Page 17 of Surrender

“Yep. Run along now.” Fox makes a shooing motion. “And don’t bother coming back. I’ll keep Daddy plenty busy on my own.”

Heather’s brows arch. “Daddy?”

“It’s a long story,” I say, trying for exasperation but mostly sounding amused. “Go on, Heather.”

She must finally get the hint because she backs off, bowing her head to me before vanishing into the crowd.

I take one of Fox’s hands off of me and use it to twist him so he’s fully facing me, flush against my chest. “Someone’s being awfully bold,” I tell Fox. “Are you trying to make things difficult for me, little fox?”

“Why would I do that?” Fox answers cheekily. “Do you really want to get down and dirty with random people right now? You don’t know who’s got what hidden in unknown holes.”

“Are you always this possessive, or did I just pull the short straw?” I ask him.

Fox averts his gaze. “Do you always tie up and fuck half-dead twinks?”

His reaction surprises me, and I touch his chin, guiding his face back so I can look at him. The moment feels heavy for some reason, and I reply quietly, “No.” This is just as new to him as it is to me then. “Just the lucky ones,” I add to try to lighten the mood. “Come on.” I let go of him.

He’s quiet as I lead him towards my… not friends, not really, but we’re all part of the Cresci Crime Family.

Brothers-in-arms, if you consider the mob akin to an army.

“Don’t act out with these people,” I hiss as we get closer. “They won’t be as friendly as Heather.”

Fox nods, and his hands are strangely stiff at his sides. “Yeah. I do know that.”

I eye him. I’m sure he does, at least in theory, but at the same time… He didn’t know that Heather wasn’t someone important. He could’ve started something back there, and pushing forward, I have to make sure he’s aware of the consequences of his actions before he fucks up. “Is anyone going to recognize you?” I ask him quietly, approaching the doorway.

“No.” Fox runs a hand through his hair. “I never meet with anyone in person.” He answers so smoothly that I want to believe him, but I know he’s a practiced liar.

It’s too late to change anything now, though.

Maybe it would be better if he waited out here, but despite how I’ve caged up his cock as a bit of insurance, I know it isn’t a foolproof plan. He could still get into trouble while I’m not looking.

I notice a few of the other people with the “dominant” wrist bands eyeing him.

Yeah, he could definitely get into trouble.

“Then I’ll introduce you,” I say, while also putting a bit of distance between us.

I only knock briefly beside the archway before I head past the curtains and into the private seating area.

Like Heather had said, Peter is here, with Linda—a pretty Latina woman with black hair in a pixie cut—sitting on his lap. Dan is sitting close enough to touch, while Silvano is at the edge of the rounded booth, sipping from a whiskey glass.

Silvano spots me first, raising his glass at me. As usual, he’s wearing a tailored pair of slacks and a fine dress shirt, even here. The only concession to the casual nature of the club is the lack of jacket and tie. “Cristiano! I didn’t think you’d be here today. Word was that you were busy with some overseas deal.”

Dan stares at me a little longer than necessary, and if I was a paranoid man, I’d think there was something to it. The lights have him all washed out as it is, so it’s hard to really see his reactions.

“Not today, I’m afraid.” I smile at Linda. “My apologies, lovely lady, but I need to speak to these men in private. If you’ll find Heather, I’m sure she’ll get you a drink.”

Linda frowns at me, but Peter nods and claps her ass to shoo her away. Once she’s past the curtains, I head over to the table. Fox stays where he is, stance tense.

“Who’s he?” Dan asks, pointing at Fox.

“One of my new staff,” I answer smoothly. “I’m training him up, so I figured bringing him here would be an easy job to ease him in.”

It’s the story Fox and I had agreed on, and Fox certainly manages to look like he’s attempting to be a bodyguard.

Silvano snorts. “Isn’t he a bit skinny for it? Anybody who goes for him will snap him in half.”

---