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“She was just trying to be a good friend,” Keira manages between sobs.
The warmth of her body seeps into mine, and I want to walk us to the couch and kiss her over and over. I want to forget about my responsibilities. I want to tell my brother to shove this dinner up his ass. I want to stay here and just be with her.
But I can’t, and that’s the harsh reality of the world we live in.
“I know, baby, but it’s better like this. It has to be this way,” I whisper close to her ear.
Even in my own club, I can’t risk people hearing me talk to her like this. It’s bad enough that my brother knows how important she is to me. The more people that know about her, or my feelings for her, the bigger the target on both our backs.
I hold her for a short time before releasing her. After all the things she’s asked me today, I realize I never cared to ask her something in return. Probably because a part of me worries if I get too attached and something happens, it will kill me. Still…knowing little things about her can’t hurt, right?
“What did Lily mean when she said I’m keeping you from going to classes?”
Keira sniffles. “I was going to college to get a degree—in what, I don’t know yet; I’m still undecided—but I won’t be able to return, so it doesn’t matter anyway.”
“Once this whole thing with my brother is settled, you can go back to classes.” There will be a man protecting her on campus at all times, but we can talk about security measures later.
“I still won’t be able to go.” She’s not looking for pity…this, I know. She’s simply stating the truth.
“And why is that?”
“Because Leo paid for all of my schooling, and now that he’s…” she trails off, as if she doesn’t want to say the word. “I won’t be able to pay for tuition, and even with a job, it’s not going to be manageable. I have to eat and find a place to live too.”
Shit, it never occurred to me Leo was supporting her. Paying for her schooling, her housing. It’s no wonder he got caught up in some bad shit with my brother. He was trying to take care of his little sister.
He was trying to protect her—and he paid for it with blood.
“Keira, if you want to go to school, then you can. I’ll pay for your tuition in full. You don’t have to worry about money or paying me back. And you don’t have to worry about a place to live either.” Keira looks at me in disbelief.
“You can stay at my house. I’ve got food, heat, running water—everything you’ll ever need.”
“You don’t mean that, Damon.” She sniffles.
“Yes. Yes, I do, baby. I’ll give you whatever you need to make it out of this shithole. You say the word, and I’ll do it.”
The words have never been more convicing. I’ll do anything for Keira. Paying for her college tuition is nothing. Allowing her to live with me…nothing.
There is no cost for her happiness—not in my mind.
“I’ll get everything arranged when we return from my brother’s.”
Oh fuck. Dinner. My brother’s. I pull my phone from my pocket and check the time. We’ve got two hours before we need to be at the mansion.
“I’m going to call Candy. She’s got your dress, and she’s going to help you do your hair and makeup.” I feel myself slipping back into the old me, the person I have to be. Keira must feel it too because she slowly retreats to the couch.
“Okay,” she mumbles, placing her hands in her lap.
I feel the organ inside my chest beat. It’s pounding, pumping blood through my body, but I can’t let it control my decisions.
I need to use my head to protect Keira…
…not my heart.
Chapter 15
Keira
I stare at myself in the mirror. Damon has me changing in the stripper’s dressing room. I feel cheap, but I don’t object. He has business to attend to, and he all but pushed me into Candy’s arms as soon as she entered his office.
Coldness washed over him earlier, hiding all his emotions now. He’s changing, reverting to his old self—slowly, so slowly. Maybe he doesn’t think I see it. I don’t know. I thought after last night we had made some headway…that things had changed, but…
“What are you thinking about inside that head of yours?” Candy asks while I start to get undressed. She already has my hair up in big rollers, making me look ridiculous. I hope she doesn’t plan to keep these in my hair as part of the hairstyle tonight.
“First of all, I’m glad you picked this dress for me. I was worried you would choose something…um, more—”
“—like this?” She holds up one of the stripper’s outfits from the nearby rack. The damn thing is made with less fabric than some of my underwear—and that’s being nice.
