Page 10 of Training His Pet

Joey ran his tongue over his upper lip; his ashy eyebrows rose and fell with his thoughts.

“Marco, take Johnny out the back. You can deal with him there.” He tilted his head toward Dax. “Outside the club.”

The man holding the smaller of the two thrust his half-beaten guy toward the back door of the room. Dax took a deep breath. They wouldn’t be dealing with him there either. The last thing the club needed was a mob hit happening in their back alley.

“Dax, just leave them be,” Corbin called as Dax followed out the back door.

Joey laughed. “Nah, he can go. No one will touch him. Let him watch.”

As soon as Dax stepped down into the alley, he heard a gentle gasp, just before a solid punch landed.

The beating commenced, but Dax’s attention was pulled to the dumpster. A petite foot slid out of sight as he rounded the container. He leaned around the corner and saw her.

Erika Devore. She stared up at him with wide, glossy eyes. Surprised she’d been found, or in shock that a man was being beaten to a pulp in front of her.

He tensed his jaw and slowly shook his head, before turning his back on her, keeping her safely tucked between the wall and the dumpster with the benefit of blocking her view from the fight.

“Think he’s had enough?” Dax called out to Marco.

Marco shoved Johnny to the ground and landed another kick to his middle. “Yeah, I think he learned his lesson.” Marco straightened his tie and tucked his shirt back into his pants. Blood, either his own from split knuckles or from Johnny, splattered across his white shirt, but at least it was neatly tucked.

“Gonna leave him there?” Dax asked when Marco reached for the door to the club.

“He’ll crawl home when he’s ready.” He turned and spit on the ground beside Johnny’s head.

Marco turned the knob on the door then stopped. He turned his head toward Dax. “What was that?” he asked.

Dax stepped back, closer to the dumpster.

“What was what?”

“That little beep.”

“No beep.” Dax shook his head. He’d heard it, too, but couldn’t let on. The woman behind him was definitely beeping.

Marco made his way over to Dax. “Move.”

Well, fuck.

Dax dropped his hands to his sides and stepped aside. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her, but he’d rather not have to go toe to toe with the Persuccio family.

“Who the fuck are you?” Marco demanded, grabbing Erika and pulling her forward.

“Don’t touch her.” Dax reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her from Marco and shoving her behind him. “She didn’t see anything.”

Marco’s eyes narrowed and he leaned to the side, examining her. “I know you,” he breathed.

Well, fuck.

“You’re that journalist bitch who’s been sitting outside the bakery in the mornings.” Marco wagged a finger at her.

“I can’t help it if we get donuts from the same place,” she said from behind Dax’s back.

“Hiding in garbage cans now?” Marco huffed a laugh, but there wasn’t any merriment lingering.

“She didn’t see anything, Marco. And she won’t be bothering you again,” Dax promised. And he’d see to it she didn’t. The woman didn’t know whose bad side she was getting on, and he’d have to explain it.

“Shecan speak for herself.” A finger poked Dax’s back and his toes curled in his boots. She really didn’t understand who she was pissing off.

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