Page 4 of Training His Pet

Chapter Three

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“Joey wants the back room tonight,” Corbin informed Dax.

“It’s Friday.” Dax raised an eyebrow. “That room is rented out, has been for the last three months. The waitlist is as long as my arm.” And considering the amount of privacy given to the room, it would continue to be a sold-out feature of the Velvet. Dax didn’t need to see the security footage to have a good idea of what went on behind those closed doors. And after having checked in on the room once, he wished he hadn’t. He’d left the security of the private parties to a member of his team. He had little desire to watch a bunch of assholes with too much money to burn and their purchased dates for the night. Apparently, hotel rooms weren’t good enough for their sexcapades—or too easily found on a credit card statement.

“So, cancel the private party. I’m not telling Joey no.” Corbin tugged at his sleeves and checked the collar of his shirt.

“What sort of arrangement do you have with him anyway?” Dax forced the accusation out of his tone. Corbin wouldn’t talk if he felt backed into a corner.

“The sort that makes us a shit ton of money.” Corbin tapped his knuckles on the top of his desk. “You just handle security. Make sure only the best of the best gets into the club, and everyone stays away from the private room tonight.”

“You gonna be in there with him?” Dax crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’m gonna be doing my job.” Corbin shot him a soft look. “And you do the same but leave them be.”

“I don’t like them hanging around here so much,” Dax pushed. They’d had the same argument several times, and each time Dax gave in.

“They do business here and they pay top dollar for the inconvenience it gives us. No fights, no problems, and no drama, right?” Corbin checked his phone.

“I’m giving free service to the cancelled party. They’ll get the night on us, and they won’t be paying their room fee for their rebooking,” Dax stated.

Corbin nodded. “Yeah, fine. Whatever.” He stood from his desk and walked over to the window, looking down at the wait staff getting ready for the evening event.

“Corbin.” Dax cleared his throat. “When you said you wanted to open this place up, I wasn’t exactly on board.” He’d been dead set against it, but he’d heard out his little brother before completely dashing his dream. “But you swore to me, this would be a legit business.”

Corbin turned away from the window, pressing his hands against the window frame, and smiled warmly. “It is legit.”

“Not with men like Joseph Persuccio waltzing in here every night.” Dax stood his ground. Corbin was taking too many risks, too many chances of bringing heat down on their business. “What is it with you and him anyway? Are you hoping he’ll take you in? Make you one of his guys?” Dax would see him dead before the ceremony even began. No way Dax dragged them out of the trailer park on the south side of the city to see him fall into the evil pits of criminals.

“You’re too worried. You really need to take a break, get some vacation time in.” Corbin moved across the room toward the door, but Dax grabbed his arm.

“I don’t like all the attention they’re getting and I don’t like them here. This is our business, our club, not theirs. If you wanna get in bed with them, little brother, you’ll need to take that shit somewhere else.”

Corbin pulled free of Dax’s grip and leveled a glare. “It doesn’t matter what you want or what you like. People like Joey Persuccio don’t ask permission. He wants to hang here, he hangs here. I’m not throwing them out. That would be a death sentence to this place.”

“Tell me you don’t like this any more than I do.” Dax eyed his younger brother, taking in the tailored suit, the gold cross hanging around his neck.

“I really don’t, Dax, you know that.” Corbin rolled his shoulders back. “But these aren’t guys you tell no.”

Dax held his stare for a long pause then nodded. “I’ll find another way, then.”

“You’re going to insult them—”

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