Page 58 of The Painter and His Poet

“I would’ve killed the cunt.”

“Just calm down, okay. Take a breath.”

“Don’t tell me to fucking calm down. Daisy is in the hospital, Sterling!”

“Did he hurt her as well?”

“No, she was upstairs locked in a room with Toby, but he told me she’s pretty shaken up. I should be there.”

“Because Drix is your best friend…”

“No, arsehole, because Daisy is going to bemy wife!”

“You sound like you care,” I say, wincing at how that sounds. He might fuck around with women, but I know that he wouldn’t want to see Daisy hurt.

“Of course I care. She’s my best friend’s sister. She’s my… Fuck!Fuck!”

“I think, for now, you need to respect Drix’s wishes. Just give him time.”

“He’llneverforgive me for this.”

He doesn’t need to tell me what Drix won’t forgive him for. We’re both well aware that Drix hates the fact that he’s going to marry Daisy.

“Then maybe you should reconsider,” I offer.

“No.”

“No?”

“I’m marrying Daisy. It’s happening whether he likes it or not. Besides, we’ve already signed the contract. There’s no backing out now.”

“You want your inheritance that badly?”

The line goes quiet. “You don’t understand,” he eventually says.

“You’re right, I don’t. What gives?”

“Look, I gotta go. I’ve got things to do. Thanks for calling back.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“Call Drix, he’ll talk to you. Make sure they’re okay, will you?”

“I can do that.”

“Good–”

“Dalton?” I interrupt, preventing him from hanging up.

“Yes?”

“Take care of Daisy. She’s a good person.”

I can hear Dalton mutter something under his breath, before his voice sounds down the line. “I will.” With that he hangs up.

“Goddamn it,” I exclaim, scrolling through my contacts until I find Drix’s number, pressing the call button. It rings a few times before he eventually answers. “Drix, I just spoke with Dalton. How can I help?”

“You can keep Dalton away from the hospital. I don’t want him here, Daisy doesn’t either.”

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