Page 100 of Savage Ambition

“You seem troubled by your friend’s reaction to my son.” He laced his fingers together. “A concern you believe warrants my attention.”

“Isn’t it a little late to ask my opinion now that you’ve already arranged their meeting?” It was the only way I could see that Jace had overcome the high cost of hiring Dante that was far out of his budget.

“Perhaps you’re privy to details about their history that worry you. Information that might persuade me to intervene.”

If I mentioned the incident with Melissa from high school, I would be admitting Dante had slept with an unapproved civilian. That felt like a fast track to getting him severely punished.

I opted for a safer explanation. “They’ve hated each other since high school.”

“Why?”

“Jace can’t stand losing to Dante. Dante excelled at academics, sports, and social standing. Jace never got over it.”

Salvatore’s expression filled with twisted pride. “My boy has always been exceptional. Superior reflexes, remarkable retention, perfect recall. He masters anything he attempts. But you already know that, don’t you?” He leaned forward slightly. “How quickly he learns what makes you weak, and what makes you beg.”

I fought to keep my expression neutral as Salvatore spoke about Dante with an unsettling blend of paternal pride and dark perversion. The way he described Dante’s abilities sounded less like a father praising his son and more like an owner admiring a prized possession’s performance.

“Your friend seems to have a temper. Are you worried he will harm my boy?”

“I’d like to think he’s smarter than that,” I replied. “But he’s impulsive and quick to anger.”

Salvatore chuckled softly. “Do you know what fascinates me about dragons?”

“No.”

“Their fangs are lethal, but their minds are far more deadly. My Dragon is the most lethal of them all. Wouldn’t you agree?”

The possessive way he said “my Dragon” made bile rise in my throat. “You’re saying Dante can handle himself?”

“Indeed.” Salvatore’s smile widened. “I personally ensured he mastered many arts. Some are quite specialized.”

The implication turned my stomach.

“As you’ve experienced firsthand,” he added, his gaze dropping to where Dante’s mark lay hidden beneath my shirt.

Pure outrage flared in my chest at hearing Dante discussed like livestock bred for duty.

Salvatore turned to Ishi, who had remained motionless throughout our exchange. “Leave us.”

She bowed lower. “Do you have any further orders for me regarding President Dragon, sir?”

“No. My boy can take care of himself. He knows the price of failure.”

She slipped from the room, leaving me alone with the monster who had shaped Dante’s life.

After the door closed, Salvatore discarded his polite, corporate facade. “You need to understand that I crafted Dante into perfection. I trained him to anticipate desires before they’re spoken. Taught him how every nerve in the human body responds to pain and touch. I conditioned him to find pleasure in both domination and submission.”

“You have no intention of stopping Jace and Dante, do you?”

“Why would I?” A cruel smile played at his lips. “Your concerns are noted but insufficient to justify interference in something I explicitly authorized.”

A low sound of disgust left my throat.

“Consider this your warning.” Salvatore rose to his full height, eclipsing the light from the overhead fixtures.

“Warning?” I repeated.

“You forget who owns this city. Every cop, judge, and politician with a taste for young flesh. This brothel is merely one jewel in my crown.” His gaze traveled down my body with invasive slowness. “The boy you’re foolish enough to have feelings for is my property.”