Page 40 of Training His Pet

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“It’s so quiet here,” Erika said, looking out her window as Dax drove them into town.

“Compared to Chicago, most places are quiet,” Dax responded.

“So, what made you want to open the club? You don’t really seem like a club kinda guy.” Erika rolled her window down enough for the wind to swirl through the car.

“Corbin really wanted to do it, and I had no real plans after I got out of the army. He was going to open it with or without me.”

“And you figured better for him to do it with you so you could babysit the project?” she asked.

Dax turned the car off Main Street into a parking lot. “You’re still fishing for a story. There isn’t one when it comes to me and my brother.”

“What about Corbin and the Persuccio family? How’d he get to become friends with Joey Persuccio?”

Dax pulled into a spot and parked. “Following the Persuccios is going to get you into a hell of a lot of trouble. Find something else to write about,” he said, unbuckling his seatbelt.

“I can’t write about the resort; you don’t want me to write about one of the largest crime families in Chicago. You know you can’t dictate this. You don’t get to derail my career because you think you know what’s best.”

Dax left her in the car and walked around to her door, yanking it open. He ducked into the car, unbuckled her, and pushed both hands against her thighs, keeping her pinned to her seat. She didn’t need to see his expression to know he meant business.

“I told you what you can write about.” His words were clipped.

She pushed on a smile. Going off on him would result in having a hard time sitting later on.

“When this is over, you won’t be able to stand in my way.” Her career wouldn’t be thrown off track because of this one week. She would have to finish what she started if she wanted to reach her goals, and she couldn’t let meeting Dax get in the way of that.

He grabbed hold of her face, pinching her cheeks and turned her face upward toward him. His hot breath hit her face when he spoke.

“But this isn’t over yet. And right now, my little pet is starting to misbehave. You have your story to concentrate on right now, so let’s do a little more work in that area.” He released her and ducked back out of the car.

She moved her gaze from him to the store he’d parked in front of.

“A pet store?” Her jaw slacked as she brought her wide gaze back up to his. “Are you serious?”

“Always,” he assured her with a nod. He held out his hand for her and helped her from the car.

“What are we doing here?” she asked, stepping forward with him. He’d probably just drag her if she protested too much, and there were people around. Public humiliation wasn’t really in her fantasies.

“To get you some supplies.” He squeezed her hand gently.

What sort of supplies would he need to get at a pet store? Her inquisitive mind began to run wild with ideas as he opened the door and escorted her inside.

The stale scent of animal filled her nostrils when they walked into the store. Birds chirped from the back, and the fish tanks along the wall gurgled.

“This way.” Dax tugged on her hand when she paused. She didn’t have a chance to ask any questions before she found herself in an aisle with dishes.

Pet dishes.

Food bowls, water bowls, treat bags. What the hell.

Her lip quivered slightly.

“Good afternoon. Can I help you find anything?” A teen with curly red hair popped up in the aisle, wearing a green smock with the embroidered company logo.

“No.” She shook her head. “We’re just looking.”

Dax’s hand tightened. She’d spoken out of turn. Her neck heated. If he told this boy what they were there for, she’d die. She’d set herself on fire from the humiliation and turn straight to ash right there in aisle three.

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