Mr.Corvus has a lot of responsibilities, my scarred ass.
“For a man who’s seen the world, Mr.Masters, there’s a lot you don’t know.Some people need regular sexual stimulation.It’s air.It’s food.”
Give me a fucking break.“You’re telling me a man of your age can’t survive without getting your dick sucked?”
Not that I’m entirely sure of the man’s age given the sparse information out there, but local records list his date of birth as being a few years before mine.That he looks several years younger than I do is one more reason I’d like to stab him.
Daniel scoffs at my jab.“Of course I can.I meant the boy.I’m sure you know how…passionate and enthusiastic they can be at that age.”
I rub at the sudden throb in my temples.“Jesus Beverly Christ.You’ve got to be fucking kidding me right now.”
Whatever.If Daniel Corvus wants to use his club as a thinly veiled excuse to fuck barely legal young men, it’s not my problem.The boy could use fewer blow jobs and more sandwiches if you ask me, but nobody did.
So long as one of those young men isn’t mine.
“Where is he?”
Daniel’s eyebrows go up.
“Don’t act like you don’t fucking know who I’m talking about.Ravi Novak.Where.Is.He?”
The smug bastard clasps his hands behind his back.“What gives you the impression I have any idea?”
“He’s not at home where he belongs.I’ve checked out everyone else he knows, including Brennan fucking Doyle.He’s not with any of them.Word’s out that the auction is being held here.Right now he’s an asset to you, and you don’t seem like the sort of man who would let a million dollars wander around freely when there are threats against him.”
Suspicion crosses Daniel’s face.“How do you know there are threats against him?”
“How doyouknow?”I’m assuming he hasn’t read Ravi’s emails.And if he has, I’ve got a lot more questions.
“Tell me,” Corvus says with his jaw tight.
Leaning against the door behind me, I cross my arms over my chest.“Show me yours and I’ll show you mine.”
Daniel Corvus stands, having the actual audacity to glance suggestively at my crotch.“I believe I’ve already shown you mine.”
“Fucking hell you’re an asshole.”My hand goes to my gun holster.
Corvus makes a discouraging noise.“Careful, Mr.Masters.Discharging a firearm in here would be extremely dangerous.”He seats himself back on his throne, looking unconcerned in spite of his warning.
A glance up shows me another camera, tucked away in the corner and barely visible.Something tells me security is already on their way.
“Someone sent him an email.”I hold up Ravi’s phone.“It’s vague, but the proprietary tone gives me the creeps.”
Corvus nods.“We’ve had a few attempts at preemptive bids, including one person who approached Ravi himself at Mercer Oak’s last cocktail gathering.In addition, there have been a few anonymous messages demanding we shut the entire thing down.Frankly, I wondered if those might be from you.”
“Wouldn’t be me.If I have a problem with someone, I let them know directly.”
He nods.“Clearly.Well.Rich men get astonishingly turned on by a bargain.Perhaps that’s all the notes have been about—not wanting the auction to drive up what they’d have to pay to have him.I see an equally great likelihood that someone out there—” He gives me a pointed look.“—aside from you feels an unreasonable level of ownership over Ravi and doesn’t want anyone else getting him.”
“I don’t feel?—”
He cuts off my protest with a wave of his hand.“Let’s not waste each other’s time here, Masters.Yes, Ravi is under my protection until the auction.No, I’m not releasing his whereabouts.Not even to you.”
Fuck if I’ll tell Corvus he’s right.I do feel an unreasonable level of ownership.And his refusal to tell me where Ravi is, what the kid might be doing… Jesus Christ, who he might be doing it with.I need to fucking pummel something.
There’s a frustrated growl building in my throat.“This is completely fucked.Ravi’s not savvy about how the world works.He makes these impulsive, reckless decisions.I guarantee he has no idea how dangerous this is.I need to let him know about these threats.”
“Do you?”
