Page 69 of Ryker

I bet Ryker needs a lot. I bet he needs me.

You fascinate me.

He snaps his fingers. “Sit.”

I’m going to kill Ryker when we get out of here. Head down, I drag my tongue across my teeth and slide back into the booth. The dress I’m wearing is a black Armani from last season and it suddenly feels too tight and hot. My red sole ankle-straps are also hurting my feet but are worth wearing when I make sure to step on Ryker’s foot as I adjust my dress in the booth.

He grunts, but makes no other move to escape my painful, silent “fuck you”.

It’s one thing to be someone’s sub, but I’m not sure that’s what I am here. And the fact that they’re talking about my family’s business makes me queasy. My stepfather isn’t in the market for clubs. And if he’s changed his mind without letting me know, that’s bad news for me. I have a lot of questions that I won’t ask Knox, like who came to him and what the offer was, because Ryker still has no clue that’s my family’s company, and I’m only here as eye-candy apparently, not a business advisor.

Knox takes a hefty chug of his drink and smacks his lips. “Fuck, that’s good.”

Ryker doesn’t touch his at all.

“Not to bring up more old history, but uhhh,” Knox puffs on his cigar again. “I heard Greene Street was up for auction.”

“I know.”

“’Bout time. I hope they level that p—”

Ryker’s on him in an instant, grabbing him by the throat and slowly shakes his head.

Knox puts his hands up, and Ryker lets go, grumbling, “We have to leave.”

“Wait.” Knox’s brow furrows. “We didn’t even have dinner yet. I made your favorite.”

“We’re not hungry. Let’s go, Butterfly.”

Knox smacks the table. “Damnit, Ry. What the fuck’s gotten into you.”

“We’re done.” He shoves me gently, signaling me to get up and out of his way. I’m shocked when he takes my hand and laces our fingers together once we’re both standing. “I’ll tell Dmitri about all this, and we’ll work something out.” His tone softens again. “I won’t let you lose this place, okay?”

I sneak another peek and catch Knox staring at the two of us like we just kicked his puppy. “You’re really not going to stay and have a bite?”

“Can’t.” Ryker clears his throat. “The club’s in full swing and I have to get back to it.”

While I’m led out of the nightclub’s little speakeasy in the basement, my mind reels with questions.

What does Brisbane Realty want this place? Why didn’t my stepfather tell me the company was expanding its portfolio to include nightclubs? How will Knox be able to pay for the renovations if he’s already tapped out and coming to Ryker and Dmitri for money? How long have they known each other? And why on earth did the mention of that property on Greene Street make Ryker so volatile?

That dilapidated apartment building means something to him. It’s more than a shitty, cheap piece of property to invest in. It’s personal.

Personal enough to make a deal with me.

Personal enough to make him attack his friend.

Personal enough to make him shut down.

I suddenly have a burning desire to crack this man open and see what spills out.

Chapter 25

Ryker

I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. My fucking head is pounding. My stomach’s in knots.

“How do you know Knox?”

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