Page 79 of Savage Ambition

He shrugged. “Pleasure is pleasure, regardless of what form it takes.”

“Oh, and if Jace showed up, you’d still find pleasure in that?”

“That can never happen, so the possibility is of no consequence to me. You know he can’t afford me.”

Relief flickered through me, but it didn’t address the real issue. “I’m sure there are others you can’t stand having to…”

His lips curled in a smirk. “Having to fuck?”

“Why?”

His jaw tightened. “I have my reasons. Your understanding or approval of them doesn’t matter.”

I finally asked the question that had haunted me since our first encounter. “Is it because you’re part of the Gennaro Mafia?”

He snorted. “What do you know about that?”

“I know the territory is run by Salvatore Gennaro. They own the brothel.”

“And?”

“And they’re too dangerous for you to be part of it,” I insisted.

He let out a dry laugh. “It’s way too late to worry about that.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was adopted into the family as a child. There’s no getting out at this point because there’s nowhere I can run where the Gennaro family doesn’t have leverage. Their reach extends across every borough and precinct in this city.”

“But if you’re part of the family, then how can they make you a sex worker?”

Dante’s casual tone contrasted sharply with the horror of his words. “I’m evidence that no one is safe as long as he’s in charge, including his own son.”

“I thought you said you were adopted?”

He nodded. “I was, but as far as the rest of the organization knows, I’m his biological child. It’s how he keeps everyone in line. If he’s willing to put his own son into sexual service, he’ll make anyone who displeases him do it.”

Nausea clawed at my throat. “What the fuck?”

“It is what it is. For now, anyway.” He stared past me.

I sat up and pulled him against me, arms wrapping around him.

Dante went rigid in my embrace. “What are you doing?”

I pressed my face against his neck. “I’m not sure.”

He wrapped one arm around my waist. “You’re being ridiculous.”

“I noticed.” The questions I wanted to ask died on my tongue.

We stayed locked together before he shifted back, lifting my face. His thumb brushed my cheek. “You care, and you shouldn’t.”

“Are you any different?” I challenged.

He pressed his mouth to mine, slower this time. “You’re going to get me killed one of these days.”

Dante pushed me back down onto the couch, and I welcomed his weight. He worked the remaining buttons free, pausing at the waistband of my jeans. He kissed the dark bruise on my hip he’d left. “Is this what you came to show me last night?”