Page 101 of Hard Bargain

That got a reaction. Subtle, but there. Dominic’s attention moved back to him, sharper now and more focused. “Did something happen again?”

“No. She’s just been… off.”

“Off how?”

He wasn’t letting it go. Knox let out a short breath, something between irritation and resignation. “She’s been really depressed. More episodes. Not eating much.” He looked away, annoyed with himself for saying even that much. “I just need to make sure she’s okay.”

Dominic looked at him. “She hasn’t hit you again.”

It wasn’t phrased like a question, but Knox answered it anyway. “No. Not since that last time.”

Darkness flickered across Dominic’s expression and vanished so quickly most people would have missed it. “I don’t like your living situation,” he said.

Knox huffed a short, humorless laugh. “Why do you care? I’m used to it anyway.”

Dominic’s jaw tightened. “That doesn’t make it acceptable.”

Knox looked back at him, irritation surfacing fast, because this—the care, the attention, the insistence—was considerably harder to deal with than indifference. “She’s sick,” he said. “You already know that.”

“Yes,” Dominic said. “I also know sick people can still do damage.”

The words landed hard between them. Knox’s shoulders stiffened. “I know how to handle her.”

“Do you?”

That shut Knox up. Not because he agreed, but because he didn’t want to answer. His gaze dropped briefly before he shrugged. “It is what it is.” The words landed flat. The kind of answer that usually ended a conversation.

It didn’t.

Dominic watched him for a beat, something hard settling behind his eyes. “No,” he said.

Knox frowned. “No?”

“No,” Dominic repeated, reaching for his phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Having someone take you home,” Dominic said, already typing. “He’s going up with you to make sure everything’s fine.”

Knox stared at him. “Dom.”

Dominic didn’t look up. “You said she’s been off.”

“I also said I would check on her.”

“And you will,” Dominic replied, still typing. “You just won’t be doing it alone.”

Knox let out a breath. “It’s not like that.”

Dominic looked up then and held his gaze. “I’ve seen what it’s like.”

Knox’s shoulders went tighter, caught between arguing and knowing it wouldn’t go anywhere. “You’re seriously doing this?”

“Yes.”

Silence.

Knox shook his head, reluctant acceptance settling in underneath the irritation. “Fine.”