Page 39 of Scarred Hearts

It was my job to watch Giovanna with Ivan, which I had no problem doing. I wanted to watch her. I knew if anyone in the club would keep her the safest, it was me. Though I wasn’t a Mafia boss, I had the capability to protect her. My childhood at a prestigious, private Catholic school was marked by frequent brawls with rich bullies and arrogant assholes, and back then, I fit right in among both.

The presence of Ivan and his family didn’t intimidate me. It was the thought of something happening to Giovanna that sent chills down my spine. That fear kept my senses sharp. Knowing he had been with her before, filled me with a boiling mix of hatred and… jealousy. Her dancing for other men never bothered me, until it involved someone she had been intimate with. Or, in Dr. Douche’s case, someone I suspected she might’ve been involved with.

Damnit. As soon as we crossed the threshold of Luxe, Victoria sauntered over to me, wrapping her arms around my neck, and planted a kiss on my cheek.

“Heyyy, Tylerrr.”

“No.” I firmly pried her hands off my shoulders, my eyes darting to Giovanna. “We need to keep things professional.”

Giovanna scoffed, her lips curling in disdain, as Victoria’s gaze swept over her, scrutinizing every inch. “Underdressed much?” Victoria sneered.

“You do know I’m your boss now too, right?” Giovanna snapped back, crossing her arms over her chest.

“What?!”

“Yes,” Giovanna replied harshly, her tone leaving no room for argument. “So, you need to focus on seducing your clients, not Tyler.”

“Sure,” Victoria laughed dismissively, sauntering away with an exaggerated sway of her hips.

I placed a hand on Giovanna’s lower back, leaning in close enough that my breath mingled with the fruity and floral aroma of her perfume. It was intoxicating; the same scent from that unforgettable night. Closing my eyes for a brief second, I inhaled deeply. Fuck. “You look so jealous whenever she’s around me,” I whispered into her ear.

She twisted toward me, our mouths mere inches apart, before she blinked rapidly and took a step back. Her gaze trailed down to my pants, then back up to my face, and she rolled her eyes. “I need to change.”

“Come on.” I took her hand in mine, guided her to the office, unlocked it, and pushed the door open for her.

She stepped inside, and I followed closely behind, closing and locking the door. She spun around to face me. “You’re going to watch me change?”

I smirked as I strode casually to the edge of my desk, perching on it with my hands nestled in my pockets. “Do you have a problem with me watching you all of a sudden?”

“Not at all,” she replied, crossing her arms over the hem of her shirt and slipping it over her head in one smooth motion. Then she unfastened her bra and let both garments drop to the floor.

My body was on fire as I watched her get dressed. The teal lace top clung to every curve of her body, leaving little to the imagination. Her panties were a perfect match, barely covering her mound with a teasing glimpse of skin peeking through. She sat in the chair in front of me, pulling on black thigh-high boots and tying them tightly around her slim legs. As she looked up at me, a naughty smile played across her lips.

“Did you enjoy my little show just now?” she purred.

Refusing to play her game, I ignored the question, asking, “How did you get to work tonight?”

She pinned her bottom lip between her teeth.

“Seriously, Gia?”

She shrugged. “What?”

“If you wanted me to take you home again, you just needed to say so,” I joked.

Standing, she took hold of my tie and began to loosen it, leaning in closer until our lips brushed together. “So, you can leave me handcuffed and naked again?”

Closing my eyes, I took a breath, then opened them again. “We really should talk. I know we don’t have much time right now, but I need to tell you something after work.”

Her fingers stilled on my tie, and she searched my face with concern. “Is everything okay?”

I gripped her hips firmly with my hands. “Yeah, everything’s fine,” I half-lied. “But for now, let’s focus on our jobs.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out. “It’s Luke,” I said as I answered the call.

Yeah?

Hey, Ivan actually showed up drunk, and we don’t want him to get worse and end up causing a big scene, he muttered into the phone. I could tell his palm was cupped over his mouth. So, he’s on his way into Luxe now.

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