Page 34 of Savage Ambition

“Very well. Dismissed.” He waited until she closed the door. “Where are your manners, boy?”

I lowered my gaze, slipping into the role I’d perfected over years of survival. “Welcome back, Father. Please forgive my lack of decorum. I wasn’t expecting your return for another week.”

“That’s no excuse, but I shall forgive you this time.” His eyes traveled down my body, lingering where the sheet draped low across my hips.

“Your generosity knows no bounds.” I sounded humble while calculating how many bullets it would take to ensure he stayed dead.

“It seems you have a new patron I should know about.” His casual tone couldn’t disguise the threat lurking beneath.

I kept my voice flat, yielding nothing. “What do you want to know?”

“Why one of your classmates started frequenting you during my absence.” He claimed Ishi’s vacated chair. He reached out and traced a finger along the edge of my sheet, not yet pulling it away but promising he could.

“Coincidental curiosity.” I acted disinterested, as if Shaw were a random client. “It was his friend’s birthday, so they came here to celebrate. Besides, it’s not as if he can’t afford me.”

Salvatore crossed one leg over the other. “That’s not the issue.”

“I made him aware of the consequences of my identity being revealed.” It would mean a bullet for him and one for each member of his family, though I hadn’t spelled it out so bluntly to Shaw.

“You say that, but he brought friends.” Salvatore’s eyes dissected my expression, hunting for any flicker of emotion. His hand slid beneath the sheet to rest on my knee, his thumb making small circles against my skin. “Should I be concerned?”

“No.” I prayed Shaw wouldn’t prove me wrong.

“You have that much faith in your patron?” His grip tightened just enough to trigger memories of the punishments that followed when I’d moved too soon, finished too fast, or couldn’t get hard.

“It’s not a matter of faith. It is merely a fact.”

Salvatore stroked his chin. “Even if Shaw falls for you?”

“His feelings are of no consequence to me. He comes here for the illusion, which implies there is nothing to be had outside of these walls, correct?”

“He harbors the delusion all the same. Perhaps because you are too indulgent with him.” His hand slid higher up my thigh.

Shit, that meant he’d reviewed the tapes already. I had grown careless during his absence, letting my guard down when I should have remained vigilant. “I’m keeping my client satisfied with his chosen game.”

He leaned forward, capturing my chin. “Then perhaps you are a better actor than I gave you credit for.” His thumb brushed across my lower lip.

You have no idea how good, you sadistic fuck, I thought while my face remained impassive. “I do my best.” I looked down, resisting the impulse to jerk away. There were few things worse than being touched by that bastard when I was naked.

“I’m aware of your little ‘reward’ to him.” He released his hold on me and leaned back in the chair. “Why did you give him extra time?”

The lie came easily. “It was payment for his silence.”

His fingers traveled higher, stopping short of my groin. “I made you into such a perfect instrument of sexual satisfaction, didn’t I?”

I acted as demure as he expected from me. “Yes, Father.”

“Your insolence almost cost you a visit with your brother this week, but I’m feeling more generous than normal, given your patron’s continued silence, as well as your increased profits.”

Raphael was the only reason I endured my hellish life. My teenage brother remained untouched by Salvatore’s depravity only because I served as both shield and substitute.

Salvatore’s next words chilled me. “Perhaps there is more use to be had from your new toy. I could think of many ways to utilize him.”

“As an employee?” Everything inside me screamed in protest at the possibility. The thought of Shaw being broken by abusive clients made me want to burn the entire building to the ground with Salvatore inside it.

“There is that aspect to consider as well.” His fingers brushed against my cock. “Perhaps I should see what all the fuss is about. You’ve always had excellent taste in men. It’s a skill I taught you well.”

I fought to keep my breathing steady, to not tense under his touch. It was one of his favorite tests. Show fear and he’d exploit it. Show disgust and he’d use it against me. “I learned from the best, Father.”