Page 50 of The Painter and His Poet

STERLING

“Another drink?” Dalton asks as we sit in the bar of the hotel, his gaze flicking to the empty bottle of whisky we’ve shared between us.

Ben groans, leaning forward and pressing his forehead against the table, whilst Drix releases the tight bite of his jaw and shakes his head, the soft glow of the sun rising outside colouring the side of his face in dappled pinks and oranges.

“It’s almost five am, I’m done,” he grinds out, his jaw clamping down on the anger he’s trying very hard to contain. I don’t blame him for it, he’s had a rough night.

“Me too,” I mutter, puffing out my cheeks as I blow out a steady breath that does nothing to soothe my inner fucking turmoil.

Then again, I’m not the only one fucked-up over a woman tonight. Just a few hours ago Ben propositioned the husband of his ex, offering him a substantial amount of money for one month with her. If the bastard agrees it will only cause Ben even more heartache, and make Elodie despise him. Scratch that, she probably does already just for the sheer fact he had the gumption to offer such a deal. I mean who, in their right mind,makes an indecent proposal like that and expects it not to blow up in his face?

Not only that, Drix's girlfriend, Lia, found out about his position as the town’s enforcer, and the violence that goes hand-in-hand with such a job. A job he’sreluctantlydoing for Carl, Dalton’s father, to pay off a debt. The fact that she’s only just escaped an abusive relationship with a violent man doesn’t help matters. Despite Drix being the most honourable and decent man I know, she’s understandably questioning the choices she’s made getting involved with him.

To make matters infinitely worse, apparently a couple of hours ago Daisy accepted Carl’s offer of relieving Drix of his duties, and writing off his debt so long as she marries Dalton, who can’t keep his dick in his pants for longer than an hour. And let’s not forget my own fucked-up situation to add to the mix. To put it bluntly, we’re all screwed.

“Pretty sure I’m about to throw up,” Ben mumbles, as he turns his head to the side and presses his cheek against the table.

“Pretty sure you’re about to get into a shitload of trouble with that cunt John Hoxton,” Dalton adds, leaning over the table to give him a shove.

“Ah, fuck off, Dalton. You’re one to talk,” Ben groans, batting his hand away. “Are youreallygoing to marry Daisy?”

“Over my dead fucking body,” Drix mutters.

“We’ve talked about this,” Dalton counters, his smile dropping. “As much as I hate the fucking idea, there’s no other way. We’re helping you.”

“First off,you’renot fucking helpingme. Second, there’s always another way,” Drix counters. “You’ll speak with your dad and get him to change his fucking mind, and I’ll talk some sense into Daisy. I’ll be damned if I let her throw her happiness away for a decision I fucking made. My debt is mine and mine alone to deal with.”

“Have you forgotten that you’re in quite the predicament?” Ben says as he pushes up off the table. “As much as I hate to say it, Lia doesn’t need more violence in her life. It’s about time you got out from under that prick. No offence, Dalton,” he adds.

“Oh, I’m not offended, my fatherisa prick,” Dalton agrees.

“I am not a danger to Lia. I’llneverhurt her or Toby. I fucking love them!” Drix cuts out.

Ben winces. “We know that, mate, but you’ve got to see her point of view.”

“I do, but how the fuck can I let this selfish dick marry my sister just so that I can be happy?” Drix snaps, crossing his arms across his chest.

Dalton swipes a hand through his hair. “If it helps, I’m not all that happy about the situation either.”

“I don’t give a fuck aboutyourhappiness, arsehole,” Drix snarls, slamming his curled fist against the table, causing the glasses and empty bottle of whisky to shake. “If you go through with this arranged marriageyou’reguaranteed to inherit a lot of fucking money, all my sister gets is a fucking divorce a couple years down the line, and a lifetime connection with your fucked-up family if she provides your cunting father with the heir he’s so desperate for.”

“Daisy agreed to it, and you know what she gets like. Stubborn little thing,” Dalton adds with a scowl.

“Daisy is a fucking saint, and you’d do well to remember that,” Drix strikes back in warning.

“Guys, damn it, do youhaveto do this now? My fucking head feels like it’s been hit by a sledgehammer,” Ben moans, his skin turning a dull shade of grey.

“Maybe you should sleep on it and talk again whilst this isn’t so raw?” I suggest, looking between Dalton and Drix and wondering how the fuck they’re going to navigate this.

No matter what either of them wants, or Daisy for that matter, Carl is just as much of a conniving bastard as my father, and hewillmake sure this arranged marriage takes place. It’s why Carl and my dad are the best of friends, they both know how to fuck people’s lives up to benefit them, and damn the consequences.

“Excellent suggestion,” Ben mumbles, his bloodshot eyes only serving to make the green of his irises even more striking. “Now, which one of you bastards is going to help me back to my room, because right now I don’t think my legs can carry me.”

“Not before you explain why you thought it was a good idea tobuya month alone with Elodie,” Dalton says, no doubt glad to move the focus of this conversation off him. “She’s married.”

“Never stopped you,” he counters darkly.

“ButInever have to pay to get women to spend time with me,” Dalton says, clearly regretting his retort when Drix snaps his head around to glare at him. He definitely doesn’t need another reminder of Dalton’s philandering ways.

---