He smiled.“Yes.My mother has ordered me to remain here until you are safe.”
“Oh, geez.I will lie for you.You can go.”
He gave her a wry look.“You know I am your boss, right?”
Dex winced.“I was hoping you had forgotten.”
Tosh blinked.“Wait.You own the company?”
“I own the building and the infrastructure and the support staff.The artists are on their own.”He sighed and got up.He walked over to her, and she cringed when he reached out for her head.
Images of her dad grabbing her hair and slamming her head into the wall flashed through her.
Etienne and her dad shared a body type, but Etienne was considerably larger.If he got mad, she would be dead in seconds.
He paused.“Why do I smell fear?”
She swallowed.“Reasons?I can call your mom for you and get you off the hook.”
He looked at his hand and her and made a fist.
She tried to get away from him by going through the wall.
Shock went through his expression.“You think I am going to hit you.”
“You are mad.You don’t want to be here.You don’t want to be around me.It isn’t really looking good for my survival odds.”
Tosh spoke, saying, “This attack isn’t a one-off.”
“Nope.This celebrates twelve years of careful beating and threats.”She looked at Tosh.
Etienne asked softly, “Why aren’t you afraid of him?”
Tosh smiled.“Different body type.I am not the same silhouette as her father.You both have a solid shape.”
Etienne sighed.“What am I supposed to do with that?”
Dex blinked.“Why would you want to do anything?
“Because something in me tells me that you are the one for me.I am not easy, but I am faithful to the woman I have chosen.”
“At the time,” Dex murmured.
He paused.“Right.You have seen me with a few.”
She shrugged.“Children always like the costumes.It’s the shiny stuff.”
He stared at her and then snickered.“That was to the point.”
“If I am snarky, you are relaxed, and that is much safer for me.”
He nodded and looked at Tosh.“Can you bring her over to me if I am sitting in the chair?”
Dex backed against the pillows.“What’s going on?”
Tosh smiled as Etienne went to remove his suit jacket, and he rolled up his cuffs.He sat in the huge, comfortable chair, and Tosh carefully lifted her and got her to hold the pole.He walked her over to Etienne and settled her on his lap.She couldn’t help it.Lighting crackled over her skin, and his eyes went wide.
She looked down at her hands.“Oops.Sorry.”
