Page 10 of Savage Ambition

“Night.” He left without looking back.

Left alone, the quiet of the room pressed in on me. I had finally tasted Shaw after years of craving him. For the first time in years, I had taken something I truly wanted instead of accepting whatever Salvatore handed me.

But my victory ended there. Dragon still had a shift to finish. Another client would arrive soon, expecting a performance in Salvatore’s theater of degradation. I would endure it as I always did, retreating behind my walls and focusing on the day I’d finally burn the Gennaro empire to the ground and free my brother.

I glanced at the hidden camera in the corner. Everything in the building had a price, and Salvatore always collected. When he finally discovered Shaw’s real identity, I’d have to decide whether to protect him or sacrifice him to keep Raphael safe.

The choice should have been simple. Family first, always.

But damned if I didn’t want to find a way to keep them both safe.

CHAPTER THREE

SHAW

The elevator descended, offering time to prepare what I needed to say to Jace, but the taste of Dante’s mouth on mine and the sound of his moans lingered. I hated that I’d let my embarrassment prevent me from going all the way. I’d wasted what might be my only chance to have him completely.

The doors opened, revealing Jace’s eager face alongside the towering, scarred guard shadowing him. Beside the enforcer, my friend looked dangerously fragile.

I forced a smile and swallowed the gnawing certainty that Dante was more involved with the Mafia beyond sex work.

The Japanese woman remained in the elevator. Her presence in an Italian Mafia establishment surprised me. It made me curious about her story.

The doors closed, taking her back up. Would she go to Dante? The thought of someone else’s hands on him ignited a violent jealousy. How many people had died for feeling that way about Gennaro property?

Jace rushed up to me, unbothered by the tattooed guard watching us with disquieting calm.

“This was the best idea I’ve ever had, right? Damn, we should have done this ages ago!” Jace ruffled my wet hair. “You opted for shower sex? Nice.”

Making a noncommittal sound as he slung his arm around my shoulders, I let him steer me toward the exit. His casual touch felt wrong after Dante’s possessive ones.

Once safely outside, Jace bumped my shoulder. “So was it Dante?”

“What difference does it make?” I kept my voice neutral. “Even if it was him, it’s not like you could use it against him without consequences.”

“Whatever. Secretary Dominique was fucking amazing! Seriously, she has the most incredible tits ever.”

I settled for a bland response. “I’m glad you had fun.”

“Fun doesn’t even begin to cover it.” He released me when we reached the crosswalk. “Hey, who did you end up switching to?”

“What makes you think I switched?”

He stared at me before bursting into laughter. “You’re too funny sometimes, you know that?”

“So I’ve been told.” The moment passed, adding another lie to the pile.

Jace rambled about needing a girlfriend so he could have sex for free or a second job so he could afford more visits to Gennaro Corporation. I nodded at the appropriate intervals while the memory of Dante’s hands and mouth dominated my thoughts.

The next morning, I tried to appear casual while waiting for business psychology to start. It was a challenge when Dante’s presence in the back of the room demanded my attention. He stared at his phone with detachment, as though he hadn’t had his mouth around my cock less than twenty-four hours ago.

Jace kept shooting glances at Dante. If my friend ever discovered what happened at the brothel, I’d lose him forever. I didn’t have enough friends to be okay with that.

Unwilling to leave anything alone, Jace started in on my cousin. “Trent, you’re coming next time! None of these pathetic excuses about helping your dad with inventory, got it?”

“It wasn’t an excuse,” Trent countered. “Besides, maybe I was too busy with that redhead from O’Malley’s to waste time watching you strike out with every woman in the place.”

“Bullshit, you were probably just playing video games.”