Page 123 of Hard Bargain

That morning, Dominic had pressed the keys to his new apartment into his hand like it was nothing. No explanation, no buildup, just a steady, “It’s ready.” And then he’d left like he hadn’t just shifted Knox’s entire life with that simple sentence.

Knox hadn’t gone there right away. He’d taken one of Dominic’s cars to the hospital instead. He’d waited through the discharge process, signed papers, and listened to the instructions he already knew by heart. Then he’d helped his mom into the car and drove her home.

He’d made sure she was settled, gotten her inside, picked up her medication, and stocked the fridge with enough food for the next week. Everything she needed.

She hadn’t been grateful.

She’d been furious.

It hadn’t taken long before the yelling started. Accusations thrown at him like he’d done something wrong by leaving, by daring to choose himself for once.

He hadn’t fought back. Just made sure everything was in place and left. By the time he walked out, he felt drained all over again.

Now, he was standing in front of the door to his new apartment. Keys in hand, just one step away from opening it and crossing the threshold. It felt… unreal. He stared at the door for a moment, then exhaled and stepped inside.

Everything was done. Not just the furniture—everything. His clothes were put away, the kitchen stocked, his stuff arranged on shelves. Even the game console was hooked up to the TV.

Of course Dominic had taken care of everything. Because that was what Dominic did. He decided something should happen and then it happened; there was no gap between intention and execution. Knox was starting to understand that this was simply how the man operated.

He should have felt good. Relief. Gratitude. A fresh start. But after today—after his mom—all he felt was empty. The quiet settled fast, pressing in from all sides, and with it came that familiar heavy feeling. It crawled under his skin, spreading before he could stop it.

He knew this feeling. He knew exactly what he needed when it hit like this. Something strong enough to break through, to drag him out of the gray and make him feel alive again.

He needed Dominic.

He didn’t think about it any longer. His phone was already in his hand, thumbs hovering for half a second before he typed.

Me: Where are you?

The reply came almost instantly.

Dominic: Lucky Thirteen

Dominic’s casino. The same one Knox had been forced to prove himself trustworthy and useful. Where everything had started, or at least where he’d started to understand where everything was going.

His grip tightened around the phone. He grabbed the car keys Dominic had given him and headed straight for the door.

Everything could wait except the pull in his chest and the man on the other end of it.

* * *

The noise hit him before anything else. The click of chips, the murmur of conversation, the occasional burst of laughter from the bar. Slot machines flashed and chimed beneath the warm glow of the casino lights. Lucky Thirteen was packed, every table occupied, bodies moving through the space in a steady flow.

Knox didn’t focus on any of it. His gaze moved across the room. Searching.

Dominic stood near the back, talking to two men beside one of the high-roller tables. One hand rested loosely in his pocket, the other gesturing as he spoke, his attention fixed on the conversation. Dark suit, composed, in his element.

Knox didn’t slow down. He moved straight through the crowd, not caring who he brushed past, not caring who noticed. His attention didn’t shift once.

Dominic.

That was all that mattered.

He reached him within seconds, stepping into his space without hesitation. The two men paused mid-conversation, their attention flicking to Knox. He didn’t even acknowledge them. Didn’t even see them.

Dominic’s gaze snapped to him, confusion crossing his face. “Knox—”

Knox didn’t let him finish. He stepped closer, closing the last of the distance, one hand coming up to Dominic’s arm as he leaned in, mouth near his ear. “Can we go somewhere private?”