6. Dutton
CHAPTER 6
Dutton
“ W hy did you send her away? We could have had some fun,” Hawke says, admiring Posie as she exits the room. My hands tighten on the back of the couch, but I bite my tongue. It’s not the first time they’ve been here, but it is the first time I’ve been mad at them for wanting to give one of my women attention.
I stare at the door momentarily, half expecting her to return because that seems like something she would do.
“It’s unlike you to pay for your own services. Feeling lonely?” Hawke bites back a smile, and I suddenly want to get very stabby. Or at least have a drink so I can tolerate him a little more. As usual, Ford remains quiet compared to his obnoxious twin.
I hit the button beside my seat, which calls for someone to service us. Samantha enters, her eyes lighting up the moment she sees Hawke. It’s no secret the muscled beefcake is popular amongst the women, and although I’d usually let them play, I want to get straight down to business.
“The usual, Samantha, with three glasses.” She looks disheartened, and Hawke is about to argue when I raise my hand to him. She leaves without a word.
“Wow, you really are all work and no play. That’s funny coming from someone who goes around running clubs that provide pleasure,” Hawke says, disheartened.
“Might I add that it’s not a necessity for you to fuck every woman in this city?” I say, undoing the top two buttons of my shirt and readjusting my cock. Posie dared to touch and taunt me in ways that no other woman has. Even the women I do fuck don’t get the privilege of being so… intimate… so playful. She acts like it’s her personal mission to unnerve me.
“No, but it’s a preference,” he replies with a smart-ass smile.
Samantha saunters back in with a bottle of my finest whiskey. She pours it into three glasses with ice and then slides one over to each of us, her gaze focused on Hawke. I swallow the harsh drink, trying to cool my temper.
I’ve considered a few different reasons or angles Posie might be here. It could very well be what Paula said—that she’s trying to build a better life for herself, but I leave nothing to chance. I’ve watched her these past few weeks. Well, when she shows up for work, of course. I could easily have someone trail her, but that feels like a waste of resources. Or I could pay Will Walker, a family friend, and the best tracker around, to dig up dirt on her.
I tap my finger contemplatively. So why haven’t I done that yet? Money’s not an issue. I could have all the answers right now in front of me, but for some reason, there’s the allure of the mystery surrounding her, which could be just as damning. There’s also a pleasure in extracting information from someone, whether it be through torture, pleasure, or various other entertaining means. Whether she likes it or not, she is my current obsession because I don’t like anyone I haven’t yet figured out.
When Samantha leaves and closes the door, I bring the glass to my lips. “I saw that Trea Lissor was taken into custody today. The press is eating him alive,” I say with a smirk.
Hawke chuckles. “Would you believe he never left his house after we returned him? The guy was terrified.”
“His father approached Rya Monti to get his son out of this situation,” Ford says before he downs half the glass in one mouthful. Interesting. Rya is the best criminal lawyer in New York, and my aunt. She has, in many ways, influenced Eli’s and my way of thinking, especially his, considering she’s his mother.
“Did she take the case?” I ask because I can imagine the hefty amount of money his father is willing to offer, but if she did take him on as a client, I might have to have a private discussion with her. If she even considers it, I’ll kill him myself before he can make bail.
“Nah. Eli explained the situation, and she’s trying to take fewer cases as she and Crue settle into this semi-retirement shit,” Hawke replies.
I roll my eyes at my aunt and uncle. I love them both dearly, but retirement doesn’t suit the busy mafia family. “Speaking of… Where is Eli?”
“Probably trying to get his wife pregnant. That’s all those two do these days.” Hawke rolls his eyes.
“I’ve walked in on them twice, and Eli had the audacity to bark orders at me as if I were the intruder when they’re fucking in public,” Ford says under his breath.
“You know peeping is a real kink, brother. I don’t judge you if that’s your thing. Just don’t do it with me. You’ll feel inadequate.” Hawke grins widely. He’s already pouring his second drink and then goes to top off mine and Ford’s glasses.
The door bursts open, and Billie barges in. I internally groan as she points her finger in my direction. Behind her is Hope, and I’m even more uncomfortable having Alek Ivanov’s daughter in one of my clubs. The notorious killer and black-market auctioneer is no doubt as protective of her as I am of my sister. But at least the twins are here, so they’ll get the lecture before me because they’re family.
“What the fuck did you do?” Billie demands with hands on her hips. “Trea asks me to go to the ball and then ghosts me, and one week later, he’s being imprisoned?!”
