Page 37 of Hard Bargain

Knox glanced up. “What?”

“You’re improving. Would be a waste to stop now.” Cassian shrugged. “We’ll meet on Saturday mornings.”

“Every week?” Knox asked.

Cassian turned his head, expression dry. “Unless you die.”

Knox snorted, shaking his head. “Alright.”

“And in between, you keep working out on your own.” Cassian nodded toward the equipment around them. “I’ll get you set up with access. Half of getting good at this is repetition.”

“Yeah, okay. I can do that.”

Cassian stood, stretching his arms overhead. “Perfect,” he said, already moving on. “Want to grab something to eat?”

Knox pushed himself upright, every part of him protesting. “God, yes. I’m starving.”

Cassian jerked his head toward the lockers. “Come on. Lunch’s on me.”

“Where?”

Cassian glanced back, a smirk tugging at his mouth. “The club. Where else?”

* * *

By the time they stepped into The Velvet Room, Knox felt almost human again. Or at least clean.

The club was alive. Not packed yet, but full enough to hum with energy. There was low music, conversation threading through the air, and dancers moving like they didn’t have a single doubt in their bodies.

Cassian slid into a booth near the back, stretching out lazily and grabbing a menu he didn’t bother reading.

Knox dropped in across from him, still feeling the aftermath of training in his limbs.

A waitress appeared almost immediately. Cassian looked up with an easy smile already in place. “Burgers, fries and a beer.” He glanced at Knox. “You?”

“Same’s fine.”

She nodded, scribbling it down.

Cassian shot her a wink. “You’re a hero.”

She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling when she walked away.

Knox’s attention had drifted. Dominic stood at the bar, one elbow braced against the counter, posture deceptively relaxed. Missy stood close beside him. Too close to be casual. She leaned into him as she spoke, her hand resting on his arm. There was no hesitation in her touch, just ease and familiarity.

Something in Knox stirred before he could make sense of it.

Missy laughed softly, tipping her head back, then leaned in again, her mouth brushing close to Dominic’s ear as she said something.

Cassian followed his line of sight. An amused sound left him. “Yeah. They fuck sometimes.”

The words landed between them with startling bluntness, like it was the most ordinary thing in the world.

Knox ground his teeth. “Didn’t ask.”

“Didn’t say you did,” Cassian said. “Just saving you the guesswork.”

Knox leaned back into the booth, forcing himself to look away. It lasted for all of three seconds. Dominic said something that changed Missy’s expression instantly, her smile brightening into something more eager.