3. Shaw
CHAPTER THREE
SHAW
The elevator descended, offering time to prepare what I needed to say to Jace, but the taste of Dante’s mouth on mine and the sound of his moans lingered. I hated that I’d let my embarrassment prevent me from going all the way. I’d wasted what might be my only chance to have him completely.
The doors opened, revealing Jace’s eager face alongside the towering, scarred guard shadowing him. Beside the enforcer, my friend looked dangerously fragile.
I forced a smile and swallowed the gnawing certainty that Dante was more involved with the Mafia beyond sex work.
The Japanese woman remained in the elevator. Her presence in an Italian Mafia establishment surprised me. It made me curious about her story.
The doors closed, taking her back up. Would she go to Dante? The thought of someone else’s hands on him ignited a violent jealousy. How many people had died for feeling that way about Gennaro property?
Jace rushed up to me, unbothered by the tattooed guard watching us with disquieting calm.
“This was the best idea I’ve ever had, right? Damn, we should have done this ages ago!” Jace ruffled my wet hair. “You opted for shower sex? Nice.”
Making a noncommittal sound as he slung his arm around my shoulders, I let him steer me toward the exit. His casual touch felt wrong after Dante’s possessive ones.
Once safely outside, Jace bumped my shoulder. “So was it Dante?”
“What difference does it make?” I kept my voice neutral. “Even if it was him, it’s not like you could use it against him without consequences.”
“Whatever. Secretary Dominique was fucking amazing! Seriously, she has the most incredible tits ever.”
I settled for a bland response. “I’m glad you had fun.”
“Fun doesn’t even begin to cover it.” He released me when we reached the crosswalk. “Hey, who did you end up switching to?”
“What makes you think I switched?”
He stared at me before bursting into laughter. “You’re too funny sometimes, you know that?”
“So I’ve been told.” The moment passed, adding another lie to the pile.
Jace rambled about needing a girlfriend so he could have sex for free or a second job so he could afford more visits to Gennaro Corporation. I nodded at the appropriate intervals while the memory of Dante’s hands and mouth dominated my thoughts.
The next morning, I tried to appear casual while waiting for business psychology to start.
It was a challenge when Dante’s presence in the back of the room demanded my attention.
He stared at his phone with detachment, as though he hadn’t had his mouth around my cock less than twenty-four hours ago.
Jace kept shooting glances at Dante. If my friend ever discovered what happened at the brothel, I’d lose him forever. I didn’t have enough friends to be okay with that.
Unwilling to leave anything alone, Jace started in on my cousin. “Trent, you’re coming next time! None of these pathetic excuses about helping your dad with inventory, got it?”
“It wasn’t an excuse,” Trent countered. “Besides, maybe I was too busy with that redhead from O’Malley’s to waste time watching you strike out with every woman in the place.”
“Bullshit, you were probably just playing video games.”
I used the distraction to steal a glance at Dante. His blue eyes were already fixed on me.
“Tell him, Shaw!” Jace yelled.
“Huh? Tell who what?”
Dante’s low chuckle cut through the noise. “Why do you always have something to say, asshole?” Jace demanded.
“Why do you always care so much about what I think?” Dante countered, his voice carrying the same edge I’d heard when he’d ordered me onto the bed.
“Come on, guys. Knock it off,” I pleaded.
“No!” Jace’s face flushed. “I’m tired of this arrogant prick walking around like he owns the world. Besides, you wouldn’t be acting so high-and-mighty if everyone knew the truth.”
“That’s enough,” I snapped. If he said the wrong thing or pushed too far, there was no telling what Dante might do to Jace.
Jace’s eyes narrowed. “Are you defending him?”
“As if I need to be defended,” Dante scoffed. “Especially against someone like you.”
The contempt in his voice carried years of antagonism, but beneath it lurked the casual dismissal of someone who knew exactly how easily he could destroy his opponent. Jace was completely blind to the threat.
“So, did I mention that redhead has a twin sister? If you change your personality, you might have a shot with her,” Trent interjected.
Jace whirled on his friend, momentarily forgetting Dante. “Yeah, right. There’s no way you have enough game to pick up someone hot.”
I shot Dante a warning look, but his barely concealed amusement proved he didn’t care.
Our professor’s arrival cut through the tension, but throughout class, Dante’s gaze tracked me. Every shift in my seat was observed and cataloged. I couldn’t stop thinking about the scars on his body, and which ones had been inflicted by clients or his own family.
As much as I dreaded our inevitable conversation on the way to our next class, I craved the chance to be alone with him, away from Jace’s suspicious eyes.