Page 102 of Ruined
“Because he’s a floor supervisor, Luca. He’s good at what he does, and I need him.”
“Youneedhim?”
“I need his skills,” Dominic said sharply. “He’s been doing this for years. He knows the whole operation. Replacing him would be a headache I don’t need right now.”
I scowled. “You’re going to let him hang around, drooling over you like a creep?”
“Frank doesn’t have power over me. He’s stuck in a marriage he doesn’t even want. That’s punishment enough.”
Imagining Frank lurking around Dominic made my stomach churn. “He gets to see you every day and act like nothing happened.”
“Let him rot in the life he built for himself.”
I shook my head. “You’re too fucking forgiving.”
“I’m not forgiving him. I’m letting him destroy himself.”
“I don’t get it,” I growled. “Why let him in your life at all?”
“Because I refuse to let him define me. Frank’s a reminder of what I don’t want to be like.”
I blinked. “You’re nothing like him.”
Dominic’s gaze locked with mine. “All it takes is one moment of cowardice, and you end up like Frank. Living a life you hate, clinging to scraps of happiness in all the wrong places.”
“You’re stronger than that.”
“I’m trying to be, but…I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
The ache in his voice twisted in my chest. Dominic, admitting he needed more? Dominic was untouchable, the golden boy with his perfect suits, razor-sharp comebacks, and an infuriating amount of confidence.
“You’re not alone,” I blurted. “You have me.”
“For how long? Until you run off again?”
Shit.
All those mornings I’d slipped out, thinking he’d roll his eyes and move on. Like it wouldn’t hurt him. I didn’t want to be anything like Frank.
“I’m not trying to push you away.”
“You’re here, but you’re not,” Dominic said quietly. “You let me in to keep me close, but never enough to hold on. Sound familiar?”
My chest tightened. “Dom.”
“I don’t need grand gestures. I need you to stay.”
Slowly, I reached out and took his hand, my fingers curling around his. He stiffened, but didn’t pull away.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m not him, okay? I don’t treat people like that.”
Dominic’s smile twisted. “Yeah? Prove it.”
I blinked. “What?”
His fingers slid to the back of my hair and tugged. “Show me you’re not like him.”
TWENTY-FOUR