Page 1 of Training His Pet

Chapter One

“Don’t look so intense. You’re going to scare away the guests.” Corbin stepped off the last step with a sarcastic grin playing on his lips.

Dax eyed his younger brother. “That’s sort of the idea. I keep the bad guys away.”

Corbin tugged on the sleeve of his shirt, pulling it free of his jacket, and surveyed the dance floor. Dax and his brother had opened Velvet two years ago. Corbin took well to being the face of the club, dealing with the media and the financial assholes, which left Dax to do what he did best. Keeping the place safe.

Velvet wasn’t open to the general public, but that didn’t mean they didn’t want in. They did, badly. Nothing made something more appealing than making it exclusive. A year’s membership to the Velvet came at a hefty price.

“Some of the guests are the bad guys, Dax.” Corbin gestured toward Joseph Persuccio walking through the crowd toward his private section in the back of the club.

Dax watched the head of the Persuccio family maneuver through the crowd, much like Moses parting the Red Sea. No one got in his way. Smooth path from the front door to his seat. He wouldn’t be detected, and he wouldn’t be disturbed. And it was up to Dax to make sure it stayed that way.

No matter how he actually felt about the situation.

“I still don’t understand why you wanted to open the doors to men like him.” Dax kept his eyes on the men following their leader. They wouldn’t cause trouble, not if they enjoyed the sanctuary they were given in the club, but Dax made sure they kept their hands to themselves when he was around.

“Because men like him own this town.” Corbin slapped Dax on the back. “I’m going to make my rounds. Maybe a little less scowl on your part. You’re not in the military anymore, Dax. This isn’t a war zone.”

Dax moved his gaze to his brother. He’d been sheltered. Dax made certain Corbin never had to see the shit Dax had seen or knew the horror Dax knew. Dax, being nearly ten years older, didn’t have the luxury of not knowing the face of evil. And it had cost him plenty.

“Why don’t you get off the clock for the night.” Corbin smiled at a small group of women walking toward them. Three women, all blondes, and all dressed with purpose. To get undressed with the most eligible man, and with the most money, they could latch onto. And Corbin would help them.

“Hey, Corbin.” The tallest of the group bit down on her bottom lip, tilting her head and twirling her finger in her hair. “I was hoping to see you tonight, Dax.” Her gaze traveled up from Dax’s boots over his jeans, to his t-shirt.

“Nice to see you, Jessica.” Dax wouldn’t be rude, but he wasn’t playing games either. His job was to keep the club secure. No fights, no drama, no fucking deaths. And with men like Joseph Persuccio in attendance, he had plenty of work to do.

“I was just telling Dax to take the night off,” Corbin said.

Jessica stepped closer.

“And I was just saying no.” Dax set his jaw and gave Jessica a firm shake of his head. “I’m sure Corbin can keep you ladies entertained.”

Jessica’s smile dropped, but she was smart enough not to comment. Being brushed off probably pissed her off, but if she gave in to the feeling, Corbin might not let her latch on to him for the night.

“Maybe some other time,” Jessica said, the bitterness not completely eliminated from her tone.

Dax moved his gaze back to the crowds while Corbin gathered up his ladies and moved through the club.

The music kicked up into a frantic beat, dragging along the pounding headache behind Dax’s eyes with it. Glancing at his watch, he sighed. He’d wait another hour until the second wave of men showed up, then he’d get home to his bed.

He felt his phone vibrating in his back pocket and grabbed it, moving up the stairs to the private office overlooking the club.

“Hey, Dax,” Trevor spoke before Dax even got out a hello.

“Trevor? Everything okay?”

“Yeah, of course,” he laughed. “Always assuming the worst.”

Dax looked through the window at the movement below, his eyes settled on the Persuccio crew. Three servers circled the table with trays of drinks and appetizers. A bit overkill for four men.

“Well, history does tend to repeat itself. What’s going on?”

“Just wondering when you were coming back up here.” Trevor’s brother owned a resort in Michigan. Hell of a lot more peaceful than the Chicago nightlife.

“I don’t know, man. Business has grown. Been busy as hell down here.”

“Yeah, nothing like burying yourself in work to completely avoid reality,” Trevor said.

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