Page 8 of Secret Baby for a Damaged Billionaire

“Never,” I grit out, just as the chimes above the door ring out.

In one swift move, Lucas is off me, reaching his hand to help me up, as a loud crash startles us and pulls our attention across the gym.

My jaw drops as I stare at Dom, standing there with a heavy dumbbell lying at his feet and a furious scowl twisting his features. His gaze zeroes in on Lucas, and then on me, and when he speaks, his voice is laced with venom.

“Well, isn’t this cozy? I see you’ve wasted no time movin’ on.” His South Boston accent thick with anger.

“What the hell are you doing here, Dom?” I shoot out, causing Lucas’s spine to straighten and his shoulders to square.

“Does he know you’re just usin’ him to get back at me?” Dom spits, shaking his head.

I blink, certain his attack can’t be real, and I walk over to him, brows furrowed.

“Dom, why are you here? What’s going on?” I hiss through clenched teeth, shocked by his presence.

His expression lightens as I get closer and regret washes across his eyes. “Sorry, I just saw your car out front and wanted to see you, I guess. I didn’t expect to walk in on that.” He gestures toward Lucas, who continues to watch our every move, wound tight.

“Well, you can’t just waltz back into my life whenever you want,” I say. “You’re not going to like what you see. I’ve had to move on, Dom. You messed it all up.”

“I know.” He eyeballs Lucas, dropping his voice to a whisper, saying, “I was stupid, and I want to make it up to you.” He reaches for my hand. “I want you to give me another chance.”

I pull my hand away from his. “No, Dom, I’m not ready for that, for any of this.” My jaw tenses. “I need you to leave. You can’t just show up like this.” Images of finding his lover’s panties in our bed linens and him turning it on me, as if his cheating were my fault, sicken me.

He moves closer, into my personal space, and leans in. “No, Emily. You have to listen.”

And before I can say a word, Lucas’s voice booms from behind me.

“I believe she’s asked you to leave,” he growls, moving forward like a freight train, eyes flashing dangerously.

My hand instinctively moves up, reaching for Lucas’s chest, pressing against him to hold him back. The effort of stopping his advance only riles Dom up more.

The tension in the room ratchets up another notch, both men radiating aggression.

“What the fuck? Is he your boyfriend now?” Dom spits, acting like he’s been deceived.

“He’s my boss, Dom,” I say, tone rigid.

He nods, glancing at Lucas. “Ya, I bet he is,” he says. “Just wait. You’ll come crawling back to me soon enough,” he calls over his shoulder, turning to leave. The door slams behind him, rattling the glass.

Silence falls over the gym, heavy and strained, as I release a shaky breath, scrubbing my hands over my face. What a hot mess.

A warm hand settles comfortingly against the small of my back, and I glance up to find Lucas watching me, a crease between his brows. His anger seems to have vanished, replaced by concern.

“Are you alright?” His voice is soft, gentle. It soothes the storm of emotions churning inside me.

I give him a weak smile. “I will be.”

He pulls me into his arms without another word, wrapping me in the solid strength of his embrace. I cling to him, breathing in the clean scent of his skin and listening to the steady thump of his heart.

It’s exactly where I want to be. Where I belong.

Chapter Four (Lucas)

The gym buzzes with energy, the sound of heavy bags being pummeled and hands slapping mats filling the air. Sweat drips from my forehead as I watch my high-level fighters execute their jujitsu techniques with precision. Business is good, great even. Expansion plans are on the horizon, and I feel a hard-earned sense of pride in what I’ve built. But amidst all the success, there’s a part of me that still feels broken.

“Lucas, I managed to finalize the lease agreement for the new location,” Emily calls out, her voice cutting through the noise of the gym. I turn to see her approaching, clutching a thick stack of documents in her arms.

“Great work, Emily,” I say, maintaining a professional tone, while inside, I can’t believe how much she’s helped me reach my goals. Her negotiation skills are unmatched, and she’s never afraid to call me out when I’m being an asshole. She’s a big reason why things are moving forward the way they are.

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