruined hand, leaving him breathless.
Her soft skin was like petals against his calloused palm. His heart pounded faster. His eyesight sharpened. Too many things that had never happened to him were happening at the same time.
“I promise. You’ll leave this awful place and be free.” Determination shone in her gaze.
Her solemn tone filled him with hope.
For one wonderful second.
Then reality hit him. She would never be able to free him. He’d tried to escape and failed. Murdock was too cunning and ruthless. Cade was too strong. Deceiving Murdock, or worse, stealing from him, was impossible. His friends were thugs as ruthless as he was.
He was Lion Boy. He slid his hand out of hers and waved them away.
“I’ll find a way,” Vivienne whispered.
They were kind to worry about him, but he had to be honest with himself. They would never help him. There was nothing they could do for him.
He waved them away again, raising his eyebrows.
“We must leave,” Dobkins said.
Vivienne hesitated. She reached out, and her gentle touch on his wrist sent a powerful jolt of emotion through him. “I promise.”
Right then, at that moment, he believed her.
