Page 24 of Punish Me

“Smart answer,” Nicole says, chuckling. “And what about you, Brynlee? Would you like to see a ladies’ entertainment club?”

My first full smile of the evening makes its appearance. “Of course.”

I feel Ambrose’s heated gaze and wiggle inside at his jealous streak. That part of him always turned me on.

We talk business a little longer before Marco calls for the check. After it’s paid, we make our way out to the parking lot as Mitch takes a call.

“Are we still going to our next stop for the evening, gentlemen?” Nicole asks with a mischievous grin.

“Next stop?”

“Yes, the boys planned to go to a gentlemen’s club tonight toresearchthat arm of our business.”

“Oh,” I say curiously, glancing around at the uneasy faces. “Let me guess. The ladies weren’t invited.”

“Their idea, not mine. I’d planned to return to the hotel with my beautiful wife,” Greyson says, pulling Nicole under his arm affectionately.

She smiles and winks at him as he kisses her lips. I turn away to give them a moment of privacy, only to meet Ambrose’s smoldering gaze.

“Hey, I have to get home. I’m taking the jet, Grey, and I’ll have it returned for you and Nic in the morning,” Mitch says in an anxious tone.

“What’s going on, man?” Greyson asks.

“Blake’s in labor.”

“She had four more weeks!” Nicole exclaims.

“Yeah, but we knew this was a high-risk pregnancy. She’s at the hospital now. Tried calling me before leaving home, but I didn’t hear my phone ring,” Mitch says nervously.

“We’re going with you,” Nicole announces.

“I’ll call the hotel and have them take our bags downstairs. Should be ready by the time that we arrive,” Greyson adds, pulling out his phone and making the call as he’s talking to us.

“Gentlemen, lady, we’ll meet again soon,” Alessandro says, hugging and kissing Nicole on the cheek and shaking Mitch’s hand. “Congratulazioni!” Alessandro says in a beautiful, thick Italian accent.

I’ve loved hearing him and Marco speak all night though Alessandro’s accent isn’t as thick as his older brother, Marco, is.

We all exchange wishes for a safe flight home and the baby's birth before they leave in their limo. The four of us stand around, and I say, “Well?”

The brothers aren’t comfortable going to a gentleman’s club with me as Marco scratches the back of his neck and Alessandro blushes.

“I uh...need to go over some papers with the lawyers. Promised I’d call later,” Alessandro says.

“Yeah, um...I need to be flying back to Atlanta. Promised Piper I’d be home tonight,” Marco adds.

I smirk and cross my arms, turning to Ambrose. “Your excuse?”

He holds his hands out at his sides, shakes his head, and is speechless.

I turn back to the other two men, and they shake my hand before quickly disappearing into their waiting Bentley. It’s not long before they’ve left that Ambrose and I are standing on the sidewalk outside the restaurant as patrons enter and exit.

“Well?” I say, turning back to him.

“You still want to go?” he asks.

“Of course I do.”

After all, women can do the same damn thing men can do, and I refuse to let him catch me slipping or being weak. Being a woman is an honor and a privilege, not a god-damned excuse.

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