Page 45 of Secret Baby for a Damaged Billionaire

The other fighters exchange amused glances and it’s not long before they’re all kneeling on the mats, showering him with attention. I grin at the sight, seeing even my toughest fighters exposing their soft spots.

“Alright, alright,” I interrupt their bonding session, clapping my hands together. “Time to get back to work!”

As the group disperses, I lead Charlie over to the side of the room where I can keep an eye on him while I oversee the training exercises. I grab a stopwatch and call out, “Let’s start with some grappling drills, everyone! Pair up and get ready!”

Charlie watches intently from the sidelines, sensing the energy in the room. He seems to understand that he’s part of the team now, and his eyes follow every movement with interest. It’s almost as if he’s studying the techniques, eager to learn.

“Come on, guys!” I shout, encouraging them to push themselves harder. “Give it your all!”

Charlie barks in agreement, echoing my sentiment.

The fighters chuckle, and I do too. It feels good to laugh, to let go of the tension that’s been building up inside me for so long.

After the practice session, I relax in my office, finalizing plans for our trip to Dubai. We’ve got a solid team of fighters ready to compete, and my gym’s reputation has never been stronger. But it hasn’t been without its challenges—securing visas, coordinating travel arrangements, and ensuring our fighters are in peak condition, have all tested my patience and problem-solving skills.

I shake my head, knowing none of it would have been possible without Emily.

The door to my office pushes farther open. “Lucas, you coming back, man?” one of my fighters asks, jolting me out of my thoughts.

“Sure thing,” I reply, grabbing my water bottle and heading back toward the mat. We run through some more drills together, each fighter pushing themselves to their limits in preparation for the upcoming tournament.

As we wrap up the session, I glance over at Charlie, who’s been watching us intently from the sidelines.

“Alright, that’s it for today!” I call out, eliciting groans and sighs. “Rest up, and we’ll hit it hard again tomorrow.”

As the gym clears out, I leash up Charlie, preparing for a walk to Southie. Emily’s been on my mind all day and seeing her is my top priority. With Charlie as my wingman, playing his part as babe-magnet, there’s no doubt we’ll get her out to walk with us. Although, a small voice in the back of my head keeps nagging me about her recent mood. She’s been quiet, standoffish, but I fight the insecurity, knowing it’s part of my problem. But no matter my positive self-talk, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off.

Charlie and I weave our way through the neighborhoods, his twitching nose attracted to everything, bringing smiles to the most serious of faces. We make our way to Emily’s apartment and hit the buzzer. By the time we reach the third floor of her triple-decker, Charlie’s tail is wagging a million miles an hour, nearly causing liftoff.

With one scratch on the door, she opens it, and Charlie barrels in, all licks. I pull on his leash. “Hey, boy, that’s my girl.”

Emily lets out a laugh of amusement. “What are you guys doing here?” She runs her fingers through her long hair, trying to control it, but it doesn’t matter; she looks beautiful either way.

I glance around her apartment, small but cozy, filled with eclectic furniture and quirky decorations that perfectly reflect her personality. A variety of dog-themed items are scattered throughout the space and Charlie sniffs at each one. Her laptop is lit up on the coffee table and an empty mug surrounded by old tea bags teeters at the edge.

“We wanted to take you for a walk,” I say. “It was Charlie’s idea, and I know better than to challenge him.”

She gives a weak smile, and it’s in that moment that my fears come to the forefront.

“Hey, is everything okay?” I ask, tipping my head to see clearly into her face. She avoids my eyes and moves to the sofa. She sits and slowly closes her laptop.

“Ah, Em?” I ask, sensing the tension in her demeanor.

“Y-yeah, of course,” she stammers, avoiding my gaze. “Everything’s okay.”

It’s unlike her to be this reserved around me, which only fuels my concern. Maybe my breakdown was too much for her. I couldn’t blame her, I suppose. I did fall off the deep end for a moment.

“Emily,” I start, looking her straight in the eye. “You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”

She hesitates for a moment before letting out a deep breath. “Yeah, I know, Lucas. It’s just… there’s something I’ve been needing to tell you.”

My heart drops into my feet and I look for a place to sit. Charlie instinctively stays by my side, offering his support as my life threatens to fall apart in front of me.

“Whatever it is, Em, we’ll figure it out together,” I assure her, sitting next to her on the couch. She nods, preparing her next words.

My ears are prepared for the inevitable; it’s not you it’s me, or I had a long talk with Dom, or your PTSD is more than I expected.

I stare at her, allowing her space to speak, as my breath stops in my chest.

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