Page 13 of Training His Pet

“He’s pissed she saw some guy get a beat down?” A dark tingle ran up Dax’s spine. “That’s an overreaction, don’t you think?”

“The guy in the alley died.”

Dax’s fingers gripped the phone harder, and he turned away from Erika. “That doesn’t really change much.” Men like Joey had plenty of ways to make the little problem of an unwanted corpse go away.

“Joey thinks so.”

“Since when you are working so close with him, Corbin? What’s exactly going on with you and these guys?”

“I don’t have time for this again. She can do what she wants, I’m only giving you a heads up because I know how you are,” Corbin said.

“Are you in trouble? What does he have over you?” Dax lowered his voice.

“I gotta go.” The call clicked off before Dax could get another word in. He cursed at the phone and shoved it back in his pocket.

“Your brother?” Erika’s inquisitive voice asked.

Dax turned to her, eyeing her while thoughts whizzed through his mind. If she kept poking around, she’d be in serious trouble.

But it wasn’t his business.

She wasn’t his business.

He raked his hand through his hair.

“Joey wants to see you,” he said, yanking his phone back out and tapping out a message. The option would be hers; he wouldn’t drag her.

“Why?” A tremor hinted at her question.

“Because you saw something he doesn’t want the world to know about.” Dax replied to an incoming text. Every letter he typed put him deeper into the situation.

“The guy? I already said I wasn’t going to—”

“That guy’s dead.” Dax fired off one more message then put his phone away. Decision made. “You have two choices, Erika. You can walk out of here with me, and I’ll keep you safe until this blows over...”

Her throat worked as she swallowed hard. “Or?”

“What?” he asked.

“You said I had two choices, but you only gave me one,” she pointed out, her eyes wide. Maybe the severity of her snooping finally got through to her.

“Or I grab you by your hair, toss your ass over my shoulder, and carry you out. Either way, you’re not staying here,” he said. If he was getting involved, she needed to know he was holding the reins.

Her eyes widened at his blunt answer. Leaving her behind wasn’t going to happen, and he wasn’t wasting time with a long explanation. If Joey really wanted to have a word with her, he’d have guys on their way as soon as they figured out who she was. And with her name on the guest list for the night, it wouldn’t take them long.

“I don’t even know you, why would I just go off with you somewhere?” she asked with more curiosity than concern.

“Because staying here isn’t an option, and because you’re safe with me.” He lifted a shoulder.

“I-I don’t want to go with you. If you want to hang out for a little while in case they come by, fine. But I’m not leaving here with you.” Her gaze flickered to the door. Did she really think she could overpower him and shove him outside?

“You’ll let your roommate know that you’re with me. You’ll give her my name and my phone number. What you won’t do is tell her where we’re going. Just in case Joey’s guys come around. She can just tell them you’re out of town.”

“I just said—”

“You said what you wanted, but that’s not the topic. What we are talking about is how you’re going to do what I’m telling you in order to keep you safe.”

“Safe?” she whispered the word. “You’ve already shoved me around all night. How the hell could I be safe with you?”

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