29. Dante
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
DANTE
From the moment the attendant mentioned orders from “Master,” I knew Salvatore was testing me. He was either evaluating my loyalty or punishing me for my interest in Shaw. All I knew was someone was going to bleed before things were over.
I let Jace rage while I planned my attack, finally stepping into view. “Is it really such a surprise to discover Jace’s been fantasizing about what I could do to him since high school? Some men pay thousands to admit what they’re too cowardly to say out loud.”
“Don’t talk about me like I’m not here, you disgusting cocksucker.” Jace’s face twisted with rage. “I paid for you, so you don’t get to disrespect me. Know your fucking place.”
“My place?” I barked out a laugh. “Let me explain the hierarchy, Jace. In this building, I outrank everyone except the man whose name is on the deed. You? You are walking cash. The last client who disrespected me lost his tongue. Choose your next words carefully.”
Jace lifted his chin. “Your threats don’t scare me.”
“They should.” I tilted my head as I regarded him.
“Do you know what happens to people who cross the Gennaro family? Them and everyone they ever loved disappear. Occasionally, pieces turn up in the East River. Sometimes nothing turns up at all. You wouldn’t want anything happening to that precious little sister of yours, would you?
” It was a low blow, given my history with Melissa, but I was aiming to kill.
“Touch her again and die,” he snapped.
“Try it.” I reveled in my viciousness. “My father doesn’t tolerate unworthy hands on his assets. The last bastard who touched me without permission lost three fingers.”
I continued spinning Jace up. He’d be easier to manipulate that way.
“Perhaps it would hurt more if I sent your bigoted dad a video of you visiting me. What would he say when he found out his son was spending money to buy sex from a man?” I’d been aware of his alcoholic father since high school and the homophobia he had inherited from the man.
Jace’s eyes widened. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“I’ve done worse for less.” I gave a dismissive shrug. “Cross me again, and I’ll make sure everyone knows you beg people to fuck you with cash in hand because not even the desperate would do it for free.”
“You think I’m scared of you?” Jace’s voice cracked. “You’re nothing but Gennaro’s whore.”
“Better a whore than a self-loathing hypocrite who dreams of sucking cock while pretending to be disgusted by what he craves.” I removed Shaw’s hand from the door and slammed it in Jace’s face.
Before Shaw could speak, I spun him around and pinned him against the wood, my forearm across his chest. The impact rattled the hinges, ensuring Jace heard every moment.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Jace pounded his fists against the other side. “Open the fucking door, you dick.”
“I promise I had nothing to do with this,” Shaw insisted.
Silencing him with a brutal kiss, I bit his lower lip hard enough to make him gasp. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer instead of pushing me away.
Jace pounded on the door. “I can hear you, you sick fucks. Shaw, what’s wrong with you? Don’t let him do this to you.”
With a vicious shove, I slammed Shaw harder against the door. Confusion flashed across his features before understanding dawned that I was putting on a performance, not punishing him.
Shaw moaned when I pressed my thigh between his legs.
“Stop it,” Jace screamed, his voice cracking with rage. “Don’t fucking touch Shaw, asshole. Let me in!”
“Do you hear that?” I called out. “He wants to watch us together. Should we let him?”
Jace hit the wood again. “You won’t live to regret this.”
Shaw’s hands gripped my ass, pulling me flush against him. The move caught me off guard. I hadn’t expected him to take such an active role in our charade. I rewarded his boldness by grinding my hip against his.
“Fuck, you feel so good,” I moaned loudly. “Better than any man or woman I’ve ever had.” It was an intentional dig at insulting Jace’s sister.
Jace’s cursing dissolved into incoherent shouting, the door trembling beneath his fists.
“He’s going to break it down,” Shaw whispered.
“Let him fucking try,” I replied. “I want him to see exactly what he’s missing.”
“You’ll regret this,” Jace yelled. “When you come out, I’ll be waiting.”
“The only place he’ll be coming is on my cock,” I retorted. “Something you’ll never experience.”
Jace’s voice grew hoarse from screaming, but he didn’t relent. “I’ll fucking end you, Dante.”
“Threaten me again, and your sister will pay the price. Our men enjoy doing dark things to scar pretty little girls like her.”
Silence followed my words.
Shaw looked at me with horror. “What can you do to avoid…” He trailed off.
“I have my methods.” I’d be damned if I let Jace fuck me.
Shaw’s fingers dug into my skin. “I never wanted this.”
“Regardless, it’s happening.” I pulled back to look at him. “The question is what you’ll do now.”
His green eyes searched mine. “What can I do?”
“Go home.”
“Damn it, there must be something we can do, right?” Shaw asked. “I can’t leave you to deal with him alone.”
I bit back the urge to tell him to quit caring. Salvatore monitored my every move, and I had probably already condemned myself to weeks without seeing Raphael. It was why I refused to debase myself with Jace. I had already lost my only motivation to behave.
“Go home,” I repeated in a softer tone. “This isn’t your fight. It’s been brewing between me and Jace since high school, and I’m putting an end to it once and for all.”
“But he’s dangerous when he’s angry,” Shaw protested.
I offered a cold smile. “And I’m dangerous all the time.”
Before he could respond, a single sharp knock signaled Ishi’s return.
Shaw’s grip on me tightened. “Please don’t do this.” He looked at me like I was the vulnerable one, not Jace.
Despite my urge to kiss Shaw again to reassure him, I moved away. “Let’s find out if your friend has the balls to follow through on his threats or if he’s bluffing.”