Page 38 of Savage Promises

He cocks his head. “Just Luxe?”

“A simple statement of class and elegance.” I do a curtsy.

“Sounds perfect.” He folds his arms. “You securedyour funding?”

“I’m working on it.”

He lays a mischievous grin on me. “How much?”

I press the estimate against my chest, fearing Shane will pull a gun and make me hand it over. “I got it covered. I have options. Including a nuclear one.”

He grins deliciously. “Love me a nuclear option, do tell?”

“My father’s been hinting that he wants to buy me out of Club Echelon. Wants to put Garrett in charge.”

Shane scoffs a laugh. “Becauseyour clueless brotherknows how to run a nightclub.”

Dad doesn’t trust Garrett to work the streets anymore, but out of a sense of loyalty to my family, I don’t voice that.

“Anyway, I know what he’s willing to offer to buy me out. That combined with what I can get from Rafael—”

“No,” Shane bites out sharply, the tension between us rising to a palpable level.

Before I gather the courage to argue, a familiar voice calls out from several feet away.

“Shane!”

I turn to see Neve walking toward us, her fresh blonde highlights catching the sun streaming in from the arched windows. She’s dressed casually in leggings and an oversized team hoodie, looking every bit the effortless beautiful young athletic teenager.

My sister wisely accepted the guard Shane hired for her. It’s been the only thing she’s done right since this engagement farce sprung wings. I expected she’d hate it. But she turned the guy into a caddy, carrying all her equipment around and driving her to all her practices, clinics, andtutoringwith the coach.

The guy follows her wearing a gray suit and dark shades, holding her purse. What a way to emasculate aguard.

Neve barely glances at me and focuses solely on Shane.

She wants something...

“Shane, finally, I’ve caught you. Lars called your guard and he said you were here.” Neve stares at me with surprise splashed across her young face. “With Lennox.”

Shane goes rigid from being caught spending time with another woman.

Not waiting for a response, my sister steps up to him and wraps her arms around him. “I need a new guard,” she whispers sweetly.

Seeing her touch Shane sends waves of rage through me.

He stiffens at Neve’s sudden embrace and steps back, shaking himself loose. But he snaps into Concerned Fiancé mode. “Why?”

“Lars is too...clingy. Too nosy.”

“That’s what he’s paid to do.”

Neve ignores his coldness, her tone dismissive. She looks lost until her gaze lands on the other half of my wrapped sandwich. “Oh, corned beef! My favorite.”

Neve hops up on the stool I vacated and proceeds to finish my lunch. The lunch her fiancé bought for me. In fairness, they are ridiculously big sandwiches.

Shane hires her guards, but he feeds me. It’s a small victory, but I’m snuggling with that one tonight.

Move over Hawk...

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