Page 100 of Monster

“Don’t you ever get tired of the same routine?” I asked, taking another sip.

“In my boring life?”

I shrugged. She said it, not me.

Before my hand got smashed, I used to dream about traveling around the world and doing shows. In my fantasies, all my shows would be sold out, and I would end almost each night to the sound of the crowd applauding me.

I wasn’t completely lost in fantasyland, though.

I knew composers and pianists didn’t make all that much, especially in the United States.

People here didn’t exactly get into classical music anymore—if they ever had.

My dream had been to play at Carnegie Hall.

“Did Dominic ever tell you how he and I met?” Lucy asked.

I shook my head. A dark shadow passed over her brown eyes, and I wondered what had brought that look on. I set my coffee mug down and paid attention to her.

“I stumbled into a biker bar in Las Vegas, looking for help after my ex-husband beat me within an inch of my life. Dominic was the only one who helped.”

I blinked. “Lucy… I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

She offered me a kind smile and placed the spatula on the counter before walking over to me. She grabbed my hands.

I looked down at them, noticing the difference between us. Her skin was a shade or two darker than my own, her hands a little wider than mine. Her palms were warm and comforting, reminding me of the way it had felt when I was little, when I had held my mom’s hand.

Though a decade or so older than me, her hands were nice, free of any imperfections, while mine were deformed—scarred and so ugly.

I kept my gaze there. I shouldn’t have said anything or made any assumptions. I wouldn’t have blamed her if she had been angry at me.

“Silly girl,” she said softly. “How could you know?”

I shook my head. “I shouldn’t have made any assumptions.”

I looked up to see her smiling at me. I felt like crying, imagining her face covered in bruises and scars.

“I’m okay now. But to answer your question, dear girl, I don’t get tired of the same routine. This life—the life Dominic has given me and all he has done—I can never repay him. I love my life now. I am married to a good man, and I have the protection of the King’s Men MC. It’s a good life.”

I offered her a small smile.

“There is nothing you need to repay me for,” came a gruff reply by the kitchen’s doorway.

I stiffened and looked over to see a disheveled Dominic standing there, watching us. His blue eyes were soft and light this morning.

He made disheveled look good.

I felt like I had swallowed my own tongue as he walked further into the kitchen. Lucy shot a smile my way, and patted Dominic’s chest in a way that sent a small tinge spreading across my chest that felt a hell a lot like jealousy before she went back to the stove.

I didn’t say anything as he walked up to me, his eyes heating a blazing trail across my skin.

He held out his hand.

“I’m guessing you haven’t made it out to the living room yet?” he asked when I placed my hand in his.

I shook my head as he led me out of there, feeling a small frown forming between my eyebrows.

“Why?” I asked when we got there.

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