I try to hide my smirk. “Hello, Dutton’s little sister. It’s good to see you’re studying hard in your final year of college,” Hawke says.
“Don’t give me that shit!” she snaps as she strides over to Hawke and swipes the bottle from his hand, then takes a long swig. I sigh. She’s obviously in a mood. She drops onto the couch between the twins, and I know she’s done it intentionally because it pisses me off when she positions herself so closely to any male.
“Hey, mini tornado!” Hawke says, going to throw an arm over her shoulder. He pulls his arm back when I give him a deadly glare. He chuckles, knowing it will irritate me.
“Far worse than a little tornado,” Ford corrects.
Billie glares at him as Hope quietly takes a seat across from me. I’ve never been able to understand the star pupil much. Her sculptures are already renowned worldwide, and she is as much in the spotlight as her famed mother, Lena Love, who is a singer. And yet, there’s a quiet edge to her that reminds me very much of her father, Alek. And that makes her silently dangerous.
Unfortunately, she and my sister have been friends since they were kids. Hope is two years younger, though, with my sister’s immature mood swings, you would never know it.
“Oh, Ford, don’t tell me you’ve started growing a personality,” Billie bites back.
“Unless you brought him sweets, he isn’t going to bite back,” Hawke jokes, immediately redirecting her wrath to me.
“So what did you do to Trea, hmm?”
If only she knew. I don’t think I’d be her favorite if she knew I carve messages into the chests of people who try to become friendly with her. But it’s the role of a big brother. My father taught me to look after my family, which I take very seriously. He’s aware of my antics and doesn’t see anything wrong with them.
“I’m talking to you, Dutton! I’ll tell Mom!” she yells.
I see the corner of Ford’s lip curve up, and Hawke begins to laugh.
I place my drink down. “We’re past the point of ‘telling Mom.’ And do you think it’s so bad that I had a hand to play in exposing his dirty little secrets? Do you agree with what he was doing?”
Her shoulders sag, and the fight begins to leave her eyes. “No. He should be put behind bars for what he’s done, but that’s not the point, Dutton, and you know it. I’m a woman, not a child. You need to let me date like a normal person! Let me make my own mistakes and fall in love!”
Love is a criminal notion. Everyone seeks it, pines for it, then wallows when they lose it. All of which alters their fucking brain cells because they don’t think critically.
“You’re too young to love. Focus on your studies and?—”
“I’m not a kid anymore, Dutton!” she says, exasperated. “Your overprotective nature will literally drive any woman to insanity.”
Ford is looking at his phone as he casually hands his glass to Hope, who takes a sip.
I sigh. Is my sister intentionally trying to humiliate herself in front of this group?
“I keep women safe. It’s what I do.” It’s what my father taught me to do. “So, no, I won’t apologize for deterring the wrong type of men from getting close to you.”
“What, are you a matchmaker now?” Billie hisses. “And who will be good enough for me, Dutton?”
I stare at her, taking a sip from my whiskey. It’s the same look I give her whenever I’m done with a conversation.
She throws her hands in the air and screams, “Well, thank fuck you’re leaving the country for two weeks! Who knows how many cocks I might get in my holes while you’re gone!”
My grip tightens on the glass as she swipes the bottle from the table and flicks her honey-colored hair over her shoulder. “Come on, Hope. Fuck these guys. Let’s go pick up Ivy and have our own fun.”
“Wait, don’t take the bottle!” Hawke yells at her back. Hope hands Ford the glass, and he watches them silently as they leave. Billie slams the door shut.
“You’re going to break that,” Ford says, and that’s when I realize how tightly I’m holding the glass.
My teeth grind. I’ll be gone for two weeks, opening another gentlemen’s club in Italy. I’m flying over there to keep the grandparents at bay. Something Eli hasn’t done for two years now, which I always hear about. Which is exactly why I’m the favorite grandchild. Surprising, considering I still don’t know if my grandfather, even in his old age, likes my dad. But over the last two years, I’ve been going every six months, at the very least, as I expand our businesses.
“How much will it cost for me to have one of you trail my sister for two weeks?” I ask the twins.
Hawke chuckles. “You know we work for Eli, not you. And I have a feeling Eli might agree with her on this one. You have to give her some breathing room.”
I glare at him, and he holds his hands up in defense.
Nothing great ever comes from love, and I wish my sister wasn’t so sucked into the notion of it. I have loving parents in a successful marriage. I see its advantages, but I also know the level of dependency it creates, and I could never imagine myself being so invested in another’s wants and desires above my own.
It either makes me a profit or protects my family.
That’s all I need.