Page 12 of Training His Pet

“What?”

“If you were here to hurt me, would you warn me first?”

Good point.

He laughed. “I guess not.”

“You don’t need to walk me all the way up to my apartment,” she said, slipping a key into the lock. He quickly gauged the security of the building. He’d seen worse.

“That camera’s not hooked up right, I doubt it’s even a live feed.” He indicated the camera pointed at them.

She glanced up. “I’ll let the super know tomorrow.”

“I’ll come up for a few minutes. Make sure the place is safe and then I’ll go,” he promised.

She pulled the door open and walked through. “Whatever. Fine.” She headed up the stairs with him behind her.

The hem of the dress swayed around her thighs with each step. Strong thighs that led up to a round, firm bottom. He moved his gaze up to her back, then to the wall as they continued the climb, but he returned to her sensual physique over and over again.

“Right here.” She shoved the key in the lock. “My roommate is working a double shift today, so she won’t be home until later.” She opened the door and gestured for him to go first. “You wanted to do a sweep, right?” she asked with a sarcastic grin playing on her full lips.

He raised an eyebrow at her, wishing he had the right to remark on her sass. She didn’t belong to him, and as much as her smart mouth made his palm itch, he wasn’t in the position to do anything about it.

The apartment was well lit and clean. A desk pushed up against the wall near the front windows had dozens of files stacked in a pile beside a laptop. A black sweat jacket hung off the back of the chair at the desk, and a pair of glasses rested on the keyboard.

“Work station?” He pointed at the desk with a grin.

“I’m lucky. I get to work from home most of the time.” She let her purse slide from her shoulder and tossed it on the coffee table.

“Your roommate is working?” he asked, walking over to the windows and looking down at the street. The chances of Persuccio sending men to find her were slim. She hadn’t seen more than a guy getting his ass handed to him. Not really worth chasing down. She was no more unsafe than the night before.

“She’s a nurse in the ER. She’ll be on for another hour,” Erika said, folding her arms around her belly. For all her bravado and bluster, she looked tired. The evening has been probably more adventurous than she’d planned on.

“Do you think you can stay away from Persuccio and his guys? They’re dangerous, and they don’t like people poking their noses in their business.” He slid his hands into his jean pockets.

She narrowed her eyes. “Warning me off?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I don’t like them at my club, but business is business.” His stomach rolled with his words. “It’s probably safer if you find some other subject matter.”

“Yeah, maybe,” she admitted but looked no less determined.

His jaw clicked. Danger was written all over this woman in capital letters.

His phone started vibrating in his back pocket, and he grabbed it.

“Corbin? What’s up?” he asked, locking gazes with Erika.

“You got the girl still?” Corbin asked in a hushed, hurried voice.

“I’m with her, why?”

“Joey’s pissed. He wants to talk to her. Like now.”

That wasn’t happening. Dax knew what ‘talk to her’ could mean.

“Not gonna do that.”

“I figured.” Contempt laced Corbin’s tone. “But you have to keep her away from here.”

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