Page 23 of Savage Ambition

He glanced between us, sensing the tension. “Ready for what?”

Jace’s expression shifted to excitement. “Ready to have a good time. We’ve got big plans for tonight.” His eyes locked with mine, challenging me to object.

Dread churned in the pit of my stomach. “Really? That’s news to me.”

“Oh, I think you already know.” Jace’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Shit, he was taking us back to the brothel.

Back to Dante.

“Idon’t know why you’re in such a bad mood, Shaw,” Jace commented as we walked to Gennaro Corporation after dinner.

I dug my nails into my palms, forcing my voice to remain steady. “I’m not in a bad mood.”

“Even if you are, you won’t be by the time you’re finished tonight.”

What I was concerned about and what he thought I was worrying about were two separate things. “Sorry, I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

“About who to pick this time? I’m with you on that one, man. I can’t decide if I want to go with Secretary Dominique again or try someone new. She was so damn good, but I’m sure they all are when you’re paying them enough.”

I made a noncommittal noise, trying to tune out Jace’s graphic description of what he wanted to do to the women at the brothel.

“You’re never going to believe how much this fucker looks like that asshole Dante from class,” Jace said to my cousin, his voice loud enough for me to hear.

“Will you stop with that already?” My voice came out sharper than intended.

Jace’s eyes narrowed. He leaned toward Trent to say in a stage whisper, “He’s embarrassed because he went to see for himself if it was that bastard.”

“Damn it, Jace! Shut the hell up!” I snarled.

A flicker of dark satisfaction crossed Jace’s face. “No need to get all worked up about it. You know I’m joking. Besides, we’re almost there. I hope you have someone better picked out this time than Dragon.”

Trent and Jace resumed their conversation, but I kept quiet as I tried to calm myself. Part of me wanted to walk away from Gennaro Corporation and never look back. Another part that had been consuming me since that first night couldn’t stand the thought of not being intimate with Dante again.

Islumped in my chair, pretending to study the profile book while avoiding Dante’s page. The glossy pages blurred before my eyes as I flipped through them. The weight of Jace’s gaze burned into me from across the room.

“You’re not thinking about booking with that guy, are you?” Jace’s voice sliced through my thoughts, sharp with disgust.

I glanced down, realizing I’d stopped on a male escort’s page. “What? No, of course not.”

“You had me worried there for a minute.” His laugh was ugly and forced. “I thought you might have switched teams on us.”

Part of me wanted to tell Jace to go fuck himself and his bigoted, misogynistic views. The words burned in my throat, begging for release. But my need to protect Trent’s friendship with Jace was too strong.

A quiet knock interrupted the tension before the door opened to reveal three women who entered with graceful, practiced movements. The tallest of them stepped forward with a polite smile. “Have you reached your decision, sirs?”

I caught the attention of the Japanese woman I’d seen on my earlier visits. Recognition flickered in her gaze.

One of the other women addressed Trent as she collected his tablet. “Thank you for finishing your forms, sir. Who would you like me to introduce you to?”

“Is Nurse Laila available?” He sounded far more polite than his previous crude commentary would have suggested.

Jace looked at him in confusion. “I thought you were going with Accountant Annie?”

“I changed my mind. Nurse Laila reminds me of your sister.”

“Oh, you are so dead when we’re done here! Then you’ll need a real nurse, asshole.”